A lot of us deal with the frustration everyday of what used to work, now no longer does. Like monkeys in a lab experiment we were trained to do X + X = reward. Now X+X= feces. What is very frustrating is we have no previous experience on how to cope with the situation most of us find ourselves in. The learning curve is VERY steep and some are being shoved over the cliff.

Thanks for sharing George. I related to many of your thoughts. I am not sure there is an answer at this time? I think our once amazing country needs to bottom out completely before things will change for the better and we begin to rise out of the hole we are in. Most folks are in denial as to how BAD "it" is... I think a group of us need to get together are pool ideas, money and anything else it takes to move forward! We all need to drop our EGOs and put our heads/resources together. Strenght in numbers is still a good one! Just say'in... Good Luck!! - Sandy H. Miller / former successful entrepeneur

Thought I'd follow-up with a little story. I just returned empty handed from a trip to S. NV. I had found a connection which networked to a job. After a phone call and several emails it became apparent I'd best take a drive and show up in person. I did but suddenly sensed a problem. "I never promised you a job" is what I got. I didn't say it but, yes you did. It makes me feel like I am reading things into communications, wishful thinking. I just drove a thousand miles and got hosed? Sure did! I did not become confused or make a mistake. These types of issues are new to me, I'm not used to this insincerity in the job market. It has been two years with no sense this stupidity will end. Not a pity party, just truth. I guess there are a number of employers who have zero integrity and getting worse. Seems we are all in a tight spot. Remaining positive is becoming a monumental task. Damn hard to uphold self-confidence, worth and value with this crap kicking me in the crotch all the time, geez! Just plain dumb.

I have been and presently in the same boat. As far as resumes are concerned, one can become confused what to apply for. When employers state, "You do not want this job" or "How long do you expect to be around" or "You do not fit," then arrogance becomes a norm. Oh, by the way, an attorney will say the condition is not discrimmination.

New to this site. Just turned 53, thought reading comments would somehow sooth me, it hasn't. I keep being told, "you're not the only one." Does this make anyone feel better? I specialized in the mid 90's so when I got older I wouldn't have to be outside working on equipment in the snow. Um,...seemed like a good idea at the time. Try as I might, I've made no connections. I have found opposition when I attempt to do "walk-ins" at employers to see if they have work. I suspect too many people do this due to widespread unemployment. Honestly, I've never really had to shop for a job. Generally I always had a network to go on or similar. The networks are gone and the overall friendliness of employers has become confrontational! So I have relied on the internet, checking job-sites and sending resumés, so far a colossal waste of time. I seldom hear from anyone, the manners are gone. I am in the twilight zone. I can feel judgments about my sanity and my quality as a man. True, I admit my pride and confidence have taken a heavy hit. It is freaking weird to be in this position. Funny, I recall many years ago reminding myself to save and do what is right, plan, etc., as the future is coming. I did all I could, my best, yet I still ended up bankrupt and with nothing. I have offered recruiters money if they could locate a job, no luck. It used to be knowing someone was VERY helpful to get a job. Now days I believe after all the BS I've been through it is essential. I have one last name-drop I'm going to try tomorrow. If that doesn't bear fruit all I can think to do is show up in a new town, join the Rotary, etc., etc., and let people know what I am. My hat is off to those who had unemployment checks to rely on, I didn't. Loss of job, loss of investment, loss of real property,...no control to stop the snowball. It is odd isn't it, to have made it this far, done so much, been successful, only to find one's self in a spinning vacuum of confusion. Now more than ever it is, "Not what you know but who you know."

I don't see how anything short of a quota system will get us back to work. The tax break cannot possibly outweight the costs of our health insurance and salary. If they save a thousand bucks, our health insurance premiums will far exceed that in a year. I really don't know why everyone does not pay the same premium for healthcare. It should be averaged out across the entire population. After all, the young people will get old at some point....and if they don't, too bad! If we cannot have a national health insurance, everyone should at least pay the same. I too just turned 50 and I have a better chance of getting killed by a terrorist than every finding a full time job. I must have sent out approximately 600 resumes in the last 18 months and I have had 4 interviews. In at least three of them, the interviewers became noticably absent minded the minute I walked through the door, as if they were expecting someone younger. And I can pass for late 30's. I did not put any jobs on my resume with a start date of before 1994. The reason being, i don't want to give the impression I am 20, but I also do not want them to know I am 50. THIS WHOLE THING IS REALLY PISSING ME OFF BECAUSE NOBODY GETS IT. Are we supposed to coast on our savings until the newly raised retirement age of 67. It's ridiculous.

Maureen, thank you for your comment.

I'm not quite 50 yet (49), but I have run into the same kind of discrimination on the few job interviews I've had. Invariably they tell me I'm "overqualified" - which is code for anything from "you're too old" to "you're likely to leave when something better comes along". I've checked in at each one a few weeks later, ostensibly to see if there are any new openings, and every time the person they hired is half my age - with 1/4 of my intellect and 1/10 my experience. I came up with an alternative to the Obama/GOP tax plan that would help reverse that trend by giving the tax breaks to employers that hire directly from the unemployment rolls, and scaling them so that the largest incentives were paid for hiring the 99ers and long-term unemployed. That would have helped get us back to work, and helped boost the economy too. http://hiretrainretainact.blogspot.com/ Give it a read when you have a chance, and if you agree, share it with others. Whether or not we can get any attention on this before the Obama deal becomes law, it's worth fighting for. In fact, it's just about all we have to fight for.