94,391,000 Not In Labor Force
If you are one of those who accepts everything you hear from the ‘talking heads’ within the mainstream news media, you will probably think (believe) that the economy is great and all is well in America. But did you know that more than 94 million people are not in the labor force, and the participation rate (people in the civilian noninstitutionalized population, age 16 or older, who are either working or actively seeking work) is barely 62%? There’s probably a lot more you don’t know then too…
The unofficial end of summer
Labor day for most Americans is celebrated as the unofficial end of summer. After this holiday weekend the mindset changes to the rapidly approaching Fall/Winter season. For those who are preparedness-minded, let this be a motivator to get what you need done (especially outdoors) before the winter sets in (especially true for the ‘northerners’).
For me, this upcoming time of year always has an affect on my mindset. To ‘get ready’, to ‘hunker down’, to check my supplies. It’s a psychological thing, I know, but it does motivate me further to get my ass in gear.
Prepare
There are many reasons to prepare or be prepared. Being labor day, let it be a reminder that your job (your spouses job), your income, the economy (the real economy) could be trashed in the blink of an eye. You never know. In addition, let the current Fall season motivate you to get ready. I have a feeling that the next 4 months are going to be historical…
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I know people that have been laid off after 30+ years at the same job. I also know more and more people that lost their full time jobs only to find part time jobs as a replacement. I too have been out of work for 18 months. We are lucky that our mortgage has been paid off, and we carry no outstanding debt.
As our income has shrunk, so has our spending. Since so many people are in the same boat with no one spending, I don’t see how people can believe the economy is improving.
A lot of the being laid off and not finding a job has to do with where people live. I have problems finding people to work and have had 3 of my part timers find full time employment in the last 6 weeks. While overall I don’t think the economy is doing great it is doing OK in certain areas.
Here in Texas, there are help wanted signs everywhere I go. There are plenty of full time jobs with small businesses that don’t have to offer health insurance but offer other benefits. Unfortunately, the cost of housing is going through the roof along with taxes.
I live in East Texas and while jobs are available, the glut of cheap labor fed by illegal immigrants has kept wages depressed. My wife and I are doing better than others because we’ve cut our cost of living to bare bones level. We live in a motor home, eat simply and purchase nothing that we don’t need for immediate use or to put into our meager prep stash.
Keep prepping… get skills.
A job the Gov’t counts as a new job created can be 2 hours a week, as 4 of them I held and I was still underemployed. When they say 150K new jobs created last week, half of them could be only 2-3 hr a week jobs.
Come November, after the election results are in, whoever is elected, 50% of the people in this country are going to be really, really pissed off!
AMEN 1111
I agree with some of the comments about finding work. In my area several small businesses are looking for help, full and part time. They all say the same thing, what few applicants they get are poor quality.
Excellent reminder Ken. As a father and for lack of a better definition, “the leader of my family”, it is vital to keep my family focused and motivated to keep our prepping moving forward.
I too think the next 4 months will be historical. Every member of my family has responsibilities and jobs they are responsible for. It seems there is more work than time but every day forward our family goes we know we’re just that much more prepared. We live our lives and hope for the best but with every passing day the world seems to sink more and more into the mud.
I’m a positive type personality but a person would have to be blind not to realize the quagmire the world governments have put their economies and society in. If the scary things I witness every day can’t motivate people to prep more I don’t know what would.
On 9-5-2016 the US has a population of 324,325,507 people with a work force of 151,801,386 this includes state and federal employees. This leaves us with 151,801,386 workers supporting 172,524,121 people. Also keep in mind that a lot of those state and federal jobs do not produce anything they just consume tax dollars.
WRONG, all government jobs produce nothing of value to anyone but themselves.
I try to give the road crews and school bus drivers a little credit.
Left Coast
Are road crews and school bus drivers government employees where you live? That would indicate a bigger problem than I have imagined for your local economy.
School Bus and Snow Plow Drivers are state employed.
Many of these jobs that are city, state, or federal have no competition or open bidding to get the lowest price and some accountability for their performance. Gold plated heath care plans and pension plans are definitely a magnet for people to join government. These tax paid organizations have developed a life of their own and will grab as must control as they can get.
Homebody,
They literally create jobs out of thin air for people. A new regulation or law and now a whole new department with 20 employees, managers has been created. Then you need an hr manager, conflict resolution manager, safety manager all with at least 2 assistants. Oh and a benefits manager to make sure you get all the goodies all the other departments get.
Regulators regulating other regulators who are regulating regulators regulating the hapless public for things we don’t need regulated. All with great benefits, pay, and retirement. Ain’t life grand when you are on the “inside”…
Dept of Transportation fixes roads. Cal Trans also where I live. Depends on what you call a government employee. Sheriff Dept, Police dept. Fire Dept etc so yeah some of them do a necessary job.
au contraire …… Our police and military forces would find offense to your opinion especially when they die for your freedoms and protection to say such nonsense.
Well Said
Some government employees do necessary work but they should not be counted as producers since they are paid by tax money. Only private business and employment actually creates wealth that creates money to pay for all government wages. The private business that actually creates wealth is shrinking thus the need for austerity in our treasury policy. Yes government employees pay taxes but the money was taken from private tax payers in the first place so yes they do not create wealth if this is what you mean.
They may not produce “wealth” but they do produce value. In the sense that some of them are there to help protect life and property of others that are creating wealth. Without which there would be a whole lot less wealth and a whole lot more vacant burnt out buildings and empty lots now filled with rubble. Chicago was burnt to the ground twice before learning that lesson.
Absolutely, but true wealth is created by manufacturing or resources. If a business moves into an area and creates a product they have created wealth and all the other support businesses that services the same area creates and economy. Government does not do this.
This is the false narrative given by big government supporters. The Forest Service at one time was the only agency that created wealth by selling timber. That has long since ended. Big government or small only uses tax money for its existence.
Unlike small business that is created by a bigger business, government is totally funded by tax payer’s money. If the market dies so does the private businesses, unlike government which only raises taxes or puts the population further in dept for it’s own survival. The balance of needed government and private business has long since gone askew.
Which is why we need less people looking for jobs and more people looking to start businesses. Then, in time, instead of having a lack of jobs we’ll have a lack of workers. If a permit or restriction is in your way, do like the gov’t does, and say screw it and do it anyway. Of course that all sounds good on paper but out in the real world your mileage may vary.
Yes, but only if there is the capital to support that business. The huge mega businesses have the political capital to get favorable laws, IE, regulations or taxes passed to starve smaller businesses from competing with them. Thus the support for the world trade and economy that has left many millions around the world destitute.
Look at all the small businesses that have thrived since government dropped the so called assault weapons ban. If they get it passed again there will be literally thousands put out of business by a stoke of a pen. The market should determine winners and losers not inside deals or manipulation by people in government for political gain.
After much thought, the only government agency which produces anything of value, all work for the U.S. Mint, and am I sorry I am unable to purchase more of their products.
If all government jobs produce nothing, then don’t call the municipal fire department when your house burns. Don’t get on an airplane that uses ATC. Don’t call the Coast Guard if you go on a cruise and the vessel has an emergency, or you have a medical problem that requires evacuation from the ship. Don’t collect your Social Security after you retire, or supplement your health insurance with Medicare and Medicaid, since I’m sure you have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars for retirement. If you are a veteran, don’t buy a home with a VA loan.
It’s apparent that if you are a vet, you didn’t use the GI bill to get an education. Don’t drive on the streets and highways across the country.
The argument is not whether some government jobs are useful or not some are absolutely needed such as military, police, teachers etc….but they are all funded by the private sector…it is like ticks on a dog… too many and the dog dies…that is where we are headed.
The truth…
I always hear from Gov. Workers that they pay taxes too. I always laugh. When you explain to them that they are paid from tax money and then the Gov. taxes the tax money again they get that deer caught in the headlights look. They just can’t grasp it.
I use the tick analogy all the time here and in conversations elsewhere. Some get it. Many don’t. Somebody posted here he’s praying for another ice age. Not a bad idea that…
Not that is you business but, I have been on SS for 11years, my wife took me to the hospital when I had heart pauses ( the fire dept. Ambulance blew a fan belt transporting our friend, he did not survive), I let nothing grow around our house and it is covered with concrete, sometimes you have to get off your butt and make your own luck. SEMPER FI
I think that in Oregon school bus drivers are a mix of public/private employers. Bigger districts work typically(I think) for a company like Laidlaw, while smaller districts work for the school district. Kinda “pseudo” government overall.
We had two large stores in town (Pop 900) closed for good this week alone. Our seasonal jobs are shutting down for winter, and the towns and highways will be mostly void of traffic. We had our lowest attendance ever at the campgrounds this past year. We had a greater number of people staying at FREE campsites more than I ever saw so it speaks volumes on the economy.
We have 40,770,000 more people now in the US than in the year 2000, but we have 3,566,221 less jobs than in 2000. That itself is a warning our economy is failing badly. According to population growth, we never had a job recovery and have been in a Job DECLINE since 2000.
If you check out the Debt Clock website you will see personal debt never goes down and is racing upwards. This means it is not getting paid off and people are borrowing more money than ever. Wait until Obamacare implodes. Interesting webpage, it shows our decline in real time.
Some of you have noticed a lot of available jobs in larger cities, but there are fewer jobs elsewhere that must be taken into account. One example is NE Minnesota where the jobs have left and it is changing areas into ghost towns. Free trade agreement with China shut down the steel and ore industry, and in other areas when the oil industry went bust last year, not to mention Detroit car industry that hasn’t come back.
There’s nothing I can do but prepare and hope others get on board.
Here in Charlotte NC Local Gov & Businesses are excited. They state that there are lots of jobs & people are moving in from other parts of country to get the jobs.
I’ve checked the website Indeed & only jobs I’ve seen are Computer, seasonal, & General & chef jobs.
East side of town lot of stores have closed.
When I go to grocery store I notice that people are not buying much at all. Prices of food like meat has gone up along with the produce. Dog food also has risen. I found it’s cheaper to just feed my dog the meat that I eat.
Next time she catches a rabbit, we might have that for dinner.
Just kidding. I could not kill “thumper”.
The problem is that no matter where you live, country, city, suburbs many people are on Gov.assistance. For some, the assistance is such that any job under $15 an hour would be considered a”cut” in pay. The freebies they get are worth way more and would be lost if they took a real job.
Many have lost their work ethic after getting paid for being home for a couple years.
If people had to wait in food lines every day then all would see how truly bad and how many people are really not working and on assistance. They came up with EBT/WELFARE debit cards in order to hide how really bad it is. Guaranteed you all have been in a store check out line with people who use these cards to buy their stuff. Just looks like any other card so they are not “stigmatized “. I call BS. It’s so the public doesn’t know how prevalent it is now.
When my youngest was in High school they had a class for all the pregnant girls (30 +) to teach them how to get the maximum benefits from the Gov. Forget getting an education. Just make sure to only have 4 kids cuz no extra cash for 5.
Girls having their tubes tied at 23 so no chance of a fifth” accident”. Have you ever met a Grandma under 30 years old? I have and she was happy because her 13 year old would be bringing a second “income” into the house. Her words BTW. Lest you think I’m racist she is a white woman.
I too see many of the jobs are part time. Some 4 hours or less. Many are not much above minimum wage.
I believe most who don’t see how bad it is are those with local, state and federal jobs..They get these jobs, always get pay increases no matter their job performance and almost ALL NEVER have to worry about being fired or laid off. So they have no point of reference to gauge what the private sector is struggling with.
My niece’s father in law retired as a junior high principal at 54 with 80% pay and free medical for life. And you wonder why you have to buy all your kid’s school supplies including 2 rolls of TP and PT?
Almost all Gov. employees and the gimme dat free are fleas and ticks feasting on the dog body that is our country. A dog not treated and given relief will eventually die. Ticks and fleas then jump off looking for a new host. Problem is once the American “dog” is dead there will be no other dog for them to jump too. Except you and me…
That was the best explanation of the state of our country I have read, well written.
Wow, well said…..we have a 76% rate in my county of folks on assistance of some sort. 76%!!!
My DH and I have worked our entire lives, and paid into SS since we were 14. Guess what?….told, not a public office, go away unless you have an appointment….then get the appointment and wait a long time for it, then go….not ready for you!
Why are you here? Why aren’t you working? Are you disabled? No, just OLD! AND, BTW paid in since I was 14…..Eligible now. Told he should wait 4 more years to get the max benefit…..when we told the lady it would take 13 years 5 months to make up the loss of income starting today….she shrugged! Not a nice system for us seniors!
Keep prepping folks….likely to get ugly!
PW,
Truth is they are hoping your DH kicks the bucket before the 4 years are up. Then you get some measly survivors benefits instead of his true amount. My LDS friend calls it the secret combinations of conspiring men (and women). All these people secretly conspiring against the common American. Despicable behavior by despicable evil people. All these sheep stupidly helping them do it…
Bill Jenkins…..you are exactly correct! They want him GONE! However, I want him with me for several more years! So, when we first moved out of the city I told him stay home….build the ranch, go with me when I have time off, enjoy life a bit more….we were 50 when we moved here. Nobody was going to hire him at 50 down here for anything other than hard labor….wanted him to be with me instead.
His measly ss will be his small slush fund. He earned it, he should have it!
Pioneer Woman,
My advice is to take SS now, while it is still available. Hillary is going to make illegals eligible for SS benefits and so the fund will run out of money before the 13 years is up. Get it while you can.
That was my position when I turned 60 and was having trouble seeing (didn’t know then I had cataracts.) Anyway, I took my widow’s benefit at age 60, which was a little more than half what it would have been had I waited until I was 66.
Then a few years ago, SS notified me that I would get $40 more if I switched to 100% my own benefit instead of 60% of my husbands, since I had continued working part time. After I talked to our local office (here in WY there is not a long wait) I found that if I waited until I was 72, I would have about $160/mo more. So that is what I did, even though the local rep tried to talk me into taking the extra $40/mo right then. It turns out that if you wait until AFTER you reach retirement age, you get an extra 8% per year (40% more it you wait 6 years), so even though I didn’t earn nearly as much as my husband, and had lots of years of zero earnings when we were self employed and all our earnings went into his SS account, I wound up with more because 140% of my benefit was more than 60% of my husband’s.
I don’t know your situation, but you should check all the options. If your husband retired on less now, he may be eligible for more as your spouse later on and could possible switch to the higher benefit. (I am not sure, but I think the spousal benefit is 50% and a widows or widowers benefit is 75%. So if he should outlive you, he would be eligible for 75% of what your benefit was. Same with you, if you outlive your husband, you might be able to switch to a higher benefit based on his earnings instead of yours.)
DaisyK,
Great explanation, you caught my attention since I am starting the Medicare(65 in November) process this month. I set up an appointment with the local Social Security office since they will walk me through Medicare (Part A), the other parts I do not need with my current work insurance, but want to prevent any penalties (could do it online but want to be exact since there is no going back, or do overs).
So after setting up the Medicare appointment I get two form letters stating what to bring for my SS application, ah no, but ignore the process grinding along and will show up for a Medicare appointment. In 2017 I will hit my “formal” SS retirement age of 66, so next year my DW and I start the SS process tango to figure out max bennies for each (spousal benefits, etc…). Depending on how long I continue to work (mentally I have pulled the ripcord this year).
Since this thread is about Labor Day, it’s a new type of labor to figure out Medicare, SS with all the options and not screw up.
In 1933 the unemployment rate was 25%. The real unemployment rate today is….25%. The “election” should probably be called the “appointment” (of the chosen). Obama said it a long time ago “Trump will not be the president of the United States”. A historical next few months no doubt, and that’s just what we can see. I feel that its just the tip of a very large iceberg.
Prep Hard!
Should you get the opportunity, you must see the movie HILLARY’S AMERICA, be sure to drag you kids along. Them knowing what has and is happening is the only chance for America to survive.
Yeah, the DHS wants to run the election– what could go wrong??
Along side the UN!!!
58,000 joined the nonparticipating in the work force in August. America is heading for a world of hurt people. Get ready!!!
I left the rolls of the working 5 years ago. I pay no taxes but receive no benefits. I found side jobs and hobbies could pay more than most employers was willing to pay a 50+ old fart. The math of work is not taught to kids.
8$ X 40 is 320- 100 taxes =220- 60 (120 miles at .50)= 160- 50 (lunch and drinks) = 110 to pay bills a week. Now the bad part is I 1 hour drive time + lunch hour means it takes 55 hours a week away from home to bring in 110$ or 2$ an hour. I for one am a happy non contributor!!!!!
From a CNS article dated Sept 2, 2016:
Government employees in the United States outnumber manufacturing employees by 9,932,000, according to data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Federal, state and local government employed 22,213,000 people in August, while the manufacturing sector employed 12,281,000.
The 22,213,000 government employees in August, according to the BLS, included 2,790,000 federal employees, 5,120,000 state government employees, and 14,303,000 local government employees.
(And just think, the number of government employees does not include govt contractors or ‘feeder’ jobs!!!)
Ken;
Your opening sentence seems to say it all.
How and Why would anyone with more than two semi working brain cells actually believe what the MSM or anyone in the .gov tell them??? Seriously, every time the MSM reports something it’s proven wrong. AND most defiantly our leaders (ALL OF THE LEADERS) do nothing but lie and pad their pockets every time they open their mouths.
In addition take any/every alphabet soup agency, nothing but lies and misdirection’s…. $19 TRILLION IN DEBT are you friggin kidding me???? And two people running for President that do NOTHING BUT LIE!!!! This is the “Best” that America has??? OMFG you have GOT to be kidding me……. End of first Rant FYI how many $BILLION to Iran so they can build Nukes do destroy us??? Nice Job Obama.
The percentages everyone seems to speak of are so absurd when it comes to “working” Americans it boggles the mind. We are talking about the greatest country in the world, and have the potential to keep the bar high enough to lead the world, but NOOOOOO we (yes even you and I) have lost the desire and will-power to keep this once great nation going. We have become a country of “give-me” and “you owe me a living”. As a side note; I don’t owe you a friggin thing, GET YOUR ASS TO WORK!!!!! And before I get a line from anyone about finding a job, BS, there IS WORK out there…. there is SOMETHING every one of us “can” do. I have NEVER been out of work OR collected a “handout” EVER!!!!!
OK, back on track, Margret Thatcher once said “Socialism is a wonderful thing, until you run out of other people’s money”. That “Other People’s Money” has come to a head… Lastly, if you have worked for what you have and receive, I have ABSOLUTELY no problem with that, if you’re in line for a handout and have NEVER worked besides working the .gov for freebies, (well this is the most un-PC thing I will ever say)……. Go get a friggin JOB or go back to where you came from, for I am sick and tired of supporting people that have never even tried to find work, and WILL NOT work even if handed to them…… Yes Yes Yes, I know there are times when people need “help”, I have no problem, but you have BETTER be willing to work and NOT FRIGGiN BE ON DRUGS to receive that help. End of Rant number two.
OK, to cool off a little, Unofficial End of Summer. That’s an understatement; nights here are in the mid-40s, and highs in the upper-70s. It went from the mid-high 90s to the 70s in 2 weeks, expecting it to snow in a week… HAHAHA.
Yes you are absolutely correct, time to get the winter “Stuff” ready. Hit the firewood hard and get out that extra layer of clothing. Hunkering down for the winter may have an altogether different meaning this year. I’m putting money on a very long cold wet winter. Lots and lots of snow and below normal temps; just a gut feeling for sure. So y-all need to make sure to get those propane tanks filled and the firewood piled up high. Also make sure to winterize the vehicles, and get the Dog a nice warm Dog-Bed.
I want to again state that being prepared has NADA to do with TEOTWAWKI, it has everything to do with even the most minor SHTF. Being prepared or living the “Lifestyle” IS living prepared and/or ready for that loss of job, or flat tire, maybe even when the kitchen stove gives up the ghost. If you have not, please, if nothing else just get a few extra cans of food and a couple of cases of water tossed into the hall closet. Thank You.
OK, the Old Fart is about finished. For those that are having a hard time, I want to tell you about my Mom. Born in 1922 and “just that age” to see and learn from the Depression, Saw WWII and many wars since, we talked about being so poor and such a cold winter they actually had to move into only one room for 8 of them just to stay warm and to survive, we talked about her Husband (my Father) that did WWII and came back mostly in one piece.
Mother of 3 stubborn boys and wife of the “BEST FATHER EVER” her words, not mine, although I believe number 3 was the best HAHAHAHA. We all grew up understanding what it meant to be an American, and to Honor this Country. We (my family) grew up understanding hard work, and I do mean HARD WORK because of how my Mother and Father taught us. I am proud to be where I am in life as much as I am proud to Love this country, BUT I feel I am one of the dying breed, I look around and see this country falling on its knees to everyone/anyone who want to take from us, US!!!!
It’s not just from me, but from everyone of US. I talked to my Mother last night for the better part of 3 hours. My friends, she is scared to death of what’s happening to the United States or America. We talked about the social aspects, the economic crash that’s coming, the degrading of the public, we even talked about the Great Depression and how it’s happening again exactly the same, and yes we even talked of the possibility of another World War. Honestly it breaks my heart to hear my Mother talk like this at the age of 94, and she sees everything she and my Father worked so hard for, disappear because of what WE have allowed. And yes I said “WE” I will not put the blame on others; I take the burden just as much. Rant number three over.
With all that said, I have only one “warning/caution” if you have not yet, one might start getting prepared for that long cold winter to come. And I’m not just talking food and water here.
NRP
PS; I would NOT try burning or walking on the Flag of the United States of America when I’m around…… Let’s just leave it at that… ok?
NRP, exactly right. We should be a country running trillion dollar surpluses or better yet tax reductions across the board. Can’t do that with half the population on the dole.
One thing no one mentioned was that the county, state and federal employees got paid for not working. Do the math on what labor day or free money day cost the tax payers Monday. Staggering and they get like 10 or 12 more plus at least 2 weeks vacation. Don’t forget a couple weeks sick days to boot. All paid by the tax payer. Now if any “had” to work they get double time pay. NICE!!
I got my hair cut yesterday. 2 county workers in there after “work” talking about making 42.25 an hour and how great it was to be paid $84.50 an hour and told they could leave 2 hours early to boot.
I was at the barber at 2. So these guys got paid $169 each to be at the barber shop. NICE! So they each got paid $676 Monday.
So tell me folks how long does it take you to make $676 ?
NRP, we have done it to ourselves. We are allowing these ticks and fleas to bleed our country dry. Wonder what they will do when the American dog dies and no other dog to jump to?
Well said, NRP. You hit the nail on the head.
Someone here said that no one is starting small businesses today. Of course not! Why would you risk everything, work long hours and make $5/hr as a small business person when you can sit on your fat hiney and collect .gov money. There is an entire village near my home that is a testament to government handouts and generational welfare. Run down houses. Dirty kids in the streets. Men and women just sitting on lawn chair on the side walks. Chugging down a cold one.
This is in the middle of the Oil Boom Country. There are well paying jobs around – but he!!, you need to work overtime. Outside. In the weather. Nope. Sit in my chair.
Literally 6 miles up the road is another village – same size. Same school district. Same small town mentality. But people still have a work ethic. There isn’t generational welfare. Houses are nicely kept.
The poor town hates the other village. Jealous. Resentful. It’s a micro-study of economies.
I am a government employee that works with the violent criminally insane inside of a locked environment. Friday before Labor Day I stayed 1/2 a shift because so few people showed up for work. I’ve worked for government agencies for most of my adult life and most of these jobs did not involve sitting at a desk.
I got my start fighting wild-land fire years ago. I worked as a cop during the Reagan years because that is what he wanted to hire. With my freshly minted RN degree and law enforcement background, psych nursing came easy and I got hired. Most of the agencies I have worked for and those I still work for are currently hiring.
I still work for a living. We still work short staffed and I resent being called a parasite.
Happy Labor Day to you all. I worked from 3 to 11 on that day. Yes, we were short staffed then too.
CaliRefugee,
Thank you for the service you provide for the ungrateful. While most folks recognize the need for people such as yourself, some believe that if you’re not laboring with a shovel, you are on some kind of gravy train. Funny thing is, those who denigrate those like yourself, tend to be the very ones who scream for government help the loudest when their cocoon is disturbed.
The irony is I work for a government agency too. I use to work as a logger when the timber industry was king. Every home had a stay at home mother and people had good lives if they would work. Today the only good paying jobs are with some government agency or support for that agency. The point is tax payers money pays for our wages which creates no wealth. This constant drain on our wealth and hyper growth of dept can not sustain itself. Money which represents payment for labor is devalued every minute of the day by dept. The government acts like the laws of economics doesn’t exist. Like people stated above get ready it is going to get a lot harder to survive not easier.
To Wolfgar
I will leave if and when the state pays me in IOU’s the way the governater in California talked about back in 2009 and governor Scott Walker did in Wisconsin. (Pete Wilson paid in IOU’s for 8 months in California in 1992)
In my career area, we are in a Nursing Shortage. I am getting recruitment notices every day at work. I can go back to private sector if needed. I still work the floor and I’m not a manager. (RN’s are very ambitious and they want to promote up quickly) We are short staffed enough that we take turns as to who is in charge…and the charge nurse still empties the garbage cans.
When things got bad in California prior to my exit, private industry was closing down/ taking the hit before State Institutions did. My wife’s company went out of business. I refuse to be the frog in the pond that is heating up. I am the long-time employee reading the Wall Street Journal in my off time before shift starts. I’ve seen things go south before and I’ve survived several civil unrest spells (Rodney King part 2 in Southern CA.) I will wait and see if things go that bad here.
Bottom line, what does it take to get you to relocate? This goes back to the bug out or burrow in question. (question posted last week on this site. and it got lots of responses)