It's 2009, and the full force of the crisis is about to hit us. Still, I find the whole crisis thing rather amusing.
Economic
This is sacasm, in case you can't notice: It's ok to grow really big. You don't ever have to worry about going bankrupt. When you grow to a certain size, you would hire so much people, and be so interwined in the economic of a country, that the government will never allow you to go bankrupt. If you ever go bankrupt, many many people would go jobless, and that definitely affect the economic very badly. To summarize, just grow, and if you need cash, go for a bailout. So rest assured, keep getting those millions of bonus yearly, and spend on ridiculous holiday trips with the company funds.
Now I got that sacasm out, let's look at the better things.
Let's face it, the current economic model is screwed. Not convinced? Reread my above sacasm. And then see how much national debts US have. And let's see how much they can manage to clear within the next few years.
This can hardly be called a crisis anymore. It feels rather repetitive. And it probably will repeat again in the near future (maybe 10/20 years), until the economic model is revamped.
But let's put that aside too. I am no Financial Guru. I have no solution (short of taking over the whole world and going back to barter trade). IT probably has some help in destroying the current economic, where we are starting to pay for more and more non-tangible - and even useless - products.
This 'crisis' helps force us to re-evaluate our needs. We will only feel more inclined to spend on what we need, rather than what we want. But of course, the business have a way to counter that. Make the things you want really cheap. Look at the latest craze of shopping sales. Netbooks, clothes, and so on. Things are getting really cheap, partially thanks to the mass production from China.
Waste
But take a step and look at it again. How much waste are being generated. Did you just buy a new game console? How long did that old console last? How about that computer? Did you change one every year or two? Upgrades? New clothes? Cars? Televisions? How much of that was still working when we abandon them for something new?
Then think about the third world countries. Where they have not even ate a proper meal (let's just define a proper meal as a small bowl of rice) for years. Maybe even since they were born.
Our resources are depleting, that is a fact. Alternatives are explored daily, but honestly, no viable solution is found yet. Reason is simple. The depleting resources are too lucrative a business. Why invest in solar power, when you could simply raise the selling price of oil, and earn more NOW?
We need to tone down on our style of living, that is for sure. Spend less, and waste less. I'm no saint, and I am definitely guilty of wasting too. But let's all just work towards being a better person. Think twice on buying those new gadgets. Evaluate if you truely need them. See if you can defer the buying.
Industry
You know what the greatest problem in the world now is?
Over-population.
With such a insanely huge population, we need, first, the minimal amount of food to survive. Which, of course, will not be distributed evenly. Just look at the third world countries and the first world countries.
But that is not the point here. My point is the jobs and industries. With such a huge population, even with just the first world countries, you need a huge number of jobs to support them. Giving every one a job. But there can be only such much demand in a particular industry. So much job openings to be filled up.
So what happens? New industries spring up. We have a much more diversified entertainment industry. Singers, dancers, and even gamers (in some way, even the IT industries)
Jobs that does not generate, in a direct way, physical products essential to the survival of mankind as a species.
In fact, they took away valuable resources essentials for the survival of mankind. How much faster would technology advance, if the money spent in the UK soccer industry is spent on medical science? How much more people would be saved? How about shoes (not even clothes yet!) for the poor and needy?
I'm definitely guilty of being in an industry that does not benefit mankind. If any, IT seems to be causing more problem than it solves.
Worth
All things aside, there is seriously no need to worry about being axed. If any, some of us might find it a blessing.
As companies start to get lean, and get rid of excess fats, what remainds are what the company need.
And well, if the company has any sense, it will keep those who are smart and competent.
If not, well, the company is probably not a place where one would want to work in anyway (unless one falls under dumb and incompetent).
And as the slump begin and more people are retrenched, some companies might start to hire, despite the economic downturn. They will be hunting for the polished pearl in the sand.
My point? Know your worth. There is no need to bend in to ridiculous demands during this period, like insanely long working hours, pay cut, etc. At least not for the fear of losing a job. Bend in only if you truely love the company and do not want it to go down under.
Why? Because if you know your worth, and know that you have no problems finding another job easily, you are not under the threat of retrencement. In fact, it might be better. A company that does not understand your worth is definitely not worth working for. And even better, you get a certain amount of compensation, like a few months salary! (I wonder if refusing a pay cut is possible though)
All in all, why worry? The economy is built to be screwed up. You either be strong and stand up to it, or be swept under away and suffer in it.
Posts
