[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

As a general statement about restaurants and their patrons - US Americans are the world's leading restaurant-goers - France is 2nd. I do NOT know WHY this is true, but I would be interested in comments. There is probably a historical component to it and possibly a psychological component to it? Possibly being the country with the highest GNP seems to give us ENTITLEMENT to the "dining-out" experience? Scandinavian countries do not engage in the sport of "eating-out" nearly as much as US Americans. WE are the outlier among the 1st world countries.

With reference to employee wages - since 1975 the average US employee has received NO (zero) wage increases to this date - if you take inflation ( or expressed in constant dollars) into consideration. It has been quite different for employers who on average have done quite well - even currently creating in the US the highest wealth gap for all of the 1st world countries! Interestingly, Jeff Besos and Elon Mush together have more WEALTH than the bottom 40% of US citizens. Is that FAIR? Is that Christian? Is that even sustainable?

I believe in capitalism, so I think the wealth gap is fair. And, the highest income earners pay almost all of the Federal income tax, with the bottom half paying little or no Federal income tax.

[Holpat39]

Many of the fast food restaurants on 466 and 441 have help wanted signs in the window and many have drive thru only. Even The Club rehab at Mulberry has a sign outside saying help wanted. Most of the rehabs and hospitals in Sumter, Lake and Marion Counties are begging for help and calling former employees to come back offering sign on bonuses.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by lindaelane

I've been reading up on this after St. John's Seafood stopped opening for lunch - they are dinner only now. They stated this is because they cannot find enough workers. In the same center Pho Village had one worker taking orders who told me he was exhausted and asked to me if I knew anyone who wanted a job. It is sad. Also, the two sit down restaurants I have visited recently had what I think was service by non-citizens (I feel for those seeking a better life, despite thinking immigration should be for those who are legal, so this is not meant to be a mean comment - and yes, I know some got recent stimulus, but they do not get unemployment so need to work to live.)

Anyway...WSJ reported two things (1) Some people still will not return to jobs out of Covid-fear (2) Many restaurant workers found different jobs when they were laid off during the pandemic.

It rather surprised me that WSJ failed to mention how lucrative unemployment insurance is. According to my understanding, all one must do is state they were "looking for work" and state places they say they sought jobs to continue on it. So, I think high unemployment benefits, even as the nation re-opens, is a reason.

I have begun calling to confirm restaurants are open before going.

Non-citizens working in TV land is NOT a good idea. If the US absorbs too many "non-citizens" from 3rd world countries, then the US will eventually become a 3rd world country. It would be patriotic for restaurant patrons to BOYCOTT restaurants that employ "non citizens". The local police should check citizenship and begin deportation procedures. And The Village residents should push their local leaders to ensure this policy. A restaurant patron needs to give up an inside seat for a burger to prevent the crumbling apart of their country that helped them get a good retirement. Have some patriotism for citizens not "non-citizens".

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

Non-citizens working in TV land is NOT a good idea. If the US absorbs too many "non-citizens" from 3rd world countries, then the US will eventually become a 3rd world country. It would be patriotic for restaurant patrons to BOYCOTT restaurants that employ "non citizens". The local police should check citizenship and begin deportation procedures. And The Village residents should push their local leaders to ensure this policy. A restaurant patron needs to give up an inside seat for a burger to prevent the crumbling apart of their country that helped them get a good retirement. Have some patriotism for citizens not "non-citizens".

I agree, but only 8 states require private employers to use E-verify to confirm that an employee is eligible to work. Florida is not one of them. E-verify can instantly verify a person's eligibility to work, but the restaurant industry is totally opposed to using it. And, local law enforcement has no authority to check citizenship or to deport anyone.

[Pat2015]

That’s the situation everywhere. Is it Culver’s fault just like all the other businesses in the area that they can’t get help when people are sitting at home collecting unemployment from the government which pays more to people than going to work? People when return to work when the government stops paying them to stay home.

[Pat2015]

That tells me that the unemployment supplements from our tax dollars are too much and are discouraging people from going back to work which is killing businesses.

[Pat2015]

Great idea as that would put all the restaurants out of business and increase unemployment.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Aces4

Probably because most of us worked for “slave wages” until our early twenties. The public tit is loaded at this point and you’ll NEVER get people back off of it. Two children family homes have added to this problem in large part with kids who grow up lacking for nothing and the most chores they’ve ever had were walking the dog and making their beds. This problem isn’t limited to TV alone. States are struggling to find competent tradespeople and manufacturing producers. If businesses are able to hire employees, they walk off the job by noon. They state they don’t want to work that hard. Wait until you see what’s coming down the line, try not to end up in assisted living or a nursing home.

Correct about nursing homes. People working there will have gotten inadequate public school education ( to save on property taxes) - they will have trouble reading the medical instructions for what NOT to feed you and they will give out too much or not enough medication. We that end up in nursing homes will pay the price for turning the US into a 3rd world country.

[bonrich]

It’s the beginning of Socialism in our country. Be dependent on the government for your care. Insure a strong voter base to keep that “free” money coming in. Margaret Thatcher said “Socialism is wonderful until you run out of other peoples money.” People, that money you are getting is all of our money we paid out in taxes. The government is not being benevolent.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

This "bonus" was started in the PREVIOUS administration, last year, as the result of the pandemic causing millions of people to be out of work as a result of closures.

While I agree that we're giving too much, I also acknowledge that this is a unique situation that our PLANET has never experienced before, and the attempts to address the situation began over a year ago, when someone else was running the country.

Agreed - failure to react quickly and appropriately to the CV Pandemic has cast a shadow of difficult problems that linger today.

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

Agreed - failure to react quickly and appropriately to the CV Pandemic has cast a shadow of difficult problems that linger today.

Disagree, no one knew what that virus was that quickly. They can’t even give us straight answers now.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by bobdeb

I know this first hand up north in northern NE. Folks have been verbal about making more staying home than working. It causes shortages in staff and repercussions in services.

I'm not making this up. I know. Seasonal folks are laid off not fired. They collect. No need to go back to work.

Free money! Woo Whoo!

For another 80 something weeks. And I sure it will be extended. There not going make $350 plus week working minimum paying jobs, so no incentive to look for work.

[jimjamuser]

Yes, I know. That IS the way it IS. I was thinking out loud about how it SHOULD be!

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

Agreed - failure to react quickly and appropriately to the CV Pandemic has cast a shadow of difficult problems that linger today.

So, where do you think the vaccine came from so quickly? It was ready long before November wasn’t it.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by Aces4

Disagree, no one knew what that virus was that quickly. They can’t even give us straight answers now.

New Zealand and Australia knew and so did Bob Woodward by Feb 2020. Plenty of time to do the right thing. Just that you and I were let down. But someone, not named me chose to forget or ignore it. It's OK I understand the loyalty to a particular party. But beware stepping into that rabbit hole that leads to Joseph Stalinland.