McJobs: Fast food career the new American dream?

**racefactory** · 6th June 2011, 17:13

Do you get a rough idea of where things are heading yet?

So what do you do? Encourage your kids to go uni and have them burdened with a mortgage before they even start saving for a house with no job prospects to speak of, or get them 'ahead of the game' and 'kickstart their career' in the fastest growing segment of the economy at maccers? As the perpetually cancerous growth of the big M spreads and people count down the ticking time bomb of redundancy, that decision is absolutely no joke now. A prosperous career with the golden arches awaits the more fortunate of our children- on the job training, food, job security. Who could wish for anything more?

**Blackbird** · 6th June 2011, 17:46

Scary stuff! Our 3 kids all went through uni, are debt-free and have decent jobs. It was their individual decisions to go to uni and we supported that. It doesn't make them redundancy proof but their time there did teach them to think on their feet and hopefully, that's the thing which will keep the wolf from the door in tough times.

You don't need to have gone to uni to have a good life, but you do need a good attitude, a bit of drive and the ability to think on your feet. I hate politics but I honestly think that the Labour Party, certainly in Helen's day; put too much weight on the welfare state as a safety net and the dumbing down of school values also ignored the realities of working life.

**racefactory** · 6th June 2011, 17:47

Originally Posted by Blackbird

Scary stuff! Our 3 kids all went through uni, are debt-free and have decent jobs. It was their individual decisions to go to uni and we supported that. It doesn't make them redundancy proof but their time there did teach them to think on their feet and hopefully, that's the thing which will keep the wolf from the door in tough times.

Bloody good on them.

**Mom** · 6th June 2011, 17:58

I have 3 kids, one with a degree and a student loan. She is working now and really looking forward to being debt free.

My son is working, earning good money. He did a short (6 month) course at the end of school and has been earning ever since.

Youngest left school and worked in a restaurant/cafe/chemist or where ever she could to earn some coin. She is currently working partime in a cafe and doing a Diploma in Early Childhood Education.

Too many kids these days go to university and get, as I read somewhere today, an entrance degree to start work at McD's. Sad times. My eldest went to Uni because she had a dream and followed it. The other two did not want to go. All decisions I supported wholeheartedly.

**Oblivion** · 6th June 2011, 19:03

Originally Posted by Mom

All decisions I supported wholeheartedly.

Thats what most parents say, even if they are not happy about it on the inside. I just wish high schools would be the same. They just force University shit down you throat until you can't take anymore. That's why some Uni graduates are jobless. Because employers value experience over a fancy piece of paper.

**Mom** · 6th June 2011, 19:13

Originally Posted by Oblivion

Thats what most parents say, even if they are not happy about it on the inside.

Interesting observation, and for a large part true I think. We do have HUGE visions for our kids futures. We hope they dont repeat the mistakes we made etc.

But depending on where you are at personally, you can genuinely be delighted for your children no matter what...

Healthy comes top of the list, happy comes second, income matters not a damn!

**Blackbird** · 6th June 2011, 19:14

Originally Posted by Oblivion

Because employers value experience over a fancy piece of paper.

And a great attitude....

**racefactory** · 6th June 2011, 19:18

And a superstar team member...

**mashman** · 6th June 2011, 19:30

Originally Posted by racefactory

And a superstar team member...

you shoulda left the other bit in too... there's plenty of people who feel that way.

**Oblivion** · 6th June 2011, 19:43

Originally Posted by Mom

Interesting observation, and for a large part ture I think. We do have HUGE visions for our kids futures. We hope they dont repeat the mistakes we made etc.

But depending on where you are at personally, you can genuinely be delighted for your children no matter what...

Healthy comes top of the list, happy comes second, income matters not a damn!

Even if they do end up making the same mistake, its not like the outcome will be the same. They are not you and you are not them. When the time comes for me to start a family, as long as they are happy for where they stand in life, I won't intervene. I reckon a hard part of being a parent is learning when you should let them make their own decisions, no matter the consequence.

And is that meant to be true not ture?

**geoffm** · 6th June 2011, 20:21

It depends on what your kids want. I have spent many years at uni (no I never failed any exams) and it was worth it for me, but when I did my BE, fees were $130 the first year then rocketed up to $1350 the folloing year. A min wage job was around $6/hour, but a combination of a good holiday job and bursary you could get through. The main value was the MEFE I did a few years ago as an adult student, and having some skills in an exclusive area. Nowadays, I would have to look carefully at going to uni, and many uni degrees are worth zip. They also restrict you to a small field or area.
IMO, don't understanding a good trade - a good sparky or plumber can make good bucks, and can live anywhere in the country to do it- which makes for cheaper living, being closer to the outdoors, and most importantly, not being in Auckland.
G

**xen** · 6th June 2011, 23:31

But what happens when robots start taking over McD jobs leaving these people without 'careers'? Have a read of http://www.marshallbrain.com/robotic-nation.htm its easy to see that its going that way - as soon as a robot costs less to do the same job as a human, the decision would be made to switch over to increase profits.

From vid "The richest four hundred americans hold more wealth than the bottom 50% combined" < big part of the problem right there.

**racefactory** · 6th June 2011, 23:44

That's right. People then go from the service industry into unemployment and once you get to the magical number where dole payments can't be made then there is insurrection and possibly a human cataclysm due to over dependence on agriculture and this STUPID MACCERS SHIT!

When the social contract is broken, the people must revolt.

**mashman** · 6th June 2011, 23:56

Originally Posted by xen

But what happens when robots start taking over McD jobs leaving these people without 'careers'? Have a read of http://www.marshallbrain.com/robotic-nation.htm its easy to see that its going that way - as soon as a robot costs less to do the same job as a human, the decision would be made to switch over to increase profits.

From vid "The richest four hundred americans hold more wealth than the bottom 50% combined" < big part of the problem right there.

I wish they'd hurry along with them things