Your phd now comes with food stamps

[MarxSchmarx]

"The media gives us this image that people who are on public assistance are dropouts, on drugs or alcohol, and are irresponsible," she says. "I'm not irresponsible. I'm highly educated. I have a whole lot of skills besides knowing about medieval history, and I've had other jobs. I've never made a lot of money, but I've been able to make enough to live on. Until now."

http://chronicle.com/article/From-Graduate-School-to/131795/

for those of you who don't know "food stamps" are america's way of putting people on the dole so they don't starve to death. From my understanding, the way it works is a voucher of sorts is issued by the american government with which you can purchase certain food items at qualified grocery stores.

The situation for over-educated workers is bad in every country, but for those aspiring to academic careers it has been anemic in all but a few places these last several decades.

Many of you are attending higher education, and are contemplating postgraduate training. I dont think you should go into that career path with any illusions. The fact that not enough people are warned adequately about the realities is testament to the current, massive glut of advanced degree holders.

[Die Neue Zeit]

Comrade, very personally this is old news to me.

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

This is fucked up but it makes me glad I decided to be machinist.

[PC LOAD LETTER]

This is fucked up but it makes me glad I decided to be machinist.
How did you go about doing that?

I'm about to re-start college after a 4-5 year hiatus and I'm having very serious doubts about whether it's worth it or not

Also, MarxShmarx: They don't give you actual food stamps / vouchers anymore. You're just issued a debit card with X dollars per month on it. You use it just like any other debit card but it will only process food items, and will reject other shit (like, I dunno, jeans).

Fully half of my friends are on food stamps... the others are in denial that they need it / don't want to be a "welfare queen". Later this year when I'm back in my own place I'll definitely be on food stamps ... that's a given

[Pretty Flaco]

http://chronicle.com/article/From-Graduate-School-to/131795/

for those of you who don't know "food stamps" are america's way of putting people on the dole so they don't starve to death. From my understanding, the way it works is a voucher of sorts is issued by the american government with which you can purchase certain food items at qualified grocery stores.

just so you know, modern food stamps is like a credit card. ever month you get a certain balance on the card and you can use it on certain foods but nothing with a special tax (like alcohol). once the balance runs out you don't get more money til the next month.

edit: oh canislupus beat me to it. didn't read his post.

[Le Rouge]

Baby boomers are going to die soon.

[Anarcho-Brocialist]

I got a M.S. in Civil Engineering because of this reason. I did want to get a Ph.D. in History, but I knew that there were few jobs besides professing out there for History.

EDIT : The Young Pioneer made an excellent point. I would have rather followed my dreams than to of done engineering.

[The Young Pioneer]

Well fuck me and my Master of the Arts in CULTURE I'm currently getting.

:laugh:

Yeah, it's old news, I've known for a while I'm screwed, but I'm following a passion; at least if I'm homeless one day I'll be one of those badass homeless people with the really great stories. I'd rather live life doing what I love than forcing myself to study something that guarantees me a future space in an office cubicle.

Be that as it may, I should probably immigrate to somewhere with better welfare programs than the US before I begin the job hunt. Finland would be a nice place to return to...

[Workers-Control-Over-Prod]

Well fuck me and my Master of the Arts in CULTURE I'm currently getting.

:laugh:

Yeah, it's old news, I've known for a while I'm screwed, but I'm following a passion; at least if I'm homeless one day I'll be one of those badass homeless people with the really great stories. I'd rather live life doing what I love than forcing myself to study something that guarantees me a future space in an office cubicle.

Be that as it may, I should probably immigrate to somewhere with better welfare programs than the US before I begin the job hunt. Finland would be a nice place to return to...

That's nice, I have no clue what i am going to do... I still live with my parents and don't know whether i should get an ausbildung for some stupid job or try to go to university full time... fuck working for absolute hunger wages, if i didn't have my father housing, feeding and giving me a little money i wouldn't even be able to buy books for myself. I have contemplated doing absolutely nothing but reading until the revolution comes... :crying:

[black magick hustla]

old news. besides it really depends on what you are getting your phd on. everyone i know that went to physics grad school is doing fine. they certainly are not on food stamps or making 13k a year lol.

[Workers-Control-Over-Prod]

old news. besides it really depends on what you are getting your phd on. everyone i know that went to physics grad school is doing fine. they certainly are not on food stamps or making 13k a year lol.

You make 13 thousand a year? That's not bad!

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

How did you go about doing that?

You can go to a simple trade or "vocational technical," school, it takes about a year or so but you become a fully certified craftsman. I think the maximum amount of time a program would be is a little less than 2 years. You can choose from a variety of jobs such as masonry, carpentry, electrical, and so on. I picked machinist because I heard they were in demand considering most of the older machinists are now retiring and I like to work with machines and was already certified to use a lot of them.

[PC LOAD LETTER]

You can go to a simple trade or "vocational technical," school, it takes about a year or so but you become a fully certified craftsman. I think the maximum amount of time a program would be is a little less than 2 years. You can choose from a variety of jobs such as masonry, carpentry, electrical, and so on. I picked machinist because I heard they were in demand considering most of the older machinists are now retiring and I like to work with machines and was already certified to use a lot of them.
How is the work? Is it extremely physically demanding? Long/short/average work week? Decent pay? Most of all, do you enjoy it?

I'm going to look into the tech schools near here ...

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

I should point out, I just started and I'm an apprentice but here is what I would say thus far. I also would say, the answers would be dependent on what trade you go for, I'll just assume you're asking about machinist work.


How is the work?

I actually love the work, I love working with machines and everything involved and I try to pay as much attention to detail as possible as I don't think I'm just some dumbshit who just shows up and does a piss poor job, I want to be a craftsmen and take pride in my work. I've actually met some old timers who don't need any of the new equipment whom can, just by memory and craftsmanship get things down so precisely down to the last millimeter.


Is it extremely physically demanding?

I wouldn't say excessively compared to some other jobs.


Long/short/average work week?

I think the standard would be just 40 hours weekly, 8 hours daily.


Decent pay?

From what I understand it's very decent pay, the average yearly salary for a machinist ranges from 40-50k.


Most of all, do you enjoy it?

I love it, it may be tedious and so on but I'm glad I decided to go through with schooling.


I'm going to look into the tech schools near here ...

I will say, for what you pay and how quickly you can complete it, it's worth it. At the very least, you could go through with it, work and if you end up not liking it, you still have a trade and could maybe take side classes during your off time for something else. I'm content with it though.

[Left Leanings]

Tory Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, once proposed introducing food stamps in the UK, for the unemployed. She didn't like the idea of cash benefits too much. They weren't stigmatizing enough for her. The idea was never taken up, cos the rumpus peeps would have kicked-up would have been just too great.

I think peeps claiming asylum used to get food stamps for a while, whilst their refugee status was being determined. Not sure if this is the case now, however.

And the Young Pioneer is right. Study what interests you and what you enjoy. Education is for life, and for yourself. A job's a job. We spend most of our lives working, so why not have a few good interesting years of study before the drudgery begins.

I had good results in my A-Levels, sufficient to study Law if I had so chosen, and at a good uni. The starting salary for Law graduates tends to be pretty good, especially if they undertake training to be a solicitor or barrister after graduation.

But the thought of studying Law appalled me. It would have bored me ragged. So I did Politics and Religion instead, two areas of concern that have always interested me :) :star:

[PC LOAD LETTER]

I should point out, I just started and I'm an apprentice but here is what I would say thus far. I also would say, the answers would be dependent on what trade you go for, I'll just assume you're asking about machinist work.



I actually love the work, I love working with machines and everything involved and I try to pay as much attention to detail as possible as I don't think I'm just some dumbshit who just shows up and does a piss poor job, I want to be a craftsmen and take pride in my work. I've actually met some old timers who don't need any of the new equipment whom can, just by memory and craftsmanship get things down so precisely down to the last millimeter.



I wouldn't say excessively compared to some other jobs.



I think the standard would be just 40 hours weekly, 8 hours daily.



From what I understand it's very decent pay, the average yearly salary for a machinist ranges from 40-50k.



I love it, it may be tedious and so on but I'm glad I decided to go through with schooling.



I will say, for what you pay and how quickly you can complete it, it's worth it. At the very least, you could go through with it, work and if you end up not liking it, you still have a trade and could maybe take side classes during your off time for something else. I'm content with it though.
Awesome, I appreciate the response

[WanderingCactus]

Well fuck me and my Master of the Arts in CULTURE I'm currently getting.

:laugh:

Yeah, it's old news, I've known for a while I'm screwed, but I'm following a passion; at least if I'm homeless one day I'll be one of those badass homeless people with the really great stories. I'd rather live life doing what I love than forcing myself to study something that guarantees me a future space in an office cubicle.

Be that as it may, I should probably immigrate to somewhere with better welfare programs than the US before I begin the job hunt. Finland would be a nice place to return to...

This is basically my attitude as well. My education is going to be centered in an area that will leave me with fuck all chance of getting a job, but I'd rather be pursuing my interests than having my soul systematically crushed by a factory job or some such.

[Pretty Flaco]

You make 13 thousand a year? That's not bad!

youre kidding right?

[Os Cangaceiros]

Yep, people were definitely lied to vis-a-vis degrees. Like, just go get your degree! It won't matter what you get it in, just so long as you get it! A degree is your ticket for lifelong success! At least, that was the propaganda back in my day.

It's right up there with the other great economic lie that fucked a ton of people, that everyone NEEDS to own their own home in the USA. I'm not sure what's the bigger bubble, although I've seen economists say that the higher education bubble may be even bigger, as higher education is one of the only things that only goes up in price, year after year, with the exception of healthcare.

Might be better to look into something like vocational technology (ie skilled labor of some sort or another), if you're not a huge egghead like black magick hustla. :closedeyes:

[Left Leanings]

Yep, people were definitely lied to vis-a-vis degrees. Like, just go get your degree! It won't matter what you get it in, just so long as you get it! A degree is your ticket for lifelong success! At least, that was the propaganda back in my day.


Same in the UK back in the mid to late 1980s. Get your A-Levels, get a degree, and you're made for life. Interesting and well-paid job more-or-less guaranteed, and earning loads more than those who never bothered with uni.

What a crock of shit that was back then, and an even bigger crock today, what with tuition and subsistence loans, mass unemployment, high rents, homes being repossessed, mortgages out of the reach of many peeps... :star: