667,000 New 1st-Time Jobless Claims Last Week

What if every family who ISN'T suffering from this recession pulled in their belts and supported one out-of-work person? Those of us with secure jobs could hire a person to do work around the house, be live-in nanny, housekeeper, etc. By now, we all know someone who's out of work. The trick is to let this become a mainstream action. Pay it forward. So people accepting help don't feel ashamed for accepting that help.

Being on unemployment for the first (and hopefully the only and last) time SUCKS!! I am talking from personal experience...

If I lose my job I'm just buying an RV and using the recession as an excuse to experience freedom (albeit it poorly funded) while returning to school to find my dream career.

(Or at least that's the plan. At least I'm hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.)

Re: Jobs lost due to outsourcing, etc. Consider this: General Motors pays $10 billion a year for healthcare for retired employees. Wonder why companies outsource to foreign countries that have universal coverage?
Maybe America needs to join the rest of the civilized world and eliminate insurance companies and have universal healthcare. Think of the jobs that would save.
Not to mention that the American healthcare system is a crime against humanity and every year people with insurance die or go bankrupt because treatment is delayed or denied.
Note: If you chose to reply do not use the words "Canada" or "socialism" because I've heard that lame argument too many times.
Want a job? Get universal healthcare first and watch the country grow!

I was laid off a month ago from a local Chicago known electronics & appliance company thats been around since 1936. Never before in their history have they had to lay people off due to "tough times".

I have very little hope in the future honestly.

JINDAL 2012

I'm glad it wasn't 666,000. We'd have nutjobs stoked over the impending reign of fire.

VIVA BUSH!

My advise is, if you have a job, hang on to it even if you hate it.

Sigh, I might have to join that list. I'm only working 16 hours a week. I've used 2 weeks to look for a new job and nothing yet.

I'm very optimistic though. I know something will come around.

And this is what I'm going to link Republicans to if I hear any more bitching about the stimulus package.

Islek- I like your perspective on the situation, and I would add that it needs to go "up" for the right reasons.

My former company laid off about 8% of its workforce worldwide... I am REALLY glad (selfishly) that I went back to grad school with a fellowship...

Just like with the booming economy over a decade ago, what goes up eventually comes down. The good news is that what goes down will eventually go back up. Here's hoping it happens sooner rather than later for the sake of all of these families losing income.

This is getting out of control, but good luck to the people out there looking fro a job. KEEP YA HEAD UP!

this doesnt look good : (

Where is the bottom? Is there one?