I agree about creatives but I'd add anything connected to education and human services. You keep hearing about the need yet the people complaining about the need refuse to acknowledge that the salaries offered are non-competitive. Then they act like the fact that positions go unfilled has nothing to do with them.
Lately I keep running into articles about Gen-X being unemployable. Yet along with that I noticed a that employers pay $5/hr above minimum wage yet they seem to expect a level of professionalism, dedication, and work ethic more consistent with $25/hr above minimum. Oh well.... I guess they want to keep their high employees turnover
I know there are a lot of good people in all situations. But someone I respect called our (the general public's) situation in terms of those who run things a "lenocracy." Meaning a government of thieves. A permit here, another charge there, new services that never existed and you don't want but have to pay for (and that still don't exist but maybe they will someday). Everywhere you go a hand out waiting for you to put money in it, but very few out to help or even do what they say they're there for. Yes. The view of creatives you describe is exactly right.
First, let me thank you for reading your newsletter. I don't have any trouble with it (yet), but it makes me feel more of "a part of" your community when I hear your voice -- I pay better attention, too.
I don't think there's a lot that's particularly new in the Creators vs. The Money Men these days. Americans have ALWAYS focused primarily on the dollar side of things. Some of our Creators' best work has resulted, from Tom Paine's pamphlets to "Death of a Salesman," but it seemed to me that there used to exist " a bridge too far" as far as monetizing certain things that we at least gave lip service to. We didn't USED to make money from the pain of others so blatantly (yes, except the American Original Sin). We USED to pretend we cared for our fellow citizens; to give long leashes to creators in art, drama, & music (we might not understand what one's getting at, but we're willing to listen to explanations); and to recognize charity & empathy as noble goals.
It's not just the gathering darkness of the political realm, the speed of communication coupled with its worldwide reach means that maintaining originality is extraordinarily difficult, while finding an audience of the like-minded folks appears easier.
But wasn't a goal of Creators back then to educate to inform & to both teach & learn? We NEED to get as many thought-provoking posts to as many as we can -- not just to "normalize," but to change minds.
This is the primary reason it's so critical for as many of us as possible to KNOW our History. It drives home the lesson that we were always here & that we always will be.
That's the great value in your work. The fact there are "extra" incentives is simply icing on the cake.
I see I've rambled on a bit -- sorry. I feel so strongly that it was a GOOD thing we didn't use certain words in conversation; didn't publicly ridicule those not like us; & actively sought to "do better." GenZ gives me hope that they'll find the answer & deliver a brighter future. What you do in videos & newsletters is part of that. Thanks.
😎 Clint, you know more than me about a lot more more things. Now me I just hoover up pointless bits of info and store them into my brain just waiting for a fleeting moment in time they come in useful. At times I even surprised myself on what I have stored away in my RAM banks. It's happened when I have been rambling on (as often happens on here 🥺) and someone says I should put on paper cause once your dead the RAM discharges. Oh I'm getting deep and philosophical 🥴 So 🫂 and Cheers DougT 🇫🇴
Congrats on becoming a best seller!
I agree about creatives but I'd add anything connected to education and human services. You keep hearing about the need yet the people complaining about the need refuse to acknowledge that the salaries offered are non-competitive. Then they act like the fact that positions go unfilled has nothing to do with them.
Lately I keep running into articles about Gen-X being unemployable. Yet along with that I noticed a that employers pay $5/hr above minimum wage yet they seem to expect a level of professionalism, dedication, and work ethic more consistent with $25/hr above minimum. Oh well.... I guess they want to keep their high employees turnover
That's *GEN-Z* that is unemployable.
I know there are a lot of good people in all situations. But someone I respect called our (the general public's) situation in terms of those who run things a "lenocracy." Meaning a government of thieves. A permit here, another charge there, new services that never existed and you don't want but have to pay for (and that still don't exist but maybe they will someday). Everywhere you go a hand out waiting for you to put money in it, but very few out to help or even do what they say they're there for. Yes. The view of creatives you describe is exactly right.
"We were always here and we always will be." I think Clint's work reflects this message and that's why it resonates with me.
First, let me thank you for reading your newsletter. I don't have any trouble with it (yet), but it makes me feel more of "a part of" your community when I hear your voice -- I pay better attention, too.
I don't think there's a lot that's particularly new in the Creators vs. The Money Men these days. Americans have ALWAYS focused primarily on the dollar side of things. Some of our Creators' best work has resulted, from Tom Paine's pamphlets to "Death of a Salesman," but it seemed to me that there used to exist " a bridge too far" as far as monetizing certain things that we at least gave lip service to. We didn't USED to make money from the pain of others so blatantly (yes, except the American Original Sin). We USED to pretend we cared for our fellow citizens; to give long leashes to creators in art, drama, & music (we might not understand what one's getting at, but we're willing to listen to explanations); and to recognize charity & empathy as noble goals.
It's not just the gathering darkness of the political realm, the speed of communication coupled with its worldwide reach means that maintaining originality is extraordinarily difficult, while finding an audience of the like-minded folks appears easier.
But wasn't a goal of Creators back then to educate to inform & to both teach & learn? We NEED to get as many thought-provoking posts to as many as we can -- not just to "normalize," but to change minds.
This is the primary reason it's so critical for as many of us as possible to KNOW our History. It drives home the lesson that we were always here & that we always will be.
That's the great value in your work. The fact there are "extra" incentives is simply icing on the cake.
I see I've rambled on a bit -- sorry. I feel so strongly that it was a GOOD thing we didn't use certain words in conversation; didn't publicly ridicule those not like us; & actively sought to "do better." GenZ gives me hope that they'll find the answer & deliver a brighter future. What you do in videos & newsletters is part of that. Thanks.
😎 Clint, you know more than me about a lot more more things. Now me I just hoover up pointless bits of info and store them into my brain just waiting for a fleeting moment in time they come in useful. At times I even surprised myself on what I have stored away in my RAM banks. It's happened when I have been rambling on (as often happens on here 🥺) and someone says I should put on paper cause once your dead the RAM discharges. Oh I'm getting deep and philosophical 🥴 So 🫂 and Cheers DougT 🇫🇴