Welcome to another edition of "Signs the Economy is Bad" here at The Itinerant Librarian. This is the semi-regular (as in when I have time and/or feel like doing it) feature where I scour the Internet in search of the oh so subtle hints that the economy is bad. Sure, pundits may say things are getting better, but what do they know? And to show not all is bad, once in a while we look at how good the uber rich have it.
It has been a while since I've done one of these posts, but I managed to find enough signs the economy is bad for this week. So without further ado, let's get on with it.
Education News
- LinkedIn, the "Facebook of Careers," is betting AI (artificial intelligence, the buzzword every other employer wants to hitch their wagon on) can make college degrees obsolete. Story via Axios. They are betting things like soft skills and workshops to supposedly keep people current will be the new wave. A little detail they may not be considering, mentioned in the article: "As of 2021, there was a growing earnings gap between those with a
four-year degree and those without and the unemployment rate for college
graduates was still lower than that of Americans without degrees, per Pew Research." Maybe, for some folks at least, getting that degree is still a good idea.
Rural News
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Dollar General, the stores known to go to places that not even Walmart would go, is now trying its hand at offering urgent care clinic care with mobile clinics. Story via NPR. A visit is not necessarily affordable starting at $69 dollars for folks without insurance; they do take insurance if you have it, but why would you if you have insurance? That is but one of the questions. Naturally investment analysts and some rural care advocates are salivating at the idea, the former for the money they can likely make, the latter to fill the notorious gaps the United States has when it comes to rural health care. However, locals may be reluctant or skeptical about a clinic on wheels in a discount store's parking lot. At any rate, another example of the significant gaps in health care in the United States and letting the private sector patch it up because heaven forbid the U.S. does something like a national health care program.
Health and Medical News
- Nurses already have a hard time in the Bad Economy, and now they are exposed to further exploitation when they get hired as if they were Uber drivers or rather "Uber nurses" for hospitals and other facilities. Story via The 19th. Turns out a lot can go wrong when you hire nurses as gig workers.
The Bad Economy Around the World
- There are still plenty of adults who live with their parents to save money and/or because they can't afford their own place. The CBC has a look at a few of them up in Canada.
In Other News of the Bad Economy
- Not surprising it turns out credit unions, often lauded as the virtuous and wholesome alternative to big banks, can be just as much assholes and profiteers as those same big banks. Story via Politico. Unlike banks, credit unions have less disclosure requirements usually, but a new law in California meant they had to disclose things like how much they skinning their clients with overdraft fees.
- Many people may be losing their child care as additional child care funds from the pandemic days dry up. Story via NPR. Situations like this affect a lot of people: the child care workers who may not stay due to low pay, the centers possibly closing if they lack workers, and the families who depend on said child care centers so the adults in the family can go work. It really is a domino effect.
- Not really a new story, but U.S. insurers are leaving states with high climate risks, you know, places prone to things like hurricanes. Story via Scheerpost. Because a lot of Americans, especially in red states, may not believe climate change is a thing. But insurance companies sure do realize the effects of climate change on their wallets when they have to keep paying claims in the same disaster prone areas over and over.
- Costco is getting ready to raise prices on their memberships. Story via The Hill. On a disclosure note, we do shop at Costco, which we also prefer vastly to Sam's Club, which we used to do before but dropped when we moved to Costco. Overall, works well for us, and I think as long as the increase is not outrageous, we'll probably stay.
- No one is safe from inflation, not even Girl Scout cookies. Yes, they are raising prices again. Story via Salon. It appears the price, at least in some places, is going up from $5 to $6 per box.
- And if you wanted coffee with those cookies, well, coffee is getting expensive too, more so if you are one of those people who insists on getting fancy lattes from Starbucks. Vox explains why that latte now can be at $7 dollars.
Hustlin' in the Bad Economy
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In a bit of a follow up as well as an illustration that school teachers are not paid enough, that Missouri school teacher who got suspended because some snitch told the school district she had an adult OnlyFans site with her husband has decided to resign and devote herself full time to her porn business. Story via The New York Post. How good is the side hustle now full time venture? Well, prior to the "scandal," her "channel raked in between $8,000 and $10,000 per month, which has at least doubled after word of her suspension got out." You got to hustle in the Bad Economy, and this now former teacher certainly has it going.
Uber Rich
- Bob Menendez, U.S. Senator from New Jersey recently indicted for corruption, may not be doing as well these days. However, a business he tended to favor is doing fine, and may be reaping rewards from Menendez's love for gold. Yes, the precious metals industry has gotten a bump in business thanks to the corrupt honorable senator from New Jersey. Story via Politico.
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