The Recession is Over! Really?

By Dave Herwitz, Director of Admissions, ABC Training Center

So the New York Times reported two days ago that while the recession was “officially over,” average household incomes had fallen more in the two years after the recession ended than it did during the recession itself (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/10/us/recession-officially-over-us-incomes-kept-falling.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=recession&st=cse).  That’s absolutely laughable.  That’s like a doctor telling you that you’re cured of an illness yet you’re still feeling terrible and not functioning properly.  That’s like saying that a war is over but bombs are still falling…I can go on and on.  According to the article, “Between June 2009, when the recession officially ended, and June 2011, inflation-adjusted median household income fell 6.7 percent, to $49,909, according to a study by two former Census Bureau officials. During the recession — from December 2007 to June 2009 — household income fell 3.2 percent.”  Look, this is by no means a political commentary or criticism on how any one party is doing its job.  But when is someone in Washington going to step up, declare and ACT like this a true national  emergency?  Once the envy of all nations, we’ve become the poster child for excessive spending and failed economic policies.

Just look around.  When I do, I see nearly 10% unemployment and continuous foreclosures across the country.  There was a time when the people running this country were looked upon as great men and women who were in some way looking out for all of us.  Those days, unfortunately are gone.  So what does that mean?  Well it means that it’s up to you and you alone to better yourself.  Just ask any of the thousands of ABC grads that have come through our doors over the years.  They made conscious decisions to make themselves immune to any economic fluctuations.  They’ve entered fields that have actually grown during this past recession.  Millions upon millions of jobs have been created in the health care field in the past few years.  Additionally, salaries in these fields are expected to increase by a whopping 22% by 2018.  No other career field can boast such figures.

No one  is going to look out for you better than you can.  It’s all about changing the national paradigm.  And it starts with causing change and not simply waiting for it.

Questions?  Comments?  Contact us at [email protected].