Need something else!

:scratch:Is this considered a "real Job"? More so than waiter, waitress, bus boy, real estate agent, house cleaner, restaurant owner, tourist shop owner???
If you move industry into the area, which will provide jobs for higher professionals,won't you still have the resort areas that will need people to preform these jobs? I think the whole problem with the begining of the thread is, FG opened herself up when using the term "real job" many people took offense to this, who is to say what a "real job" is? It sounded high handed and condescending.

Actually, it just seems like her usual diatribe against all change and progress in Walton County. She can't turn the clock back and make all the development, newer residents, and tourists go away. Thankfully, we have not run across other "real natives" that so publicly share her views.

I can understand the "real job" comment. My husband made the same - uh - error several years ago. I was working for a well-loved but underappreciative local merchant, $6.50 per hour with no benefits, juggling care for my son who was then a toddler, netting about $40.00 per week after day care, making no real progress toward a better life except for attending college three nights a week in Fort Walton. My daily loop was house south of Freeport, take Wesley to Freeport, drive to Seaside, drive to Fort Walton, return via Niceville (I HATE HWY 20 TO THIS DAY), pick Wesley up, go home and be wife and mommy, and study.

Graduation day came - and darling Fuzz, who is videotaping it, whispers into the microphone "Finally! Now she just needs a REAL job!"

He meant benefits, home at night, better wages, being treated with respect on the job instead of being treated like "just a little beach girl" (yeah, been called that by customers AND employers before). But, still...

SN,

I have used the "real job" vs. just "the job" before in my life as well. It was in another place and is another story. However, truth be known, I agree with FG in that it would be nice to have more high paying non-service jobs in Walton County--nothing against service jobs mind you. I think that some high paying/high tech/ high responsibility jobs do exist, but most of the tech jobs are centered around Eglin or Tindel Air Force bases and many of the high responsibility jobs are low paying relatively speaking.

I think problem that people have with FG's comments is when she grabs both horns of a dilemma, pulls hard, kicks the bull around and then wonders why no one takes her side. There has to be a side to take for one.

These past few days have offered a perfect example. That is, on one thread she is advocating taking our educational system back to the stone age with censorship and crossing the church/state line, all the while preaching about ridding sowal of non-natives (does that mean American Indians only?), etc., etc., etc….

Then she whips around grabs the other horn and says that we need to attract high paying high tech jobs to the area. How do we do that without getting our kids on the cutting edge of education that we pay for in taxes and that they deserve (and god knows we have more than enough money in the school budget for that). We would also need to get the county population to be accepting of people who would come and bring those businesses to our area and not look at them as a non-person to fleece, ridicule and throw out after their pockets are empty. For either tourist or high tech, we need to be a place where people feel welcome.

Does anyone truly think that companies will relocate their businesses and high skill/high pay jobs to a region that wallows in its own lack of education, then goes on to judge people by the length of intrusion on the native soils? If that is representative of the mindset of the county, then we need to collectively sort out which horn of the dilemma we choose to pursue then either start marketing our warm, smart and friendly area, or put out the beware of dog sign and start building the fence.

Excellent post, Bdarg. I'd like to think that most of us are willing and able to listen to both sides of an issue. To me, this was a case of the message being presented in such an inflammatory manner, that the essence was lost.

BTW...Mr. K is an attorney and he is a service provider.

Thanks, bdarg.

Kitty, Fuzz is a service provider too...but most folks don't want his services

Thanks, bdarg.

Kitty, Fuzz is a service provider too...but most folks don't want his services

...so true!

But they are both sweet service providers!

There are a variety of jobs in this area that require a college education, specialized training, or graduate degree. Just because those aren't the job openings you most often see posted in the want ads doesn't mean this area doesn't employ doctors, lawyers, accountants, stock brokers, architects, engineers, interior designers etc. Based on various definitions all of those folks could be classified as "service" workers.

True, there aren't a lot of factories or high tech computer jobs, but it's not like you only have a choice of 2 jobs.

Bear in mind that chefs go to culinary school for years, most resort personnel have a hospitality or management degree, and just because someone is pouring your drink, answering the phone, or building your house doesn't mean they don't have a college degree.

This is reminding me of the Bob Dylan lyric "you're gonna have to serve somebody".

You know, sometimes folks have to get their blood riled up to actually stir them out of complacency! Walton County was never totally tourism; we always had that as a secondary industry. St. Joe changed that drastically when they quit tree farming, and got into real estate! So now we are just supposed to accept the total tourist trade? I still say, that the life blood of this county is not being represented, even ignored. Unions would be the next step, although I?m not sure that would be a good thing. Business needs to regulate itself voluntarily; the county needs to represent all of its citizens, not just the elite few. Get to a place that we consider our neighbor, our brother, treat people of all social status with respect and consideration. Frankly, it's irrelevant what your opinion is of me, if I'm able to get the topic out and have it discussed, so be it.

So, after your opinions of johnny come lately, non-natives have been trampled, you're offering the other cheek to your neighbor/brother? This seems to fly in the face of most of your previous posts related to new residents vs old. The new to town, low wage earning, non degreed worker is indeed the demographic that rents your units, no?

This is not backpedaling for the term 'real job'?

I have a culinary and hospitality degree though I work in construction. I'm my own boss, make a good living, own property south of the bay, am a patron of the arts, go out to eat and am served by many of my friends. Is my demographic one that fits into your utopia?

I have lived in resort towns all my life. And in every one of the the old guard could be heard saying, 'back in 19xx...' There will always be new people as long as there is a destination. Change and growth are inevitable, and people will still come here to be 'served'.

What industry would satisfy you? Food processing? Manufacturing? High tech? All of these still require a only a handful of managers and many laborers. It's the same scenario that you're lamenting, just north of the beach.

I love your threads btw. Subjects that need to be discussed and will surely generate much debate. It's the tact of your delivery that has me scratching my head though.

I just wonder about all the houses, condos, etc that are being, and have been built, who exactly is going to live in them? Are they all independently wealthy, or are they expecting to find a job here to pay the mortgage? Or, are they going to allow sub leasing and cram a dozen or so into one unit? They talk about affordable housing, affordable for who exactly? Just what can you afford on the salaries that are available? I think they need to do more research on wages in this county, and adjust accordingly. How about giving incentives for having to travel all those miles on 331? Mileage plus vehicle expense?

I just wonder about all the houses, condos, etc that are being, and have been built, who exactly is going to live in them? Are they all independently wealthy, or are they expecting to find a job here to pay the mortgage? Or, are they going to allow sub leasing and cram a dozen or so into one unit? They talk about affordable housing, affordable for who exactly? Just what can you afford on the salaries that are available? I think they need to do more research on wages in this county, and adjust accordingly. How about giving incentives for having to travel all those miles on 331? Mileage plus vehicle expense?

Identify THEY. You are wearing that particular pronoun out. Your post is extremely contradictory. If wealthy people live in the houses then there is no issue, if the inhabitants aren't wealthy and can't find jobs as you seem to intimate, then what's to afford? And please tell me who are "they" that "need to do more research on wages in this county and adjust accordingly" I can't respond until I know. Incentives? From the local businesses overflowing with cash? That's what they need to do- raise prices-that'll get more people through the door, most are struggling enough as it is. I don't think you realize how tough it can be to do business here, you may say you do but by your posts you do not.

Just what can you afford on the salaries that are available? I think they need to do more research on wages in this county, and adjust accordingly. How about giving incentives for having to travel all those miles on 331? Mileage plus vehicle expense?

Wages above state mandated minimum wages are market driven. That is why, in south Walton, the minimum wage is of little use, so if you want wages to go up, people are going to have to quit going to work for those rates.

Just like if you want houses to go down, you are going to have to increase densities and lessen regulations so something can get built. It will all work out in the end.

Identify THEY. You are wearing that particular pronoun out. Your post is extremely contradictory. If wealthy people live in the houses then there is no issue, if the inhabitants aren't wealthy and can't find jobs as you seem to intimate, then what's to afford? And please tell me who are "they" that "need to do more research on wages in this county and adjust accordingly" I can't respond until I know. Incentives? From the local businesses overflowing with cash? That's what they need to do- raise prices-that'll get more people through the door, most are struggling enough as it is. I don't think you realize how tough it can be to do business here, you may say you do but by your posts you do not.

I suppose that's one reason why there are so many empty houses in SoWal? "They" built for people who either didn't come, or couldn't get financing, or what? There are 2 empty developments close to me, "they" would be the ones who bought the land intending to sell lots, or "they" would be the builders building spec houses. "They" need to do more research, would be the county, or real estate people determining what "affordable" housing means. "Local businesses", that would be sole-proprietorships that are struggling because of the recession? Throw out the facts and sort it accurately. Yes, local sole-proprietorships are struggling, many changes have been made that haven't exactly been ethical by our esteemed banking establishments, that will cripple, if not kill those businesses. Unfortunately, sole-proprietorships have no other cushion but what they themselves have provided. Sometimes, that's not enough to survive. If one is not savvy to having their own business in SoWal, they are hard pressed to pay the mortgage that they could have afforded in a larger metropolis where ever they were living before, much less have the benefits of a large company ie insurance, 401k, etc.

Wages above state mandated minimum wages are market driven. That is why, in south Walton, the minimum wage is of little use, so if you want wages to go up, people are going to have to quit going to work for those rates.

Just like if you want houses to go down, you are going to have to increase densities and lessen regulations so something can get built. It will all work out in the end.

Those who have quit working for those wages, have been replaced by foreign workers whose employers get perks for hiring them. That issue could be resolved by unions, however, I'm not sure that's a good thing. Hopefully it will work out in the end, what gives you this confidence in the market?

Those who have quit working for those wages, have been replaced by foreign workers whose employers get perks for hiring them. That issue could be resolved by unions, however, I'm not sure that's a good thing. Hopefully it will work out in the end, what gives you this confidence in the market?

Hmm the only places in south Walton that seem to have a lot of "foreign workers" are Sandestin and Seaside (both managed by Intrawest). That company provides fairly good wages, benefits, etc. In fact they actively make companies that operate on there property provide the same benefits. The foreign workers are generally hire for temporary positions needed during the summer and peak times i.e. house keepers, runners, and other job types that expand and shrink depending on season. I don't understand how these folks take jobs from locals or drive down the local wages? Perhaps you could expand on that statement?

Oh, they also tend to pay a lower wage because they are providing housing on top of a wage.

Oh, they also tend to pay a lower wage because they are providing housing on top of a wage.

Gee, have you been to the Tom Thumb or Waffle House, or even Winn Dixie lately? How about Gap? They are doing it because it's cost effective. It's cheaper to hire foreign workers.

Gee, have you been to the Tom Thumb or Waffle House, or even Winn Dixie lately? How about Gap? They are doing it because it's cost effective. It's cheaper to hire foreign workers.

I really don't understand what you mean by this. You are very unclear in your posts. I wish I could stop responding.

I really don't understand what you mean by this. You are very unclear in your posts. I wish I could stop responding.

...one day at a time!

Gee, have you been to the Tom Thumb or Waffle House, or even Winn Dixie lately? How about Gap? They are doing it because it's cost effective. It's cheaper to hire foreign workers.

I'm in the same boat as elgordoboy. Are you saying that they are hiring foreign workers illegally and paying them less than minimum wage? Winn Dixie is way off my radar, but I do stop in at the Tom Thumb fairly regularly and have noticed some folks that might not be from here, but to say that they are hiring them and paying them less is flat out descrimination. So again I'll ask how they are saving money as no corporation would risk a lawsuit over several dollars an hour in pay?

Sometimes they bring in foreign workers because they can't get enough local workers, not because of a vast conspiracy. Most big companies have set wages - they can't pick and choose the rate based on the person being hired and employment laws apply to all employees, not just the ones who were popped out in the ol' US of A.

In these parts, an advertised white collar job that doesn't require a specialized tech background will commonly draw 50+ applicants. I've been told in interviews down here that I was one of 117 applicants and I should be happy I got as far as the interview stage.

Underemployment is a huge problem down here, and there have been studies to back yp florida girl's points.

As far as foreign workers go, the majority of them are college kids looking for a summer abroad, or people who work winters in Jamaica and summers here and it works out well for employer and employee alike. But human trafficing is a serious and still growing problem in the area. The Okaloosa County Sheriff's Department can tell you many of a story about what's going on in that regard in Destin, and I doubt that problem stops at the county line.

I read on other threads that there aren't enough bodies to fill jobs in SoWal that it faces issues like other tourist places. Now there are more people than jobs? Or do you mean just white collar jobs beachmouse? Florida Girl was using Tom Thumb, WH, etc..as examples. Backpacking Moldavans bumming around America aren't competition for the jobs you were applying for. I know you know this, I am just trying to understand Florida Girls point (if I can).