By Michael A. Fletcher Washington Post Staff Writer
OCALA, FLA. - After losing his way in the old economy, Laurance Anton tried to assure his place in the new one by signing up for green jobs training earlier this year at his local community college.
Anton has been out of work since 2008, when his job as a surveyor vanished with Florida's once-sizzling housing market. After a futile search, at age 56 he reluctantly returned to school to learn the kind of job skills the Obama administration is wagering will soon fuel an employment boom: solar installation, sustainable landscape design, recycling and green demolition.
Anton said the classes, funded with a $2.9 million federal grant to Ocala's workforce development organization, have taught him a lot. He's learned how to apply Ohm's law, how to solder tiny components on circuit boards and how to disassemble rather than demolish a building.
The only problem is that his new skills have not resulted in a single job offer. Officials who run Ocala's green jobs training program say the same is true for three-quarters of their first 100 graduates.
"I think I have put in 200 applications," said Anton, who exhausted his unemployment benefits months ago and now relies on food stamps and his dwindling savings to survive. "I'm long past the point where I need some regular income.",,,,,,, More here
14 comments:
great image Chris ..it says it all doesnt it!!:)
"Green" jobs went up in smoke when the hippies stuffed them in their bongs.
Sorry, I keep forgetting to click "log in as" button. That's twice I've appeared as "guest"
One of my own making Angel and thank you :) . I see your link to new digs and will make the appropriate changes. 8-)
Well Inno it would seem those<span> real</span> green jobs are on a big comeback medical marijuana.
The motivator is one of my own making Angel so thank you. This "green" stuff is all a farce and leading people down a path to nowhere.
The only real green jobs are the one's that put green backs in the pockets of those willing to work for it.
I agree with Inno, the stuff that is being smoked back in DC are the puff dreams of magic green dragons. (Sorry that jadedfellow keeps rearing his head, but he was a comic super hero back in the day.)
Thanks for the single blade of grass. Your seeds of thought will bear many fields in the time of harvest.
Where are the Green Jobs? Down the Green Toilet, along with all the Green Money...
The Green Ponzi Scheme rears it's ugly head.
AMAN (Jaded), It would seem there are three now that agree.
As to the blade of grass, in this case I am only pollinating yet the harvest is for all to share.
'Tis true Silver but the question remains just how many will fall into the ceramic bowl before waking up to the final flush?
Mark, Not even Social Security has done that yet, soon yes, but not yet. How many years of frustration over bullshit before this ends?
Just ask Spain where their green jobs are. It is a well known fact that green jobs cost jobs. So why do you think the Democratic Party is trying so hard to loose even more jobs in this country? I think they are trying to destroy this country sdo they can rebuild it in a liberal image rather then our conservative founding.
It's not a liberal image it's a socialist state they wish to build. All these 'green' things are just a cover for their true agenda.
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