John Wasik

A Look at America’s Geography Shows That the Tea Party Is Doomed http://t.co/bqJQKMwi

How to help the jobless. My latest Reuters column. http://t.co/AdmLZto0

How to help the jobless: http://t.co/mQvv9TYP via @reuters

By John Wasik

(Reuters) – Two of my friends lost their jobs in the last month. One had worked for a large computer services company for 31 years. Another was an information technology manager whose position was eliminated in a restructuring. Both men are in their fifties.

Having been laid off more than once, I have a certain protocol I share with friends. I hope it’s of value to them; I know it’s paid off for me. Here’s the plan that has worked for me in the past:

– The best strategy is to be ready for a potential layoff with several months of cash, no credit card debt and an up-to-date resume. But don’t lose heart if you’re one of the more than 15 million unemployed and 1 million “discouraged” workers who can’t find openings suitable to their skills and have stopped looking. There are strategies to lessen the pain and to improve your chances of finding a new job.

American Airlines’ parent files for Ch. 11 bankruptcy protection; CEO steps down http://t.co/LP2dp0kk via @washingtonpost

The Looming GOP Tax Hike | AlterNet http://t.co/xhMtBWNK

As tributes flow, Chicago quietly honors Maggie Daley http://t.co/mdQQ6us0

What if you want to avoid Europe entirely? http://t.co/rAQqYgNO

By John Wasik

(Reuters) – Is it time for investors to bail big time on what Donald Rumsfeld called “Old Europe?”

With the right combination of funds, it’s possible to build a portfolio that sidesteps most of Western Europe. In the process, you’ll gain valuable pieces of the emerging stock and bond markets and small companies in the U.S.

Given the steady stream of bad news, it doesn’t look like there will be major relief any time soon from the debt migraines from Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal. The contagion now has spread to push borrowing costs higher for France and Spain (see link.reuters.com/jas25s for the latest news).

Thank You “Super Committee!” You Failed, Now The Rest Of Us Can Succeed: http://t.co/OXT9c4S9 via @AddThis