Election politics portend painful cutbacks.
Michael T. Burr is Fortnightly’s editor-in-chief. Email him at burr@pur.com.
Whether it deserves it or not, the solar energy industry can’t count on continued government largess, thanks in part to the Solyndra mess. But in the end, Solyndra’s demise might be exactly what the industry needs to wean itself off heavy subsidies and become a mainstream resource.
A friend of mine was laid off recently. This was a big shock, because he thought he was essential to the operation. My friend, whom we’ll call Reggie, worked at the company for more than a decade. He was well liked and always got exemplary reviews. He didn’t actually enjoy his job, but the salary and benefits kept him comfortable. And now, he’s unemployed, and he still hasn’t come to grips with that fact. He hasn’t really started job hunting, and he’s still spending money like he has no worries.
I can sympathize with Reggie, because I’ve been there. I was laid off almost exactly 10 years ago, and at the time it was difficult to accept that my job was gone. But if you want to know a secret, I’m glad I lost that job. It forced me to re-think, regroup, and find a new path. Eventually, I think the same thing will be true for Reggie. He’ll find a different job that will allow him to achieve his potential.