This is a common problem, and a major pitfall for any witlesses that think pious-sneering is all they will need to do. You didn't develop skills during the period between 1995 and 2007, so employers will not look at you now that unemployment is at 8.5 17%. Underemployment (part time work when full time is needed, or working below your potential) is probably another 20% or more. Given that, no wonder companies will not hire without putting up a wall. Osama ObamaCare, SOPA (and now ACTA), S-510/S-3767, the EPA, and the UN butting into our business only make it even harder for employers to seek new employees. Tax rates that are moon-high don't help, either--most companies would rather move to China.
I suppose you can start a business. And deal with the IRS laws embedded in Osama ObamaCare. What does that section 9006 reall mean--you know, the one with the 1099 forms? Are there other hidden snags embedded in Osama ObamaCare, ACTA, S-510 and S-3767, and NDAA? What does the EPA have up its sleeve to put your business down? Besides, it usually costs money to start a business in the United Tyranny of Stupidity--money that the big banks would rather not lend. (Fact is, they would rather see you working for a big business like Morgue Stanley, itself a big bank, that has oppressive rules that do no good, than seeing you start your own business). Obviously, starting a business in the United Tyranny of Stupidity is going to be dangerous--look at the lemonade stand raids of the past year.
The other option is to move out of the country. That is also very expensive--and most likely, you don't have the funds. Business friendly countries include Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, and Switzerland. Good news: Some of those countries speak English. Bad news: You are almost certain to go into debt--debt that Morgue Stanley would love to deny you to keep you under their thumb and other banks would love to use to enslave you. Besides, you are looking at 6-12 months of administrative paperwork, including the need to either land a job or start a business in one of those countries, and even then you would be piling on a mountain of debt for something with no guarantee.
Which leaves barter. As I believe, soon the dollar is going to be toilet paper. I know not when--otherwise I would naked short huge quantities of US Toilet Papers weeks (or even days) before hyperinflation is to start in favor of gold and silver, wait for hyperinflation to do its work, and then pay back the debt with a tiny amount of gold or silver and walk off with a huge pile of precious metals. Rather, I would use this time to work on skills. In hyperinflation, enforcement of license regulations is going to be impractical--who wants to inspect your work for mere toilet papers. You are better to focus on learning a skill, and doing it well, so you have it to barter for other things. In that scenario, an unlicensed electrician or plumber that knows what they are doing and has an excellent reputation is worth more than someone with a license and is willing to do a sloppy job for complacency.
Which trades? Look around you. Do you see buildings in need of repairs? Perhaps there is need for painting or other repair work. Computer repairs can be bartered for other things--even your doctor or dentist relies on a computer, and cannot function if their hard drive crashes or they get a worm on their system. What do you see in rubbish dumps? Is it possible that you could barter cleanup of rubbish for other services? You might be able to fix things--though a TV is likely to have very little value in hyperinflation. Be mindful that gardening is likely to be banned for S-510/S-3767, and practicing medicine without a license is going to yield you a nice jail sentence even in a barter situation. Also, most of these skills are actually simple to learn--computer repair is easier than it seems and requires no college degree (just a few courses on YouTube and decent tools).
Or, you might try Christmas decorating. Believe it or not, even in hard times, there is a market for that. Decorate a street, and watch businesses on that street swap goods and/or services for the business you will bring in. Malls pay big money for professional decorators to bring in business. You can broaden into other holidays and festivals for even more fun. And, as you will be using it for barter, you will not be filling out 1099 forms--and it will be miserably difficult for the IRS to estimate the value of your service or what you are getting in return if you barter good or service for good or service.
