San José, CA - On June 18, a Republican filibuster, aided by pro-war independent Joe Lieberman and Nebraska Democrat Ben Nelson, blocked an extension of federal unemployment benefits. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that more than 900,000 laid-off workers will have had their unemployment benefit checks cut off as of June 19.
Almost half of unemployed workers have been out of work for six months or more, according to the Department of Labor employment report for May 2010. More and more jobless people are running out of the regular state unemployment insurance benefits, which only last for six months. The federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program adds an additional year of benefits and the federal Extended Benefits program adds another five months. Of the 900,000 unemployed who are being cut off, about half are losing their checks from the Federal Extended Benefits program and the other half are being denied extensions as their benefits run out.
If the Senate Republicans are able to continue their filibuster and prevent the unemployment benefit extension bill from passing, another million jobless workers will lose their benefits by July 10, for a total of two million cut off of unemployment insurance benefits.
Why? Senators opposed to extending unemployment benefits say that they are worried about the large federal government budget deficit. But less than a month ago, the Senate passed a special supplemental bill by a 67-28 margin that gave another $50 billion to the U.S. military. There is a clear double standard at work: long-term wars (Afghanistan is now the country’s longest lasting war, at over eight years and counting) get more and more money, while the long-term unemployed are told that getting cut off will give them more ‘incentive’ to find a job.
In the meantime, companies continue to lay off more workers. The Department of Labor report on new claims for unemployment insurance on June 17 showed an increase of 12,000 new claims, to a total of 472,000 for the week ending June 12. The continued job cuts of almost a half a million workers a week show that the labor market is still weak. To make matters worse, more and more companies are refusing to hire the unemployed. A growing number have even said publicly that job applicants must be employed in order to be considered for a job. Even more refuse to consider applications from the unemployed but do not say so publicly.
Even if extended unemployment benefits are eventually funded by the federal government, more and more jobless workers are reaching the end of the 99 weeks of benefits. In California, the state Employment Development Division reported that 130,000 jobless workers have exhausted the entire 99 weeks of unemployment benefits.
What is really needed is a federal jobs program like the 1930s Works Progress Administration or WPA. This program hired the unemployed to construct schools, bridges and parks throughout the United States (including my high school). Training for new skills was an important goal of the program.
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Wah Wah Wah the gubbament is
Wah Wah Wah the gubbament is cuttin off my free money! wah wah wah
To the Anonymous poster
To the Anonymous poster above, I am going to keep telling everyone that NO ONE including the gov’t is going to force me to work a minimum wage job. I was making fairly decent money before being let go. How is working a dirty and demeaning fast food job going to help my resume (in getting a better paying job in the future)?
They need to past a Tier 5 ASAP! Also, they need to move up the start date on the gov’t healthcare program so people like myself can get this free/low cost health insurance too.
This is NOT A HANDOUT. I worked my whole life and this is money that has been promised to us all.
Unemployment benefits
To the moron of the wah wah wah comment. I have been avidly looking for a job for the last 6 months. I am also enrolled in school to finish my Accounting degree. Free money? Is that what you are telling me? Before you judge the 1 million people who are going to lose out on the "emergency benefits" you remember that I PAID INTO THE SYSTEM AND DESERVE HELP RIGHT NOW! I have been employed for the last 20 years, since high school, and have never been out of work. Now, in the time of need, due to guideline dates, I am not eligible for the extended benefits? You think about that before you write a stupid comment like that. Idiot.
Anonymous...his/her comment
Anonymous...his/her comment says it all. You know what kind of person that is! Keep your job. with your attitude no one wants to be around you.
unemployed
wah wah wah-you idiot its not feree money-weve worked our whole lives for this-this is not welfare-we dont have jobs thanks to the government-dont talk about things you obviously know nothing about dumbass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!i bet you went real far in school moron-
Shut your Hole Di$hit! if it
Shut your Hole Di$hit! if it was your money you would be pissed also when you could not feed your family, and can not find a job. maybe we should just come and take your money, because in the long run if they dont pass this bill. i can bet you anything there are going to be mass riots. i will be the first to knock on your door with my 357!!!! better believe it
To Wah Wah Boy
Wow That really proves it, The fox news fans and tea baggers are about a half a step away from living in a halfway house for the developmentally challenged. They feed on the ignorant and feeble minded to make more cash for Rupert the redneck. Someday Wah Wah boy you may get laid off from your job sorting glass, Then how are you going to keep your cousin/ wife in bonbons?
If these senators are so
If these senators are so concerned about the deficet and not spending anymore money, then why don't they give up their money for a while? They are all rich anyways so I doubt that not getting paid for a term would hurt them. But will they do it? NO!!!! They are only concerned about those things when it comes to giving the country more (essential) money!
Also, to the people that have very strong, negative opinions about the unemployed, DO NOT TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! If all the people that are unemployed now are just lazy, slackers that don't want to work, then why are the numbers so much higher only at this time?
If it is so easy to find a job, then why don't you give up yours to one of us and you find a new one? Please do not speak without merit or basis of what you cannot comprehend. It makes you look like an ass.
Wah Wah reply
There is no doubt in my mind that you truly spell this way, as your ignorance is truly showing and the insensitivity you project in your statement is a profound statement to your lack of humanity and decency. Sounds like a bad Archie Bunker cliche. Many of these people lost their jobs because their work has moved out of the country and a part time job at McDonalds will not pay for the car and gas to drive or move elsewhere. They are locked into mortages and financial responsibilities assumed before they were prepared to lose a job and now their families are suffering. I know many of these people and am struggling now myself with much less because of this economic downturn. I, thank God, have no small children to house and feed but still am having problems with car and insurance payments. The circumstance of being suddenly unemployed is like the onslaught of a terrible disease-you are crippled, your life is changed, the bills go on and you are almost helpless in some cases and must depend on resources not usually drawn upon. Wah wah wah, please do not forget that this money is not free from the "gubbament", but rather, an actual insurance issued to payees after they lose their jobs. It was paid for by workers. It is a real life saver. Shame on you and your poorly thought out comments. Sounds almost racist to me. Try better next time.
Unemployment extension
This is nuts. What free country treats their people like this. The unemployed Americans are in great need. They are not lazy drug addicts. These people have worked for their entire lives and gave us their sons and daughter for all those wars. They made this county and any of you who feel different should be stamped out. Who in their right mind thinks there isn't enough money for supporting these Americans. That is a sound bite for cable news. We are the most powerful country when it comes to everything else. Wall street cooperate bastards, where are they? War in Middle East? Money going to other countries non stop. Money jobs all going to other countries.
If Washington doesn't pass this, the results will be felt one way or another. Anyone thinking about all the children of the unemployed? How will that generation see our country? Working for many years is the only way you can qualify for these benefits. This money was being paid into for decades and they all have to pay taxes on it. The actual amount given to them is only a fraction of what they made. No one who worked, went to college spent years trying to build their lives and raised their families and gave to all us, in our community should be treated like this. These people are working Americans that deserve respect and if they need a little help we need to do this.
I would rather be on the right side of this issue, so when they write history books, talking about how this generation pulled through and how they were known for the compassion, intelligence, grit, they will be talking about people like me and NOT those of you that are full of shit and simply just lucky.
These people are your neighbors, friends and family. They are what America is all about. Get on the right side of this issue and speak up for these Americans and stop playing games and arguing the issue with your first yr Pol Science course material and educated your self on what really is costing this country its blood and treasure.
Unemployment benefits
Well,,,, to all the idiots out there that say the unemployed is receiving free money. I and everyone out there that has worked their whole life has paid taxes to a government that rather take that money and bail out Wall Street, the big banks, send money to other countries to help their poor and homeless.
Now when an honest working person looses their lively hood and needs some help, we get the usual well its going to cost too much money to help out the IDIOTS that have paid taxes..
Well, look at it this way,, maybe if ALL american working people decided to stop paying taxes, lets see how fast this government will finally see the light. WHO in GOD's name do you think pays their salary. If I was an employee that did not do my job well, i would be fired..
Doesn't matter what Reps or Democrats, white, black or purple.... these people have screwed the American hard working class long enough..
I am still working, but my heart goes out to ALL you hard working AMERICANS that have lost your job.
My heart goes out to the businesses that have had to let their people go. I am proud to be American, my yard has flags flying all over it, but I am not proud of this President or any of those people on the hill, that have promised us over and over again that we will prosper. The only country that is prospering from all of this is China,,, who by the way will own us in a few years.
God Bless all of you and May he forgive the Idiot with his free money routine.. Lets see who you turn to idiot when you lose your job and oh by the way your freedom too,,, as little by little that is going away too.
Unemployed
I AM A REGISTERED AND VOTING REPUBLICAN WHO HAS BEEN OUT OF WORK FOR 7 MONTHES. I SEARCH FOR WORK 24/7 WITHOUT ANY ERSULTS.
IF MY REPUBLICAN BROTHERS FAIL TO EXTEND MY UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT I WILL VOTE THEM OUT OF OFFICE AND WORK HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DO LEAVE OFFICE.
THE KNUCKELHEAD WHO WROTE WA WA WA OBVIOUSLY HAS NEVER BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE LIKE ME, WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE, TAX PAYING AMERICANS, STAND TO LOSE IT ALL AS A RESULT OFSENATORS FAILING TO REPRESENT AND SUPPORT OUR PLIGHT.
Unemployment Extensions
I agree with the author of this article. I have thought for a long time that we need WPA. Glad to see it in writing.
It's unfortunate that some people find it funny and worthy of their time to make fun of the jobless. That person is probably jobless. Ha! Or will be shortly. Though I don't wish it upon anyone.
Our government is doing an
Our government is doing an excellent job at destroying out country and those that need the unemployment insurance in these horrific economic times. If they do not act soon and reinstate the insurance + add a tier V... all hell will break loose, period. People who are or were on unemployment vote, and vote they will. The 1st order of business will be to vote the elite Congress out of office. Mark my words. Reid Hyams
Hmmmm, wah wah - there but
Hmmmm, wah wah - there but for the grace of God, buddy. With an attitude like that, I am quite certain you will find yourself among the unemployed, and soon. Couldn't happen to a nicer person. And the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico doesn't help - all of those people out of work? Can't apply for unemployment.
The Infantile, Immature, Idiot.
It is obvious that this person is either independently wealthy, or just a Simpleton that has way to much time on their hands to do nothing but ridicule and demean others to make themselves feel better. Must be a Big Fish in a small Pond. Only those that live in a real world can justly make any kind of a statement about this. There are many Self Employed people that are struggling to make ends meet. They must work without assistance due to the lack of funds that their clientele has. One Job opening with 100 applicants. All 100 are qualified, is it your name that gets pulled from the hat?
Republicans will lose
Republicans will loose of they do not pass this bill for UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT . I have been unemployed since Jan 6th, 62 people were laid off at my place work. Still no jobs. I have applied for 100 plus jobs. In July i will be homeless. My wife is trying her hardest to keep income coming in. Guys we have to tell these Republicans to come on. This is very very important. I wish people would understand we are not lazy, there are no jobs. I have even allpied at McDonalds, THEY SAID NO!.... COME on america we are strong, lets all pull together and if these republicans cant pull there weight, we will get them out. We need jobs, not health care. Please please pray with me america. GOD BLESS AMERICA.
Unemployment Benefits
One of the common misnomers with the Unemployment statistics is that it ONLY accounts for those unemployed workers who have not exhausted their benefits. Due to this fact, the ultimate unemployed number of workers is gravely higher than published! Yet, while those of us who were given an extension while to government fixes the economic problems, there still seems to be the populace that believes we CHOOSE to remain unemployed because we'd rather have less for nothing. This is just not a fact.
I know personally that every job offered in my local area requires one of two things; A high school schedule, with available nighttime hours, and/or A graduate degree, that unless used in my current field, makes me overqualified to train for something else. As such, the unemployed must choose the lesser of two evils, which these days is in reality one; Unemployment Benefits to Supplement Retirement Savings or Unemployment as a Means of Survival. Either way, I'm sure that my fellow jobless Americans would gladly sell our shoes to a more fortunate person to walk in for a month. Hell, I'd go peddle mine on Capitol Hill if I thought that it would make a shred of difference!
D CABLER
Unemployed Worker
Port Huron, Michigan
What Government?
I spent 35K of my own money and worked my way through college, like in full time. I paid back my college loan and worked to help develop the technology that we all use today. I was never ever laid-off in 30 years until now. I am a disabled veteran with numerous campaign medals. I worked for a large company that took 20 billion dollars of the almost 1 trillion dollars handed out to large conglomerates who were determined to be "too big to fail". After the company got their "corporate welfare" they bought another company and soon after that conducted massive layoffs.
Since conglomerates worship their bottom line and have put government in their pockets, why hire people and give them a paycheck when the government hands them a profit on a golden platter? Salaries eat at the bottom line and so why invest in an employee if the government will hand them revenues anyway? But then who pays the taxes that feed conglomerates their government contracts? I say good for anyone who was or is able to keep their hard earned money and retire. I am not one of them. Many companies have a "trigger" that if you are unemployed for more than 6 months you are not even considered for an interview. And if you are over 50 it will take a miracle to get a job that paid anything close to what you were making before. And most companies these days refuse to let their employees hand out references because they don't want to be accountable.
It is all about corporations regulating government when it should be the other way around. Something big will burst unless someone gives something. As one who once depended on a paycheck to survive, I have nothing left to give. But then who needs consumers when the government is the primary consumer? When all of the wealth is wrung out, things will come crashing down, it is inevitable!
pass the bill
pass the bill
unemployed
July 4th is coming soon....Is congress going to hold their heads up high while they destroyed America.? Are they going to stand proudly & sing The Star Spangled Banner?
i KNOW I CAN.... I WILL FIGHT!!!!!!
I AM AS MAD AS HELL AND I AM NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE !!!!!!!!
Really? Is it too much to ask for?
As I read through the posts above, I see nothing but truths (disregarding post#1): To authenticate myself, I disclose that I have a Master's Degree in business and that I'm a registered Republican... though I think it may be time to change that.
In 2000, my stellar career (of 20 years) came to an abrupt halt with the collapse of the Semiconductor industry. I became unemployed in a time when it wasn't so fashionable to be unemployed. I declined benefits because I was too proud. In retrospect, I was simply stupid: The emotional scars left on me, the stress I caused my family, and the enormous mound of debt (which I've just finally paid off) might have been avoided. I cannot say that I am a better man for having done it the way I did. I CAN say with unequivocal certainty that every unemployed person is suffering in some way... even those "people who are taking advantage of the system". The benefits are there to help people before they hurt themselves as I did.
In the 10 years it has taken me to "re-invent" myself (I'm still only at 75% of my pre-2000 earnings) I have continued to volunteer time to assist management-level professionals prepare for battle in today's job market. I think I am qualified to call myself an expert, and in my expert opinion THESE PEOPLE NEED HELP!!! These people have been CRUSHED emotionally, and they are about to be crushed financially.
Dear Senators:
Won't you please have some compassion? And if you are so worried about deficit spending, then won't you please implement some longer-term programs to get us working again? We ARE the machine. We ARE the workers of the world. We ARE the reason the rest of the world doesn't collapse under the weight of natural (and human-made) disasters. We'd like some food, shelter, and medical coverage in return.
Is that too much to ask for?
Unemployment extension
The unemployed need together and make something happen....Because this bullshit
Don't vote them all out
I agree with almost all that has been said already but I would like to add one thing. PLEASE do not take a "Throw them all out attitude". This is exactly what the Republicans want. They have made it crystal clear over the past year and a half that their strategy is to say NO to everything and then reap the political rewards of a frustrated electorate. I voted Democrat in 2008 for the first time in my life and intend to do EVERYTHING in my power to bring support to Democrat candidates this year. I served my country during Vietnam and this is how Republicans want to treat me and others . I DON'T THINK SO.
To Wha Wah Indvidual
Walk in those shoes before you judge!!
Wah Wah is a complete moron
I'm hoping for some karma, baby! I hope Wah Wah ends up unemployed -- and doesn't get any benefits, because after all, unemployment is for the undeserving, right, jack@ss?
Look, idiot boy, I've been employed for over 25 years until this past December. I've NEVER been on unemployment, and I worked my way through college. I've paid my taxes for almost 3 decades, and some of that tax money has gone to fund unemployment, which I had always hoped never to use. I always thought I'd be able to retire from the place I worked. I loved my job and I'm absolutely crushed and betrayed. I've applied everywhere and I don't even get a courtesy call to say they've rejected me. I keep on calling to find out the status on jobs, and I don't get any answer.
So, Wah Wah moron -- before you go ahead and make a judgement about people, try to think before you write something. It might make you seem more intelligent.
WAH-WAH
Nothing is free. With the lack of the unemployment funds – which is an insurance we all pay – there will be consequences. Remember, the amount received is only enough to cover the most basic of expenses such as mortgage, electricity, etc. Without this fund, there will be increases in foreclosures, bankruptcies, misery, and lack of confidence by the consumer. There will not be an up turn in the economy, there will, again, be a decrease in consumer spending and confidence. There will be fear and more layoffs because the “recession” will appear to have taken another downturn.
The ripple effect of not extending unemployment benefits will be devastating to everyone. It will show the World the U.S. is not stable economically and does not have confidence in its own People. There are many parts of the U.S. where even a minimum wage can not be found. Is the Senate proud of the emerging economy of the U.S. as the Third World Country of North America?
Will not be forgotten
I can assure that I will remember this in November and will NOT be voting for ANY of my incumbents. Washington DC is COMPLETELY BROKEN DOWN from the legislative, judicial and executive branches.
They only care about enriching themselves in and the out of office. This country has been headed down the drain for a number of years. I am not one for wasting taxpayer money but keeping your citizens barely afloat is the LEAST they can do. There are a lot of UNEMPLOYED voters and I can assure there will be HUGE shift of incumbents this year, something that has never happened before in the history of this country. I predict at LEAST 50% of incumbents will not be coming back in January
Unemployment Extensions
Hello all, I am an unemployed worker who is affected by the extension not being awarded. For those of you who ridicule and make unnecessary remarks about how unfortunate it will be for those who have families to support. People please vote lets ban together and get rid of joe lieberman and all those who oopsed this bill. Voting will take care many of the problems that we are facing. I don't care if it is the school board or the usher's boad please vote and do your research.
Can't Survive
I agree with everyone's comments to the wah-wah-wah guy. The funny thing is, I recall feeling myself that unemployment payments were just giving money to people who didn't want to work. Then, in this economy, I was let go - a victim of downsizing in a small business.
I have been looking for work since November 2009. Every job interview I attend there are no less than 300 others who are looking for the same job. Some younger. Most willing to be paid next to nothing.
I'm 42 years old... I'm raising two kids of my own and 3 nieces and nephew after their dad died. I can't afford to work minimum wage. I WANT to work and make enough money to take care of myself and my family.
Benefits have run out for me. I can't pay my mortgage. I can't find a job.
Something has to be done.
Sick of Being Unemployed/Underemployed
I too am sick and tired of people thinking we the unemployed/under employed think that collecting unemployment benefits we live the grand life of doing nothing. So wrong they are, we don't make enough on unemployment to pay for Health Care, Rent, Food, Taxes, Utilities etc. I have for the first time in my life collected unemployment and have almost exhausted my 99 weeks. Yes, I found a job working in a kitchen 1 or 2 days a week when they need me. However, I don't get to keep the little check I get from this job. I have to report each week to unemployment how many hours I worked and how much I made gross. They take a percent out to my unemployment check. So we can't get ahead to make the money we are use to making when we worked full-time. I was an Executive Secretary and single, worked for over 30 years supporting myself. I have applied and sent my resume out to over 750 businesses (some I sent my resume to more then once). We don't get calls or interviews. There is just too many of us out of work and more and more are loosing their jobs daily.
Our Government Officials are so out of touch with the American People they have no idea what we face each day of being unemployed. Many of us pray everyday that we get a job and this nightmare will be over soon!
Voting These people OUT OF Office.
I have given ten years of my life to dedicated service to this country. I am single raising two children and recently got cut off from work. Very little in savings. I also paid into this unemployment system 35 plus years. AND now I am being told NO we cant give you any benefits. Our Legislation has no clue what happens every day in America. No New Jobs to speak of and yet they will tell us we have created new jobs? We (by our tax dollars at legislators doing)spend billions of dollars on programs to feed the needy in other countries as well as programs that would not necessarily change my life one way or another
has created a pork barrel of candy shop of items we DO NOT NEED. Yet if I remember right the US Constitution states "We The People"This should be first and foremost on the minds of our Legislators. Voting is coming up for these appointed legislators and if I remember baby boomers still hold a majority of the votes in this country. Vote in the Tier 5 and 6 Or be prepared to lose your seat from office. NO JOKE.. You think the economy will turn around by denying these rights to the American public? Think again. EDD in California report over 100,000 will lose their job in July. Los Angeles is on the verge of going bankrupt as well as other cities and States across this country with unemployment guaranteed to rise well beyond , much to which this country has never seen. AGAIN No Joke!!! Call your State Legislators constantly and tell them a no vote to passing any unemployment bill MEANS a no vote for them to stay in OFFICE. I am calling on a reform look at who is currently in office and voting them out if these bills do not pass. Take that to the bank Congress men and women.
unemployed extension
Why would they not let us finish out our balance?
Organize Now!
After taking the time to read all these posts, it is clear that there is a great deal of confusion and frustration. While our politicians play machiavellian games against each party and point fingers, a large portion of our population is agonizing over how they will feed their families in the coming weeks.
People are angry that our politicians are not moving with the lightning speed that they did to protect the banking and financial industry. The reason is simple. Movers and shakers who regularly transfer in and out of public service and the private sector populate Wall Street and the banks. They have the ear of powerful lobbyists who can fund careers and wealthy comfortable retirements.
Who are we? The financially challenged and unemployed poor? We are a fractious lot with nothing more on our minds than venting our frustrations, and the politicians know this. They aren’t worried about the unemployed because they are a fickle group made up of millions of individual ideas and opinions, but without cohesion.
Does anyone remember the mileage that the tea party received in the last elections? Why? Because they united into a political power that made their agenda be reckoned with. It doesn’t matter what you think of them as individuals, extremists, right wingers, etc. What matters is the collective force they successfully exerted.
The politicians don’t believe that the unemployed have the stomach or the smarts to organize. They are assured that people will simply blow off a little steam, and will shrink back into anonymity, nothing more.
What will it take to make our voices heard? A political organization of our own. It will require the formation of an agenda and the appointing of our own leaders who can challenge the current political parties into recognizing that to ignore us is to imperil their political futures.
Now the only question is, do the unemployed have the will to see this through? Will the millions of unemployed stand together in a new organization dedicated to their issues? Or will people simply choose to not be bothered?
Send me an email at Equustrnr@gmail.com and if enough of you will stand with me, I will begin the steps to form our organization. This is not a silly useless request. We have to start somewhere. We should be pointing our wrath at the decision makers, and not wasting our time lamenting at each other. I am not a crackpot, I am unemployed, and I know what must be undertaken to force a change in our circumstances.
I want to begin as quickly as possible in order to confront the powers that be, that we will be heard, and we want action NOW! I refuse to surrender my dignity.
everyone, please go to
everyone, please go to change.org to sign a petition to seperate the unemployment from the rest of the bill
Scary news
This is the scary part to me, it's not just ignorant right-wing weirdos who feel that being unemployed is a stigma and so therefore you will not be considered for a position that you are qualified for, it's also becoming standing HR rhetoric in many companies. Such a policy turns the unemployed into the unemployable.
To make matters worse, more and more companies are refusing to hire the unemployed. A growing number have even said publicly that job applicants must be employed in order to be considered for a job. Even more refuse to consider applications from the unemployed but do not say so publicly.
wah wah wah
WAH WAH WAH HAS A JOB...REVOLUTION TIME.....THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED, YES EMPLOYED MOST OF OUR ADULT LIVES, PREFER WORKING TO UNEMPLOYMENT CHECKS..I PAID MY BILLS AND TAXES MAKING TWELVE DOLLARS AN HOUR..MY HUGE UNEMPLOYMENT CHECK COVERS FOOD AND MY WATER BILL....WAH WAH WAH...THERE ARE 9 JOBS IN THE SUNDAY PAPER TODAY AND 9000 PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED IN MY TOWN... THERE ARE NO JOBS...OH YAH, THEY WENT TO CHINA, INDIA AND ASIA....
unemployment
In repsonse to the original comment, this person is obviously employed and maybe only two paychecks away from poverty himself. Unemployment is not a choice.
Apathy
I'm 27, soon to be 28. I would run for the House of Representatives on the platform of job creation, bringing back a 1930's WPA style program that was very successful. But let's face it. I'm frankly unelectable since I have only 3 years into a Chemistry degree, probably will not finish, and I like to smoke weed from time to time. I would never get elected into political office because I live off a quite meager 2k income by doing all sorts of odd jobs. Jack of all trades, master of none. I'm also hearing impaired despite the fact that I speak quite well. No one in their right mind would ever vote for me, and I would never be elected since businesses would simply donate their funds to my opponents to ensure I'd never get elected. That's if they don't manage to discredit me by using the above mentioned facts against me in any kind of laughable campaign I attempt to run. Anyway, to the point: Job Creation works, has worked and will work. The problem is that corporate interests trump the individual interest, or rather that of The People. We need to start putting American citizens first. Our representatives are there to represent US, the individual People, not Big Business or the Military/Industrial Complex.
You'll see the reflections of a Pulitizer-Prize winning writer who grew up during this era with respect to the Works Progress Administration that was enacted to give people jobs during the Depression. For example, if you look here on this blog: http://www.timegoesby.net/weblog/2009/02/reflections-the-wpa.html
The WPA, born in 1935 at an initial cost of $4.8 billion, was at the time, the largest “relief” program in American history (now it’s called “stimulus”). By 1941, when spending on the coming war pulled America out of the lingering slump, WPA had cost $11.4 billion and put eight million men and women to work building 1,634 public schools, 105 airports, 3,000 tennis courts, 5,800 libraries, 3,300 storage dams, hundreds of miles of roads, sewer lines, while the CCC built roads through national and state parks, fire towers, and scores of campgrounds, many of which are in use today.
Oh hey, here's another article that discusses how this Works Progress Administration program worked. http://www.salon.com/technology/how_the_world_works/2009/02/02/the_new_d...
You really should read the whole thing, it gives one an amazing insight into how the WPA provided people with jobs, built our infrastructure and was responsible for driving and expanding the growth of the Middle Class in the decades past.
An interesting information tidbit from a paper by Marshal Auerback titled, "Time for A New Deal, New Deal,"
http://www.cobar.org/repository/Inside_Bar/International/TIMEFORANEW%27N...
The government hired about 60 per cent of the unemployed in public works and conservation projects that planted a billion trees, saved the whooping crane, modernized rural America, and built such diverse projects as the Cathedral of Learning in Pittsburgh, the Montana state capitol, much of the Chicago lakefront, New York's Lincoln Tunnel and Triborough Bridge complex, the Tennessee Valley Authority and the aircraft carriers Enterprise and Yorktown. It also built or renovated 2,500 hospitals, 45,000 schools, 13,000 parks and playgrounds, 7,800 bridges, 700,000 miles of roads, and a thousand airfields. And it employed 50,000 teachers, rebuilt the country's entire rural school system, and hired 3,000 writers, musicians, sculptors and painters, including Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock.
Why should we bail out big banks, wall street and put corporate personhood rights ahead of that of individuals? Money should not equal free speech and frankly, what we need is comprehensive campaign financing reform. Corporations should not be able to donate enormous sums of money to politicians and hire lobbyists to get them to pass bills that would be favorable for business interests at the expense of the individual taxpayer or "The People". All elections should be financed by the taxpayers, from the Treasury through an allocated budgetary framework. These politicians, our elected representatives should be representing THE PEOPLE's interest, not corporate business.
They're passing these laws because it's in their own self-interest if they want to stay in office. Do you realize that the incumbency percentage is above 90%? Money drowns out our single voices every time. It's high time we end that. Alternatively, let's start by trimming the fat from the military and militarization of the police budgets for starters, eliminate an era of prohibition and just legalize/regulate narcotics more reasonably so we do not have to keep escalating the US / Mexico border conflicts. We need to bring our troops home and stop intervening in the affairs of sovereign nations. This is blatant, unbridled imperialism. Our military should be used for defense purposes only. IF those other countries want the protection of the United States Military, we have a process for that. It's called applying for Statehood, and you will pay taxes to that effect.
The precepts of the law are these: to live honestly, to injure no one, and to give everyone else his due. The more laws there are, the less justice there is. The essence of liberty is to live as you choose. But frankly, we signed a Social Contract with the Government and agreed to give our consent to be governed, so long as they upheld their end of their obligations. We need to remind the Government of that obligation by voting in representatives who will start passing legislation that favor individual American citizens and not corporations. Individual liberty should always, always trump corporate personhood rights and frankly? Corporations are not persons. The President and Congress respective have the legislative powers to dissolve and disband corporate charters, not to mention the ability to nationalize private businesses. The answer is increased regulation, not deregulation and privatization. My argument is that the Government has a fundamental responsibility to provide The People with the tools they need to be self-reliant. Educate the citizenry, invest in the workforce, create jobs and invest in their long-term security, and the People will prosper. Social safety nets exist for this very reason. It's time to get to work.
But I will never win political office. It won't happen. Because who's going to listen to some 27 year old kid who smokes weed sometimes and can't seem to finish everything he starts? But yeah, that's just my two cents about what I think of this whole situation and what I would do if I actually had any ability to shape legislative policies and get things done. I'm just another anonymous face in the crowd of the plebeian, unwashed masses who will just likely drift and die. Apathy ain't all that it's cracked up to be though, let me tell you that. But what other recourse is there?
I'd just like to point out that our Third President, Thomas Jefferson said this and it rings true today:
If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their money, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them (around the banks), will deprive the people of their property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.
Abraham Lincoln said this:
"We, the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts--not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow men who pervert the Constitution."
and this:
"This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or their revolutionary right to dismember it or overthrow it."
But let's face it. If I even tried to seriously run and change things, I would be killed quickly. Snuffed out. Money trumps morality. That's the way it's done these days. Because if anyone seriously started listening to me, that's what would happen. So, I'm finished before I've even begun. I wish you the best of luck in all of your future endeavors. Now, I'm going to go light me a spliff.
unemployment
All I keep hearing is people that do not know what is going on when jobs will begin to start up again and what people are going to do to survive. Well here is my solution. It seems that there are enough wealthy OH I mean obscenely rich people in this country. Especially ones that propose to tell their folk lore about how they made their riches against the law. Yes i.e. the Kennedy clan for one and there are several more. When the economy was good and all our bellies were full, we laughed at this folk lore as our elite families and cherished their little stories. Gates being another one how many times have I heard about how Gates ripped off IBM? We tolerate too much insanity as truth. Time to turn the pages people. The thing is there are much more poor people than there are rich and to many for any branch of law enforcement or National Guard to handle IF we stick together. I.E. see what we were able to accomplish in the 2008 elections we put Obama in office against all odds that the redneck republicans could muster. Therefore, these politicians republicans that are hindering the next tier of emergency unemployment because they feel the country cannot afford to take care of the unemployed that Bush caused… Start leading and start making sacrifices like the middle class has been doing for years. If it means losing, all you own and your families then so be it. I have done lost mine to the American employers hiring illegal immigrants and the illegal immigrants under cutting my pay. I am so sick and tired of hearing how hard these criminals work well I can out work any one of them and it should not mean that I have to give up one red cent of my pay I work for upwards 20.00 dollars And hour and can barely support a family of four. I am sick of this crap. This country is not as great as you are leading on. I say if you have had enough of this crap then we need to stand together and scare the piss right out of these idiots otherwise, we are going to get no place quick. You will wake up to old to work.. Revolt fight back because fighting back is all this country knows. Talking nice will only get you growing old and soon you will be too damn old to work.
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