36 Indiana unemployment offices to have armed guards (99-week max-out approaching)

[Hannah Bell]

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Armed security guards will be on hand at 36 unemployment offices around Indiana in what a state agency says is a step to improve safety and make branch security more consistent.

No specific incidents prompted the action, Department of Workforce Development spokesman Marc Lotter told The Journal Gazette for a story Wednesday.

Lotter said the agency is merely being cautious with the approach of an early-December deadline when thousands of Indiana residents could see their unemployment benefits end after exhausting the maximum 99 weeks provided through multiple federal extension periods.

"Given the upcoming expiration of the federal extensions and the increased stress on some of the unemployed, we thought added security would provide an extra level of protection for our employees and clients," he said.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-in-unemploymentoffic,0,1207554.story

[ananda]

1. What I find interesting is the way people will turn against each other...

... for money.

That people will become armed guards against the poor and the hungry
makes me despair of their humanity.

What's to become of us when people can be so easily turned into cold
machines of the state used to police the people who are exploited and
discarded for greed?

[Hannah Bell]

2. i don't think the folks taking jobs as security guards see it that way,

i'd guess they see it as a job protecting people from psycho nut losers.

[ejpoeta]

3. or simply a job. when you have to feed your family.....

[Zephie]

4. "early-December deadline" Happy holidays, American poor!

[snappyturtle]

5. Love it!

"The overall cost for the security is $1 million, paid for with federal funds designated for administration of the unemployment system," Lotter (spokesman) said.

I'm living in IN now. It's very republican in my neck of the woods. I hear, on a daily basis, insults to President Obama. I defend him and the party but I'm considered a whack job so,,,,,,,anway, the hiring of the security guards will give me something to throw back to the 'perfect' state. This is living in lala land for sure...but one million dollars funded by the federal government is some ammunition for me. (I don't know if I'm putting the proper words down to really explain things here....only one cup of coffee...so far!) It's going to be a long day....I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the election results.