The Nation: Will Congress Turn Its Back on Jobless Americans?

[marmar]

from the Nation:




Congress has apparently decided that unemployed people are an expensive nuisance. Just in time for their own Thanksgiving break, a minority in the House of Representatives last week successfully blocked reauthorization of federal unemployment benefits, effectively yanking the safety net that has kept millions of Americans from total devastation. If Congress doesn't act quickly next week, the long-term unemployed will start dropping from the benefits rolls. By Christmas, two million will be gone—more than one in ten of the total 15 million currently unemployed Americans.

There is just a tiny window, between Congress's return on Monday and the expiration of the programs on Tuesday, for averting immediate cuts. To do the right thing, Congress must reauthorize the federal commitment to the long-term unemployed, people out of work for six consecutive months, as this country has done during high unemployment ever since the Great Depression, and ensure that commitment for a full year. (Economists project that US unemployment will remain above nine percent through the end of 2011.)

This struggle over helping the economy and the unemployed has continued throughout the recession. Each stopgap measure to reauthorize the programs has met obstruction—and even complaints that unemployment insurance for those who have exhausted their twenty-six weeks of state benefits discourages the unemployed from looking for work. In fact, the average unemployment extension check is a mere $290 a week, replacing only half of the average family's expenditures on transportation, food and housing. This modest assistance provides jobless workers a major incentive to look for work. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thenation.com/article/156625/will-congress-turn-its-back-jobless-americans

[vi5]

1. I understand why the republicans are doing this...

I do. They are evil, soulless bastards out for their own interests.

But why are the Democrats not screaming from the rooftops about this? Why are they not on every single talk show, releasing press release after press release saying "The republicans think that paying down the deficit is more important than 2 million people being able to put food on their tables this holiday season.....more important than people being able to pay their heating bills to keep their families warm. The republicans have determined that the deficit is the biggest issue facing the country, more important than jobs or unemployment."

The front page article in todays NJ paper was about the fight over the benefits but it said the dillema is that although the republicans are the ones blocking the extension, that they had blocked it previously and were "rewarded" at the polls in November.

This is true but it's true because the Dem messaging is so piss poor. How long are we/they going to put up with this and not fight back?

[northernlights]

2. because if they drop off the rolls, the official unemployment rate will decline

and they'll say that they saved the economy...see how it's improving.

[vi5]

3. I'd like to say "Oh stop that nonsense.....

....there's no way that's the reason!"

But sadly there's every possibility that it's the goddamned truth.

[TheKentuckian]

12. You know that is part of the equation for too many. Otherwise, it wouldn't have to be

reauthorized every other month (I exaggerate, but you know what I'm saying) and constantly a debate when the unemployment number than it was when the original bill passed.

If you have an emergency at 7-8% then it is crazy to give the all clear at 9-10%, especially when you know good and well we are loaded up on "discouraged" workers already and haven't net created a job in forever.

The whole thing has been rigged with an escape hatch that allows them to respond but still fake reduce the rate due to number rigging.

[RKP5637]

5. This is exactly what's going on now IMO. I think DC collectively has written off

a portion of citizens as not salvageable. Jobs are not magically coming back here w/o stopping outsourcing, for example, and none seem to want to do that, the dems try, but the pubs won't go along. It's going to be a constant mess as long as the country is run as a corp. P&L. Then the masses vote in those wanting to screw them even worse. The propaganda in this country is astounding ...

[InkAddict]

13. I would agree except that thought process implies a certain

set of criteria in selection of that portion of citizens. I wish I could find common denominators among those so disenfranchised, but there doesn't appear to be a single one. The aware went down alongside the unaware; the poor for sure, but arising middle class types were also chosen to fail. It doesn't seem as though age was a factor; it doesn't seem as though affiliation caused one to be "selected out." Certainly, the elite laid waste to the efforts of many specific states, i.e., CA, OH, MI, FL, GA, as it rolled into most of the other 50, so what bean-counting table, what IRS table of charitable deductions, what family size and nature, or zip code, what table of educational achievements weighted against accomplishments did the selection process entail.

It's crazymaking to say the least. I've often suggested "they" just shoot us; it would be kinder than the long-term suffering their current policies will continue to cause that WILL eventually cause losses to their grand portfolios of malice, and the outrage would last about 20 minutes followed by interviews with whomever has been selected to be the latest flash in society's pan of distraction and ignorance.

[RKP5637]

16. Very good points! n/t

[InkAddict]

14. Sorry, dupe

[Tippy]

4. I would imagin Corporate Sponsors are keeping this iout of the news

Corporat Kings rule.......

[RKP5637]

6. Yep, not on the MSM agenda for propaganda to the masses. n/t

[femrap]

8. Jesus hates poor people....

if he liked them, they'd be rich. Just go ask any bible-thumping prosperity wack job.

[coalition_unwilling]

9. I share your bewilderment. I have contacted Diane Watson's (my rep's) office

about this via email. No response from her yet. Watson is retiring and will be replaced by Karen Bass in January. By then, though, it will be too late for many and it just breaks my heart.

[SoCalDem]

7. Poor people have no clout,, they have no campaign cash..

they "use" assets....assets that congress prefers to spend elsewhere.. The election is over..and the jobless will get no satisfaction.. just lipservice.. if that:(

[RKP5637]

10. Yep, you can take thousands of poor people and their campaign contributions are

worthless compared to one wealthy corporation contributing as an individual. What a really crappy decision SCOTUS made on that ... just how much proof do the masses need that they are mostly worthless.

[dkf]

11. What is the Government doing to assist corporations in creating jobs?

Why have they not created more favorable trade policies that help us export? Isn't the key to job creation our ability to export? Yet we live with unequal trade agreements that favor imports and hurt exports.

[Historic NY]

15. We don't make much of anything others want. Whats in high demand from here?

We do import lots of stuff that isn't on the same level playing field with own manufactures. Think autos from Japan & Europe. Trade imbalances, yeah ....other wanted our blue jeans once now they make them overseas too.