The Jobless Have Little to be Thankful For This Year

[Dulcinea]

Millions of unemployed, job-seeking Americans will have even less to be thankful for if Congress fails to renew the federal unemployment insurance programs. Now set to expire November 30, those benefit programs have helped sustain 9.5 million unemployed workers and their families this year. Millions more will need those benefits next year, as unemployment is expected to remain above 9 percent throughout 2011.

Last week, Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania was proud to receive the first 100,000-plus petitions we delivered to Congress. Senator Casey responded by circulating a letter among colleagues to Senate leaders urging swift action to renew the federal unemployment insurance programs through 2011. That letter already has 28 Senate signers. At the same time, more than 22,000 phone calls were generated to Congress in one day. You, your family and friends can also keep those calls going toll-free at 1-888-340-6522.

Next week we are planning an event on Capitol Hill where unemployed workers will deliver an even greater number of Petitions to Congress. We are looking to add tens of thousands more signers this Thanksgiving weekend. Please take a moment to help.

http://www.unemployedworkers.org/page/s/Sign_the_Petition_to_Congress

If you haven't already signed, please do so, and pass it on. Many of our fellow Americans, including DUers, need your help. Thanks in advance, & Happy Thanksgiving!

[RBInMaine]

1. Glad to see some ORGANIZING on this. The TeaIdiots shouldn't be the only ones organizing.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. The GLBT community is organized and active and gets

nothing but guff about it from Party and President. So follow the example, but don't expect your leadership to like it. They hate it, wag their fingers and say 'why are your telling me this' in whiney voices.
It is really offensive to hear straight folks and rich folks whine that no one on our side organizes. Join us, but it means 'those people' will be there, liberals, gays, working stiffs, homeless people, union members, and such, that is why the bulk of the 'moderate center' never join in.

[Phx_Dem]

5. ....

:cry:

[Hawkowl]

11. +100

I think you hit the nail on the head. It is not that democrats are unorganized, it is the fact that the leadership only wants our votes not our ideas, no matter how popular they might be.

When we organize and bring ideas and pressure from the grassroots, the Democratic leadership castigates us. This is the fundamental difference between the Rethuglicans and the Democrats. The Rethuglicans listen and incorporate their base's ideas and philosophy into policy. The Obama leadership group just tells us to STFU and sit down!

This is why I believe the dems lost the midterms and why they will lose in 2012. The leadership is contemptuous of the organization that put them in control.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. President Obama Should Veto All Repug Backed Bills Until They Pass An Unemployment Extension

If you're going to go down, go down fighting. You will feel better about yourself.

[muffin1]

4. Signed and passed along.

:)

[Dulcinea]

6. kick for the jobless. eom

[Uzybone]

7. same as every year

the jobless when we were at 5% unemployment didn't have much to be thankful for as well.

[totodeinhere]

8. This has got to be passed during the lame duck session or it's toast.

Once the pigs get control of the House in January you can kiss any extended benefits goodbye. As it is, the bill before Congress now only extends it through February. They need to extend it for much longer than that during the lame duck session.

[TK421]

9. This issue never seems to get the attention it deserves...K&R

thankfully, I just found a job, albeit part-time but something is better than nothing.

I know what it is like to wait anxiously for these things to get passed...it is not fun, and you're life can change in the blink of an eye because of non-action

[Dulcinea]

10. kick for the jobless. eom