Posted on 09/09/2011 7:26:23 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
In urging Congress to extend jobless benefits, President Obama went beyond short-term aid and called on the country to rethink how it looks at unemployment, recognizing the long-term devastating costs of having so many unproductive people on its hands for long periods.
Specifically, Obama endorsed a work-sharing plan embraced in Europe that averts layoffs by spreading the pain among co-workers, as well as a more controversial bridge-to-work idea that puts people who are on unemployment benefits into training or temporary work that would set them on a path toward regular jobs.
The president also proposed, as part of his $447-billion stimulus bill unveiled Thursday night, a $4,000 tax credit to employers for hiring anybody who has spent more than six months looking for a job.
The White House estimated that this part of Obama's economic stimulus would amount to $49 billion, mostly for extending jobless benefits that would otherwise expire early next year for more than 3 million people.
The president's overall aim is to get more out of unemployment insurance funds in light of the reality of today's economy: Job growth has stalled and the number of people out of work for six months or more has swelled to unprecedented levels.
Some 6 million U.S. workers, or about 43% of the total unemployed, have been without jobs for more than six months, according to federal statistics for last month. Discouraged, many others have dropped out of the labor force. And the longer they remain jobless, the more likely they are to suffer the scarring effects of unemployment that can hurt their earnings permanently.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Cordially accepted.
Drill, Baby, Drill = J O B S
& out of work EnvironMentalists!
“Obama endorsed a work-sharing plan embraced in Europe that averts layoffs by spreading the pain among co-workers”
So, who would we like to hire to share Obama’s job (that he isn’t doing?!)
More socialism... that’s the answer!
Thanks for your comments. As a small business owner I employ on a part-time basis some younger guys (mid to late twenties). College educated, smart guys, had good jobs but now just lousy part-time jobs. Of course being young they can deal with it okay by living with their folks, etc. But I (and you) obviously don’t want the government telling me who I should hire and at what wages. (Or have the government tell me to lower the thermostat and give the savings to the poor!).
On the personal level, we have increased our giving to various charities for food, housing, etc. The need is huge right now. But based on your comments, I may need to look into how to help some aquantices out on a more personal level. But how to approach them without making them feel bad, etc.?
Unions get waivers...like for Obamacare.
I think Obama should job share with Herman Caine.
One friend I am trying to help is too proud to take help. He is literally dying a poverty death. No food, now has a fever, has no money to buy his medicine.
The options are to call the local fire department for a welfare check if you think they are that bad off. Explain the situation to the fire department.
If someone is just in bad financial straights, you have to remember when people feel like the world is closing in ont them financially they get overwhelmed, can't find direction and don't know which way to turn first. In that case, you try to help them prioritize.
For example, a friend that was losing his house was fretting over being late on the property tax payment. I had to explain to him he no longer needed to pay that bill.
Some people will just not accept help. Try a couple of times and then just let them know you are there if they need anything.
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