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Millions of Unemployed Face Years Without Jobs
New York Times ^ | February 20, 2010 | PETER S. GOODMAN

Posted on 02/20/2010 6:17:52 PM PST by ricks_place

BUENA PARK, Calif. — Even as the American economy shows tentative signs of a rebound, the human toll of the recession continues to mount, with millions of Americans remaining out of work, out of savings and nearing the end of their unemployment benefits.

Economists fear that the nascent recovery will leave more people behind than in past recessions, failing to create jobs in sufficient numbers to absorb the record-setting ranks of the long-term unemployed.

Call them the new poor: people long accustomed to the comforts of middle-class life who are now relying on public assistance for the first time in their lives — potentially for years to come.

Yet the social safety net is already showing severe strains. Roughly 2.7 million jobless people will lose their unemployment check before the end of April unless Congress approves the Obama administration’s proposal to extend the payments, according to the Labor Department.

Here in Southern California, Jean Eisen has been without work since she lost her job selling beauty salon equipment more than two years ago. In the several months she has endured with neither a paycheck nor an unemployment check, she has relied on local food banks for her groceries.

She has learned to live without the prescription medications she is supposed to take for high blood pressure and cholesterol. She has become effusively religious — an unexpected turn for this onetime standup comic with X-rated material — finding in Christianity her only form of health insurance.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bhoeconomy; fourth100days; layoffs
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Article in the paper today of a job fair and an unemployed guy in his 30s with a degree in business said

He said he doesn’t want a job, he wants a career.
This is typical of many.

They think they are too good to start at the bottom
or do a job and keep their eyes open for something better.

These people are not motivated, no better than welfare bums


21 posted on 02/20/2010 6:35:39 PM PST by SoCalPol (Reagan Republican for Palin 2012)
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To: ricks_place

All part of the plan. What better way to get people on board with being dependent on government than to destroy the private sector?


22 posted on 02/20/2010 6:36:41 PM PST by pnh102 (Regarding liberalism, always attribute to malice what you think can be explained by stupidity. - Me)
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To: ICCtheWay

Isn’t it amazing how hard it is for people over 50 to get jobs, regardless of the pay.


23 posted on 02/20/2010 6:36:43 PM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: ricks_place

That’s okay. There are plenty of illegal aliens to take the jobs they won’t be unemployed for.


24 posted on 02/20/2010 6:36:58 PM PST by Beowulf9
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To: ICCtheWay
If you are over age 50 and lose your professional job in these times - you may never have a professional job again...

If you are over age 40 and haven't left the professional "job" behind to start your own business, you are in trouble. "Jobs" are for young, smart, cheap people. And Asia has lots of them.

25 posted on 02/20/2010 6:36:59 PM PST by Mr. Jeeves ( "The right to offend is far more important than any right not to be offended." - Rowan Atkinson)
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To: ICCtheWay
I had hopes of retiring in five years.

I am not so sure now.

When I began saving for retirement (TSA) in my planning I supposed SS would no longer be available.

I did however plan on my pension.

I am not so sure of that anymore (I live in NJ and the state government has been robbing from it for years, and now the piper needs to be paid.

26 posted on 02/20/2010 6:37:25 PM PST by mware (F-R-E-E, that spells free. Free Republic.com baby.)
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To: SoCalPol

Amazing how you can always find someone to insult those down on their luck.


27 posted on 02/20/2010 6:40:42 PM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: ricks_place

How long before they storm the Bastille?


28 posted on 02/20/2010 6:41:45 PM PST by Sybeck1 (POTUS : Punk of the United States)
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To: ricks_place

....forgot to mention ACORN nuts and V-O-T-E-R-S!


29 posted on 02/20/2010 6:42:26 PM PST by pointsal ( try MagicJack if you have had enough of Verizon)
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To: ricks_place
Get an education, learn Marketable job skills and be flexible and you will not be unemployed for very long.
30 posted on 02/20/2010 6:43:03 PM PST by trumandogz (The Democrats are driving us to Socialism at 100 MPH -The GOP is driving us to Socialism at 97.5 MPH)
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To: driftdiver

Age discrimination in hiring has been rampant for 10-15 years... it will only get worse now...

The U.S. Government has NEVER enforced laws relative to age discrimination in hiring... not even with Defense Contractors or other corporations who benefit from Tax Payer money...

NEVER...


31 posted on 02/20/2010 6:45:15 PM PST by ICCtheWay
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To: Personal Responsibility
What kind of economic recovery in a jobs based economy does not include jobs?

Again, if this were a Republican administration trying to pass off a jobless bounce in some statistics as a "recovery" they would be boiled in oil in the media.

32 posted on 02/20/2010 6:45:20 PM PST by denydenydeny ("Leftists are like vampires; shine a light on what they are doing and they retreat."-Andrew Klavan)
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To: mware

I strongly suggest radical lifestyle changes to allow for survival in a worst possible case scenario ...


33 posted on 02/20/2010 6:46:41 PM PST by ICCtheWay
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To: ricks_place

The structure and face of our society is forever changing right before our eyes.

FDR basically created the American Middle Class in 100 days and Obama has destroyed it. A third of a century later Obama has set out to destroy it...


34 posted on 02/20/2010 6:46:51 PM PST by The Magical Mischief Tour
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To: ICCtheWay

I don’t disagree with you but most of my team is 50 or over. Guess thats why I’m in consulting.


35 posted on 02/20/2010 6:47:26 PM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: ricks_place

Yet the social safety net is already showing severe strains. Roughly 2.7 million jobless people will lose their unemployment check before the end of April unless Congress approves the Obama administration’s proposal to extend the payments, according to the Labor Department.

The social safety net is about to become unaffordable. Extending payments when Congress is broke, isn’t an option. Not to mention it is the policy of the Obama administration that lead to the unemployment in the first place and the lack of recovery in the second. Of course all the blame shouldn’t be on Mr Obama but...”it is the economy stupid”.


36 posted on 02/20/2010 6:47:41 PM PST by wita
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To: Mr. Jeeves

That is a new wrinkle - but seems plausible...


37 posted on 02/20/2010 6:48:09 PM PST by ICCtheWay
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To: Personal Responsibility

What recovery. There is NO recovery.

As long as Americans are unemployed at a 10% rate NO recovery.

Although if you think about it a lot of Zeros friends are going to make a hellova lot of $$$$$$$$$.


38 posted on 02/20/2010 6:50:40 PM PST by Marty62 (former Marty60)
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To: driftdiver

I am very pleased you and others over age 50 have found a niche to work and survive ... it is not the norm however...

Good for you - consider yourself blessed.


39 posted on 02/20/2010 6:51:12 PM PST by ICCtheWay
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To: driftdiver

My comment is about those who won’t take a job unless it is the very best and pays big dollars.


40 posted on 02/20/2010 6:51:40 PM PST by SoCalPol (Reagan Republican for Palin 2012)
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