Posted on 04/04/2010 6:10:27 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
On March 26, the U.S. Senate left Washington, D.C. without extending federal unemployment benefits. While the Senators are safe in the comfort of their homes surrounded by family and friends, hundreds of thousands of Americans will spend Easter wondering how they will feed their families, pay their bills and keep their homes.
According to Indiana's Department of Workforce Development, on April 4th, federal unemployment monies expire. If your initial state benefits end in the period between April 4th and the next federal extension, you will stop receiving unemployment benefits.
If your are on one of the 4 federal tiers of benefits and it ends during this period, your benefits will stop. The estimate is that the Senate's failure to extend benefits will impact about 200,000 Americans.
How did this happen?
1. Pres. Obama and the U.S. Congress failed to make unemployment a priority issue. There is no political benefit to focusing needed attention on unemployment. Politicians do not talk about "unemployment." Instead, they talk about "jobs." Unemployment is the pink elephant in the middle of the room ignored by elected leaders. No politician wants to remind his or her constituents that 15 million Americans are unemployed and that over 50% of state benefit plans are bankrupt. It is time to remind them by going to http://www.senate.gov and letting your view be known.
2. Pres. Obama and Congressional democrats made passage of the health care bill a false emergency. The fact is that health care reform is one of the many issues facing Americans. However, the Pres. and Congress had four years to fashion and pass reform that was meaningful and supported by the people. The Senate's failure to extend benefits will hurt American families starting tomorrow. The health care bill was given priority over the view of a majority of Americans. CBS News, not exactly a bastion of conservatism, reported on Friday "the poll, conducted March 29 through April 1, found that so far the president's efforts to build up support for the bill appear to be ineffective. Fifty-three percent of Americans say they disapprove of the new reforms, including 39 percent who say they disapprove strongly. In the days before the bill passed the House, 37 percent said they approved and 48 percent disapproved."
3. Opposition to unemployment benefits is growing on claim that benefits stops Americans from looking for jobs. This claim distracts people from the reality that there is only one (1) job available for every (5) unemployed Americans. Accordingly, even if every open job was filled by a unemployed person, four (4) of those unemployed people would still be out of a job. To stop unemployment benefits due to the alleged misdeeds of a few, will pull the safety net from hundreds of thousands of Americans doing everything they can to find a job.
The real solution is for the unemployed is to join together and speak with one powerful voice loud enough to make politicians stand up and notice. It starts with every unemployed person writing, emailing and calling their political leaders until they get the job done.
“I’m 54 and essentially screwed.”
And you’re still young.
I wouldn’t worry too much about it. I’m confident Congress will have to extend unemployment rather fast.
Nope. And certainly not if you don't have any concern about “the people”.
I am truly sorry for your situation. If you were my neighbor or a member of my church, I would do everything I could to help you - as I have for many others. I hope you find the help you need from caring people in your community.
However, continuing to bleed taxpayers dry is not the answer. It is certainly less efficient than letting communities take care of their own.
As for what I ate? I am at work on a holiday weekend. I had the soup in the employee lounge. I’m not living a life of luxury, and I’m not as out of touch as you think.
And I sincerely hope you find meaningful employment soon. I do what I can to help those in my community, and I hope you receive similar help from those in your community.
” I am at work on a holiday weekend.”
Thank God you’re blessed.
TALE of Two Cities is an excellent choice.
So is Animal Farm and 1984 has possibilities too ....
“employment benefits should be extended time and time again”.
Why exactly? I’m sure students have a good reason why they should pay a fraction of their loans. I’m sure delinquent mortagee’s have a good reason why their payments should be deferred/reduced. I know the banks have lots of good reasons why the should benefit from a miriad of programs. What does this accomplish? How many jobs does this create? None. It delays the inevitable.
I do thank Him I am blessed. And I share that blessing with others. Which is the true answer to need in the community - not continuing to extend government handouts and dependency.
Look. It’s really sad you’re out of work, and I’m far too, far more familiar with seeing people I’ve worked with packing boxes and walking out in tears than I really want to think about.
A while ago I hit a couple of job boards when things were getting tough at work. Became familiar with what I’d need to do to get my resume out, and thought the process through. Sent some, got some replies, then pretty much put the process on hold since the job was still there.
This is where I want to repeat. I’m really sorry you’re out of work.
But from my limited foray into the market during that trial run, my observation is that in the time you’ve posted on this thread, you probably could have sent out about five resumes.
Really I do feel for you, and it’s discouraging and takes your desire to even try away.
Wish you have some increased fortunes.
That’s easy to say when your family’s not hungry.
no job? thank a democrat.
I've sent out more resumes DAILY and pounded more pavements than you probably have in your lifetime - and I'm an educated professional.
Have you considered relocating?
That’s number one on my list, if/when the shoe drops.
Live now in a 15% unemployment area. High tax. Shrinking job base. Liberals everywhere.
Which will be in my rear-view mirror within about a week, if the time comes.
“This is where I want to repeat. I’m really sorry you’re out of work.”
Yeah. I can tell. It’s obvious.
Listen Newbie, your sob story is wearing rather thin on this thread. Stop with the self-pitying whining, get a job or get onto welfare, and take care of your “hungry” family. Geesh.
“That was one of two big nails in the coffin of my old workplace.”
I’m guessing that punching out your jerk manager was the other big one when he wondered why you were going home at 7:30 a.m. rather than going to the morning meeting!?
“Listen Newbie, your sob story is wearing rather thin on this thread.”
Boy, you sure put me in my place.
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