The editors:
The Senate could take a step in the right direction by extending unemployment benefits without further delay. That is the single most effective way to boost consumption -- which, in turn, preserves jobs -- because it creates spending that would otherwise not occur.That's exactly right, but the important thing is that the stimulus goes to all the states. The first House bill would have only extended benefits in states with high unemployment, which is nuts because, as Barbara Kiviat pointed out:
"a person living in Wenatchee, Washington would get an extra 13 weeks of benefits. The unemployment rate in Wenatchee is 5.9%. Meanwhile, a person living in McAllen, Texas, where the unemployment rate is 11.6%, would not get any additional benefits. That's because 8.9% of workers in Washington are unemployed, while 8.1% of those in Texas are"Fortunately the Senate plan would extend benefits in all states and extend them even further in states with especially high unemployment.
I sure hope no one is listining to you. I couldnt be more against the extending of jobless benifits. Most of the people on unemployment arent even looking for jobs, they are just sitting at home collecting money living it up. And before someone says i am wrong, no i am not, i personally know plenty of people that signed up for unemployment and havent spent five minutes looking for a job and dont plan on looking untill their free ride ends, i say end the free ride now. Please if our reps have any since (which i know that they dont) they will vote against this and stop wasting hard working americans money.
Joe, I'd like to see your empirical data which allows you to conclude that "most" of the unemployed are not even looking for jobs, and sitting at home, collecting money, and "living it up". First, I must get by the "living it up" comment. So, let me just go grab some truffles and a Dom Perignon, but first let me ROTFL. Rather than rehash all the government's data that explains why there are so many unemployed let me say the following to all the holier than thou and/or employed. Get over it, and the next time you see someone who is unemployed direct them to all those openings at your firm. Don't send them online. Give them the hiring manager's name, phone number, and tell them about the openings. Don't tell the hungry you know there is a wealth of food, you've seen it, and you've even tasted it, but you people don't deserve to eat. Back to the "living it up" comment, I would venture a guess that virtually all unemployed would be willing to trade our benefits check in for yours, and any benefits you have. Fifteen million plus without jobs in this country and we are looking for all takers.
Well Joe, I feel for you. My husband is 55 and has worked since he was 16 years old. He has been out of work for one full year and can not even get a call back. He is very upset at loosing our savings and credit ratings. Now we will be loosing our truck and the house is not too far behnd. He makes less in one month on unemployment than we did in one week. I can not work any more, due to health and no insurance now. To sound really mean, you must be well off or never been hungry. We are now in the hungry stages. We tried food stamps and that was embarrassing, but due to our 25.00 a week raise by the government, we lost all food stamps.(we only had them for three months). We are thankful for a roof, utilities and food. But for the people like you , please wake up in the morning with no job, no savings left, no food and no insurance. Have no way of getting any money or credit and then tell me how much fun you have on 300.00 a week. Yes, all of us loosers are living it up on 300.00 a week. Apparently you know some pretty sorry people.
Well Joe, you may know a few individuals who want to sit around and not look for a job, but I don't think you should speak for the thousands of individuals who are trying their hardest to find that one job to get them out of this horrific rut that they are in. My husband lost his job over a year and a half ago and has searched for a job since day one and has been on several interviews and for whatever reason he still has no job. He is either over qualified or doesn't have the right certifications. There is always some excuse, but for you to sit there and say that this money should be taken away from people who are trying is absurd and wrong! I work full time, but it still doesn't pay our bills and we have a 4 year old to take care of. That is reality! That is what most Americans are experiencing right now. That is why we need the extension to pass. We need the money to live, to pay bills, to keep the roof we have over our heads. NOT for the free ride! I am a hard working American and I hope they vote to help my family and so many others like mine. I pray every day that it will end soon and life will go back to the way it was! God bless everyone in this horrible mess!
Indeed. Fantastic argument, Joe! I especially like how you closed with the "ad personam" logical fallacy, a form of argument so screwed up they gave it a name.
But we can get more mileage out of this form of debate. For example:
"I personally know plenty of people name Bill who are meth addicts."
"Therefore, all people name Bill are meth addicts."
That's right. Bulletproof.
As an alternative, you could cite any fact whatsoever. The economy has shed 8 million or so jobs since the start of the recession - are 8 million laid off Americans really sitting around saying, "Sweetest. Deal. Ever." ?
I'd much rather have generous unemployment benefits than the silly stimulus bills. At least when money goes directly to individuals, you don't get a bureaucracy with it.
And unemployed people will spend the money on things they need, not ballparks or useless mass transit systems, the way governments like to spend their pork.
I for one believe that they should extend unemployment benefits.
While these WALLSTREET executive get 5 million dollar "bonuses" for running companies like Lehman Brothers into the ground, many unemployed are left to fend for themselves. Many, who have lost jobs through no fault of their own, deserve this money.
It is also a proven fact that for every dollar spent on unemployment, the economy gets $1.60 in benefits. Heck, this recovery on WALLSTREET is due, in part - to the extended benefits.
Lets not ruin the HOLIDAYS for the millions without work, lets pray that this benefits package passes and take care of the countless number of citizens (including families and children) that need this money.
I never ever respond to anything on line but for this one I had to. Is anybody answering Joe's bizarre and irrational message on the unemployed? I am and have been out of work for 1.5 years searching constantly and almost daily online to not much avail. As a matter of fact, I have found odd jobs here and there where the only people offering work are freelancers or small companies who have found a niche and need assistance, but the training is not paid and after sometimes 2 weeks of training, they want to pay $10/hr for 10 hour days while you use your car, your gas, you pay tolls around NYC (with no reimbursement) to haul their equipment around. Basically lots of sharks out there trying to benefit on the down luck of others. Not to mention how many people want you to work in exchanged for experience when you are providing a professional service. Ha!! I love that one!
But this is why I wanted to respond because how can anyone say a person prefers to stay home to collect unemployment when the maximum benefit paid per week in NYC is around $360 after taxes. The total amount per month is basically enough for rent, utilities and phone bills..that's it!!!! So I'd rather stay home and have the time to search for jobs instead of working odd jobs where I would get paid $10/hr and make less than $300 a week and not having the time to search for a long term job and get out of the hole. Also note, most companies now that could pay $15 even $20/hr are using the bad economy as an excuse (even when you know they are doing better than before) to only pay $10/hr and that also includes some corporations).
And forget if you work one or two days a week. As the honest person that I am, I claim if I work one or two days a week where I get paid from $40 to $75 a day in the hope of networking but the truth is I am losing money since unemployment deducts $100 per day every day you work. So not only I am barely making living expenses, I am also receiving less pay if I go out and get any job. Unemployment seems to punish me for trying even if I am only making a few bucks. This is when I think about Senators and Congressmen in their cushy cars, cushy homes and offices making decisions about extended benefits when they have absolutely no clue how we are doing in the real world. And forget about Wall Street clowns and banks alike now raising my credit cards interest rate to 29.9% when my balances are zero. In my case it is only me I have to worry about, but I can't imagine what people with families are doing to stay afloat.
It is unbelievable...the nerves..this bozo Joe opens his big ignorant mouth obviously not having a clue as to what is actually going on with unemployed individuals. I bet my head his finger is stuck on the remote on Fox news.