Unemployment Benefits Extension; Will It Help America?
Posted on | October 28, 2009 | 9 Comments
Currently there is great interest in the unemployment benefits extension. Over 2 million US citizens stand to benefit from an unemployment benefits extension, but is it good for the overall economy? For those who are struggling to make ends meet financially and have seen very hard times it will definitely help. The question is, why would 13 senators vote against extending these benefits to Americans?
Let me get this out before I explain their “possible” reasoning; I am not against the unemployment benefits extension or the first time home buyers tax credit extension. I actually am quite unbiased on the position and can see both sides of the argument. The argument that those who are against this extension involves the amount of money our government has already “printed” to help us get out of this recession.
Trillions of dollars has gone into rebuilding our economy. There is absolutely NO DOUBT that many of these printed dollar bills has gone to corporate America. We have seen the bailout numbers and they are quite excessive. With that being said, a great amount of money has gone to help the lower to middle class as well.
President Obama has created many programs to help struggling home owners to stay in their homes. He has also supported the continuing extension of unemployment. Eventually the government is going to have to cut off ALL bailouts whether it be corporate America or the low to middle class American. Unfortunately a battle is brewing because too much money has already been printed to help both the rich and the poor and they each want their fair share.
With that being said, I would like to ask you, “Will an unemployment benefits extension help America?” I am not asking if it will help you, I am asking if you think it will help America as a whole. Please keep it clean and do not directly insult any other poster.
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Author: Jeremy North
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9 Responses to “Unemployment Benefits Extension; Will It Help America?”
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October 28th, 2009 @ 7:22 am
I agree with the analysis the unemployment benefits help create jobs. Consumer spending is down enough as it is. It goes down even more when people lose every source of income.
Printing money is not necessarily a bad thing. If we were the only country doing it, then it could have a very negative impact. The fact is, though, that this is a global problem. All countries are finding it necessary to “print money” just to keep people eating, clothed and housed. As a result, our currency is not losing value when compared against other currency. We’re not going to need wheelbarrows full of paper money to buy a loaf of bread.
The only solution to the current situation is to create domestic jobs. Since there’s only a limited number of jobs that need doing, we must somehow take jobs that are not being done in our country and get them to BE done domestically.
There’s a very easy answer, but it involves very dirty words: Import tariffs.
We must abandon these “fair trade agreements” that have done nothing but sold the stability of our once great nation down the river.
We do NOT need to import, and any examination of our balance of trade would reveal that we really don’t export all that much (other than food products). We can become a self-sustaining country that would survive any negative backlash that import tariffs would motivate.
October 28th, 2009 @ 7:28 am
I take that back, about the only import we benefit from is oil. Here’s a simple conversion formula for that:
1 bushel of wheat = 1 barrel of oil.
If they don’t like it, they can just eat their oil.
October 28th, 2009 @ 8:25 am
Yes I would agree that reasonable arguments can be made for both sides. That said, I believe the more pertinent questions is this; Will not giving an extension help America? When most Americans wrap themselves in the flag they should keep in mind that the flag doesn’t just represent the part of the constitution that satisfies their ideology. “Of the people, for the people, & by the people” is not a statement of nuance, it’s meaning is steadfast and true.
Therefore when the people need their government the only question that really should be asked is: How soon can we get it done?
“As long as we continue to look only at ourselves in the picture, we will never see anyone else and no one will ever see us.”
Jay Arrington
October 28th, 2009 @ 8:29 am
Of course an extension of unemployment helps America. We talk about how much money we have spent but do we take into account how much money we waste? The dollars given to the unemployed go right back into the economy and they are taxed as well. The sad truth is as Jim said we have shipped a lot our jobs overseas. Greed is the stimulus for that I believe. Additionally we have filled most of the low pay jobs with illegal aliens so when the employment picture gets bad there are no jobs to take to get over the hump. Once upon a time when Americans were in hard times they had these jobs to fall back on until the economy got better.
Living in California I see that all too clearly.
In order to make the USA what it once was we need to start to build things here again and to buy things made here. Otherwise we will go the way of the dinosaur. Sad but True.
October 28th, 2009 @ 11:46 am
Your article has some valid comments. However, if the government doesn’t step in and assist those persons who have legally worked for many years and have been laid off by their employers in order to try to save their businesses we will continue to be in a serious economic crisis. If we cannot pay our rent, utilities or even buy food essentials, how can we buy any consumer products which will help businesses move forward and eventually re-hire or expand their workforce. Unemployment checks don’t put any money in our pockets, and for some doesn’t even make the rent. I have been unemployed for over a year and have exhausted my savings in order to keep a roof over out head and keep the lights on. I have considered moving where the rent is less, but most landlords won’t rent to someone without a job, much less a guaranty of an unemployment check. I don’t have the up-front security deposit and I won’t get mine back until three weeks after I vacate. I live in So. California and rents are exorbitantly high no matter where you look. There are no jobs available; I have an extensive positive work history and outstanding references. I am willing to work for anything over minimum wage although my last job paid me $68,000/yr. I have sold off just about everything I own, including much of my furnishings and clothing and soon will be down to $0. Even gas money won’t be there to apply for jobs or attend another job fair. I have looked within a 50-mile radius. It is difficult to keep the upbeat attitude that I have always had. I have never had to look repeatedly for a job; it has always been offered to me because of my reputation and skills. Doors aren’t being closed in my face; they just aren’t open in the first place. I have had interviews where the hiring person has shown me a HUGE stack of resumes from which he has selected mine, but has apologized (most sincerely) that if I am not the final selection it would not be that I wasn’t the perfect candidate — he would have a most difficult time to select from such qualified (and over-qualified) candidates. However, sympathies and apologies do not put food on the table or gas in my car. There just are no jobs out there for so many of us eager to just be able to get up in the morning and go to work for anything. Why doesn’t the government hear this? So many in the local homeless shelters were employed not so long ago, had money in their pockets and a roof overhead. Landlords and mortgage holders don’t care if you lost your job. It’s pay the rent/mortgage or get out. Out where? Aren’t our congressional representatives listening? I have written mine, and Pres. Obama. Please do the same.
October 28th, 2009 @ 12:25 pm
This is a very emportant bill that must be passed as soon as possible. I am an unemployed worker. I have been seeking employment for almost two years now. I haven’t had any luck with attaining a position yet. This has been a true battle and a strugle for me day in and day out. I am at the point of just throwing oin the towl. My frustration grows greatly as the days pass. My unemployment benefits exhausted over a month ago. I have been on pins and needles, hopeing and praying to find work. Having no income is a true night mare. I struggle every single day now to try and eat abd figure out were money will come from so that I may pay my bills. I have sat in tears many days praying, hopeing that I will soon find a job. Now since the unemployment extension bill is being held up in the senate; I am very worried that I will be destitute before anything is passed. I just gave up my vehicle due to not being able to pay the car note any longer. I have fallen way behind on all of my bills. There isn’t any were to turn for help. My family cannot help me much they are all in the same situaion.I have created a petition to possibly help get this unemployment extension bill passed as soon as possible. Please sign this petition if you are an unemployed worker.
October 28th, 2009 @ 12:26 pm
Please sign the fight to help get the unemployment extension bill passed A.S.A.P
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/unemploment/
October 28th, 2009 @ 2:19 pm
I can identify with Karleen’s comments totally! I am grateful for the soon-to-be-passed UE extension (hopefully). It is a survival lifeline for most, but I don’t agree that UE benefits “boosts to the economy” but rather “stalls” economic calamity facing many families and individuals. I feel most unemployed, like myself, use the benefits to pay rent, mortgage, food, utilities, gas etc. In the interim, we are looking at one side of this huge problem. Given the dire economic climate here in California and the projected high UE in 2010, what can we expect 14-20 weeks from now. Another extention? Stimulous? Job creation? This is paramount for thousdands of UE’s who will not be able to find work, especially older workers. Government, particularly this administration, should consider lowering full retirement age to 62 with the same benefits they would assume at 66. That might boost the economy!
October 28th, 2009 @ 2:30 pm
Most of the commmentors here have discussed the economic effects of extending unemployment benefits. Consider what will happen if these benefits are NOT extended. In WWII, Rommel ate the same rations as his troops so he could better understand how far they could go. I suggest as a show of faith, all elected officials have their pay witheld until passage of legislation.