Congress “Fiddles” While the Unemployed Starve
The old adage about how “Nero fiddled while Rome burned” has never applied more to the U.S. Congress than it does today. As most Americans are enjoying the Independence Day weekend, Congress is set to begin its mid-summer break, and won’t be returning to Washington until July 12. It’s not that a holiday from work, even for elected officials, is such a bad thing; it’s just that 1.7 million non-elected Americans are left wondering how to makes ends meet, now that their unemployment compensation has expired. As payments rapidly grind to a halt, the unemployed will spend at least the next two weeks worrying about when or if an extension will be forthcoming. As usual, the Congressional Democrats and Republicans are pointing at each other for the failure to pass an extension bill before the break, and both parties are claiming the high ground.
Speaking for the Republicans, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said he really does believe that an extension is necessary in an economy with a 9.5% unemployment rate. He does, however, oppose increasing the federal deficit to fund the extended benefits. In fact, the majority of Republicans have agreed to support extended unemployment benefits if the extension is paid for with unused stimulus money; a stipulation that the Obama Administration and most Democrats have vehemently opposed.
Harry Reid, speaking for the Democrats, accused the Republicans of abandoning a large segment of unemployed Americans at a time when government help is most needed. He went on to blame the Republicans of approving every single tax break for the wealthy during the Bush Administration, but not caring about ordinary, working people who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. And so “the beat goes on”, and the finger pointing continues as the “fires” of unemployment continues to destroy the life savings of the middle class.
Over the last several weeks the economic data, and the capital market’s reaction to that data, have shown that the economic recovery in the United States is still very fragile. Consumer confidence is very low, the real estate market remains in a deep slump, retail sales are sluggish, and good jobs are hard to come by. Regardless of the ballooning national debt, the country remains at a critical stage where additional stimulus programs are desperately needed to bring the economy back to good economic health. Although we all worry about the future effects of continued deficit spending, the continuation of support for the unemployed is one area where funding must continue. Not only must Congress pass the unemployment extension bill without further delay, but it must assure Americans that compensation will continue until specific, national economic criteria are met. Balancing the budget, or at least reducing the budget deficit, can not and should not be done on the backs of the unemployed.
Rich
17 Comments »
Leave a comment!
“The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Don’t remember who said that, but it is so true. When it comes to balancing the budget, it has always begun by cutting funds to the segment of the population who has the most need. Education is DYIMG in this country right now because of budget cuts. Higher education costs have gone up so much that many young people who manage to get a decent high school education cannot afford to go to college. I cannot believe that there are so many short-sighted, ignorant people running the country. Just where do they think the future leaders of our nation are coming from?
Social programs, help for the elderly, you name it! God forbid that they should eliminate pork barrel spending! Or that they should not give themselves raises! And what about their expense accounts! Rich, I agree with you 100%!!
Take it out of the “stimulus.”
I don’t think most unemployed (or underemployed) people really give a damn about the deficit. Their biggest concern right now is keeping their kids fed, housed and clothed. Then there are the secondary things to worry about like education, utility bills, credit card bills, etc.
The Republicans believe that the worse they can make things between now and November, the better their chances will be in the upcoming election. People in the past have blamed the party in charge when things have gone wrong. I kind of think, though, that people are going to see through their game this time around. The “Party of No” label is actually sticking and starting to resonate with the voters. Call me an optimist, but I really can’t see the American people giving the government back to the people who caused all the problems we are now working through and are doing their best to keep those problems alive and healthy.
Len, I hope you are right about that! I would love to see the Arizona state legislature ousted, along with Jan Brewer, who has become an embarrassment to the citizens of Arizona. Today I read that because other border state governors were not planning to attend the Border States Governors’ Conference being hosted by her in Arizona, she announced that she was cancelling it. Funny thing is, she hasn’t the power to do that. The other border state governors plan to move it to another state. I hope they don’t tell her which one.
Too bad every poll out there says otherwise. Republicans told Dems to use the unspent “stimulus” Dems said no and went on vacation. If that’s not politics I don’t know what it is.
The new theory goes that the Republicans want unemployment as high as possible for the November elections. Yes I guess it is a “cruel, cruel world”.
The bottom line “He went on to blame the Republicans of approving every single tax break for the wealthy during the Bush Administration, but not caring about ordinary, working people who lost their jobs through no fault of their own.”
Judie,
The nations that succeed in the technological “world of tomorrow” will be those who value education. Higher education is rapidly becoming out of reach for many middle-class Americans, and the public education system is in shambles!
Len,
I hope you are right about keeping government out of the hands of the Republicans, but I fear that the “Party of No” has poisoned the drinking water for us all. Recent remarks by Boehner and Steele have shown just how far out of touch the Republican leadership really is! With their power to filibuster, the Republicans can cause a whole lot more pain for the middle class before the “fat lady sings”!
Harrison,
So the Republicans told the Democrats to use “stimulus money” for unemployment compensation extensions, and the Democrats are supposed to bow down and say “Yes, oh mighty and wise Republicans, we will certainly obey”? The last time I checked, the Republicans were thrown out of office in total disgrace for screwing up things so badly. With their filibuster power in the Senate, the “screw” continues!
John Boehner recently compared the Bush financial meltdown to a “fly”; hardly anything at all. Tell that to the millions of Americans who have seen their hopes of retirement shattered by Wall Street excesses.
Kevin,
As the elections draw closer, I think we will see the Obama Administration and the Democratic Party making voters more aware of how the will of the people has been thwarted by the “Party of No”. For example, Obama blasted Boehner for his ridiculous comments, comparing the Bush financial meltdown to a fly. Obama needs to take on the “Party of No” whenever possible, and expose the Republican strategy to close scrutiny.
Ha ha that is very funny. Democrats are as transparent as a brick wall and as we have seen in the very short time they have been in power in the WH and Congress how many things they’ve been caught lying about.
Why not use the unspent “stimulus”? That’s such a big deal.
What happened to Obama’s “Pay as you go” he talked about? Whoops… another lie.
Don’t worry, Dems will be tossed out soon enough then they can go back to their only idea… blame the other guy.
“Don’t worry, Dems will be tossed out soon enough then they can go back to their only idea… blame the other guy.”….Humm, a little monkey see monkey do there Harrison?
Harrison if the Republicans were not so adamant at stoping relief efforts and were helping to stop this downward spiral, you might be right….BUT!
Harrison,
The unspent stimulus money has already been earmarked for other initiatives intended to stimulate economic growth and create jobs. It doesn’t make much sense to axe programs that are in the works in order to extend UC benefits. By the way, “pay as you go” will work a whole lot better when we can finally get rid of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy. Judging from the persistently high level of unemployment, it doesn’t appear that “trickle-down” economics is working so well!
Kevin is right when he says that the Republicans have done everything within their power to stop “relief efforts. . . and to stop this downward spiral”. I will never understand why Boehner and fellow conservatives have such a high level of contempt for middle-class Americans?
Congress has dropped the ball and the people will remember who has let their families down not just the unemployed but the family members watching the pain and suffering their love ones are experiencing both parties will have to look back at what they allowed the people to go through! And the party who has the most to lose is the party who has favored the suffering and justified it with a smile as the people agonized we will remember!! Our friend and families will remember this holiday with are votes nobody will forget how this holiday felt around the dinner tables looking at that person who has never looked helpless not able to provide and no jobs available… Who said that the unemployed are getting comfortable? How can they say that? When i was making 6500 a month now I’m getting 1700 a month do you really think we are sitting around just waiting on that! We are praying and hoping that things pick up and are friends and family members will remember who let their loved ones suffer…………….
H.H. Hilliard,
During this period of recession and high unemployment it is a disgrace that Congressional Republicans would say “no” to extended benefits for the unemployed. On this issue, the “Party of No” talks out of both sides of their mouths; on the one hand they say that they voted it down due to increases in the budget deficit, and on the other hand they say they voted it down because unemployment comp extensions will only encourage laziness. I really hope that lots and lots of Republican lawmakers find out for themselves in November what it is like to be unemployed.
Take that HarriSon. Rich basically said I’m right and your wrong. (again) HA HA
This post and it’s comments (Harrison excepted)was an encouraging read for an outsider, but how to get the voice of reason heard before the riots start. The voice of the right knows it can manipulate the media and thus the minds of challenged millions. It makes honest blogs and the voice of real people seem so important. Will this medium be controlled as well? We pray not.