The Republicans were burned in the Great Depression, because they were seen, correctly, as letting people close to starvation fend for themselves. This millstone was around their necks, politically, until the curse was finally broken by Ronald Reagan, in the 1980s.
This is about 45 years of bitter hatred from entire families against the Republicans.
So let’s not do this again, m’kay?
Now, that being said, we need to be crystal clear that what the Republicans in congress are trying to do right now, is *not* to deny extended unemployment benefits to increasingly desperate people.
They are *not* trying to do this. *Not*, *not*, *not*!
Instead, they are *just* demanding that the money for extending these unemployment benefits *must* come from *CUTS* to other government spending.
The purpose is to stop the deficit from growing, *NOT* to hurt people!
*NOT* to hurt people!
Some of you “bootstrappers” out there are of the firm belief that jobs are out there, that there are cesspools that need to be cleaned with toothbrushes, and endless stoop labor jobs to pick dingleberries, both at hearty, luxurious minimum wages.
YOU’RE WRONG. Let’s be clear. While I’m as much in favor of former Microsoft Certified Software Engineers digging ditches, there are just not a heck of a lot of ditches that need to be dug. Especially by middle aged people whose entire careers have been pushing papers and crafting Powerpoint slides, before their retirement funds were looted and they were canned.
So back off. Economic downturns happen. It doesn’t mean that for one second you should revel in schadenfreude over the suffering of your fellow citizen.
$58 billion, to extend their benefits, isn’t squat, unless of course it is added to the multi-trillion dollar and growing deficit. If it is taken from the budget of the “Federal Office of Nanny-Statism and Bureaucratic Growth”, I have not problem AT ALL in it being given to unemployed people eking out a living right now.
But this money is all that stands between vast numbers of VOTERS and misery. Misery that can very easily turn against the Republicans and keep them out of office for another 45 years.
So let’s not mess it up. Again.
The Federal government is not empowered by the Constitution to be in the charity business.
There are charities that will help these people.
YOU may help these people.
I repeat, the federal government is not empowered by the constitution to PAY THESE PEOPLE NOT TO WORK.
Since my brothers refuse to work for $10.00 an hour theyeven get their schooling paid for.
I’m willing to work for $10.00 an hour, when I take classes I have to pay for them.
Poor people play people who are willing to “help” them as suckers.
A woman that worked in my girlfriend’s resturant complained one Christmas that the Salvation Army did not give her children enough toys.
Of course both parents buy cigaretes EVERY day. $3650 per year?
I do not want to use my earned money to “help” people like this. Do you?
I agree with much of what you said except for your premise that extended unemployment benefits “help” people.
It’s true there are not jobs out there. But that’s freeing up the process of job creation is the only way out of this mess. And paying extended unemployment benefits HINDERS job creation and INCREASES unemployment in several ways.
So, in the end, this isn’t so much about bootstrapping, but about actually, compassionately helping people. Yes, sometimes it hurts to get well (or better), but it must be done.
Sometimes I think we forget what a generous and decent people Americans are. I do think that many would find help and support from friends, family and their fellow man — not to mention within themselves — if they stopped looking to government as the be-all and end-all of the provision for their needs. (Emphasis on NEEDS.)