Posted on 08/02/2010 3:18:07 PM PDT by reaganaut1
...
Ms. Jarrin is part of a hard-luck tribe of jobless whose members have taken to calling themselves “99ers,” because they have exhausted the maximum 99 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits that they can claim.
For them, the resolution recently of the lengthy Senate scrum over extending jobless benefits was no balm. The measure renewed two federal programs that extended jobless benefits in this recession beyond the traditional 26 weeks to anywhere from 60 to 99 weeks, depending on the state’s unemployment rate. But many jobless have now exceeded those limits. They are adjusting to a new, harsh reality with no income.
With long-term unemployment at record levels, about 1.4 million people were out of work for 99 weeks or more in June, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Not all of them received unemployment benefits, but for many of those who did, the modest payments were a lifeline that enabled them to maintain at least a veneer of normalcy, keeping a roof over their heads, putting gas in their cars, paying electric and phone bills.
Without the checks, many like Ms. Jarrin, who lost her job as director of client services at a small technology company in March 2008, are beginning to tumble over the economic cliff. For them, the last vestiges of their former working class or middle-class lives are gone; it is inescapable now that they are indigent.
Ms. Jarrin said she wept as she drove away from her old life last month, wondering if she would ever be able to reclaim it.
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Nevertheless, the political appetite to help people like Ms. Jarrin appears limited.
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She says none of her three adult sons are in a position to help her.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Not only that, but the liability is through the roof...This aint the 1950s where ya go down to stock store shelves for a few bucks to survive...They've got to hire ya, full or part time, and that means workers comp insurance, etc...People are laying off....not hiring....lol...What don't they get about that?
Not really that many boats to scrape barnacles off near me.
Ya mean there aren't enough boat cleaning jobs for 25 million unemployed? BTW, who in hell is buying boats, or having their boats cleaned in this meat grinding economy??
So the lesson is, when times are good, buy less expensive cars, don't have four big-screen TVs in your house, and buy a smaller house. And have at least six months of living expenses saved up. I bet if these people had only done that instead of spending their entire paycheck when times were good, they wouldn't have been in this situation. But NOoooooo, they had to "keep up with the Joneses."
As soon as gas prices started going up, people started doing what you said. Stopped buying stuff.
That was a huge contributor to the economy crashing harder than it would’ve otherwise. There’s no easy answers here except for a few like stop H1B’s, kick out illegals (and especially enforce hiring laws on them), and help the offshoring issue with tariffs and/or diplmacy to turn ‘free trade’ into more ‘fair trade’.
I don’t know, it seems everytime I’ve driven by Restaurant Row the past few years, the parking lots are always full.
Maybe in some areas, lots are closed up now too. That’s probably the last luxury thing to go though. And food prices are so high at stores it’s almost not that much difference in price either now, especially for 1 or 2 people.
It sounds like you have the situation identified correctly. Thanks for the thoughtful response rather than blasting me for speaking out of turn on a situation you know about. Take my comments as general ones on the unemployment situation.
Now here’s a *spanky* for making fun of me. *spanking*
So the lesson is, when times are good, buy less expensive cars, don't have four big-screen TVs in your house, and buy a smaller house. And have at least six months of living expenses saved up. I bet if these people had only done that instead of spending their entire paycheck when times were good, they wouldn't have been in this situation. But NOoooooo, they had to "keep up with the Joneses."
Ya know what is funny about you're comment...Is when Bush was in power and the economy started sliding off a cliff during his last year in office......
What was it the Republicans all said?
"Buy buy buy...Be patriotic, I'm doing my part to help the economy and I'm spending!!!
Now, it's, "You all should have saved your money, you stupid fools".......
I love it!
lol...
And have at least six months of living expenses saved up.
Oh sure....Everyone in the private sector can save up $15,000 or so in cash just for those little emergencies like losing your income....
Too funny!
So, never listen to any politician, regardless of party.
LOL!
I also see a potential solution to the welfare state, since a man in the home reduces the need for social services.
The Obamatrons will pull the plug on extended unemployment when they want civil disorder in the streets.
however...when you are a legal citizen and are honest and obey the laws....how much does it take to afford a car, insurance, life insurance,health insurance,food, clothes,phones, simple tv,utilities,property taxes...etc...etc..etc...
so sure....if you don't carry car insurance or health insurance etc....you can get by with a $10 job.....otherwise....its not even close....
After a year collecting unemployment benefits it would be time to STOP “affording” a lot of the things you have mentioned.
Barack Obama and the radical economic socialists are destroying the economy.
Elections matter.
This will result in millions of people learning how to be poor, unless unemployment benefits are endless. Ironically this will result in many people becoming Democrat voters.
What a crazy world in which we live.
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