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Why Is Mainstream Media Ignoring the Government-induced Labor Shortage That's Crushing US Businesses?
Townhall ^ | 04/27/2021 | Scott Morefield

Posted on 04/27/2021 8:13:09 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Odds are, you haven't seen it on the news - especially if you've been watching CNN - but there's currently an unemployment crisis in America. But not the kind that you might think. Instead of millions of workers vying for a shortage of jobs, the current crisis is comprised of thousands of businesses vying for a shortage of critical workers, many of whom are staying home for no other reason than because federal and state governments are paying them - and quite handsomely, I might add - to do absolutely nothing.

Writes Jillian Kay Melchior for the Wall Street Journal:

Lots of entrepreneurs are overworked these days. The National Federation of Independent Business surveyed more than 500 small businesses and reported last week that 42% of them had job openings they couldn’t fill. “As long as we’ve been conducting the survey, it’s never been that high,” says Holly Wade, executive director of NFIB’s research center. Some 7.4 million jobs were open at the end of February, according to an April 6 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Some workers still fear they’ll contract Covid if they return to the workplace, and some parents are unable to take on full-time work because their children’s schools remain shut. But there’s another reason for the acute labor shortage: It pays to stay on the couch.

As Covid spread and the nation locked down last spring, Congress approved enhanced weekly benefits of $600, in addition to the usual state-administered unemployment payments, through July 2020. A working paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that 76% of those eligible for the $600 bonus could be given at least as much for being jobless as they’d earn by working. Lawmakers have since trimmed the enhanced unemployment benefits to $300 a week and extended them through September 2021. University of Chicago economist Peter Ganong says that even with the supplemental benefit halved to $300, “42% of workers are making more than their pre-unemployment wage.” And these analyses don’t count food stamps, rental assistance and other government help that may be available to the unemployed, or the stimulus payments that have gone to the employed and jobless alike.

Sure, some workers are probably still scared of COVID. But as vaccines become increasingly available to anyone who wants one - and we are almost at that point - that excuse is losing its steam, fast.

If you're under 55 & unvaccinated, you're going to be fine.

If you're over 55 & vaccinated, you're going to be fine.

* If you're sick, stay home
* Eat well
* Exercise
* Go outside
* Hug people

pic.twitter.com/AExJABaSl6— Omnipotent Moral Busybody (@OBusybody) April 26, 2021

Take out COVID, and we literally have the government, an entity that *should* be protecting free enterprise, borrowing money from China or printing it out of thin air in order to bribe people to stay home while businesses die on the vine for lack of help.

This "Fox & Friends" discussion from Monday sums it up:

Fox News' @SteveDoocy, @ainsleyearhardt, & @kilmeade discuss a critical issue facing businesses right now.

"People will not come back to work because they are getting more money by not working."

Governments are literally borrowing money to actively harm small businesses. Why? pic.twitter.com/0AJS3NXR9B— Scott Morefield (@SKMorefield) April 26, 2021

As does this:

Fox News' @SandraSmithFox and @CGasparino discuss the paradox of high unemployment and businesses dying on the vine in their struggle to find workers.

"The governments are making it easy for people to stay home and get paid."

Fact-check: TRUE pic.twitter.com/ymta1zqHpN— Scott Morefield (@SKMorefield) April 21, 2021

Also, this exchange between former restaurant CEO Andrew Puzder and Fox Business host Stuart Varney:


We need more coverage like that, much, much more. In fact, in a sane world, a sane media would be shouting from the rooftops about the demise of small businesses at the hands of an insane government. But they aren't. I went into my media clipping service and searched the words "unemployment" and "hiring" in April and found only a few segments on Fox News even bothering to cover it from this critical perspective, and (unless I missed something) crickets from CNN.

When I'm not posting columns and articles for Townhall, I work during the day as a staffing industry exec, and I can testify firsthand that virtually every business, from factories to restaurants to call centers, are bending over backwards trying to raise their pay and benefits, and yet still cannot attract enough help. 

Sure, the likes of Amazon and Walmart are having trouble too, but they have the wherewithal to survive. What about small to medium-sized businesses? How much more pressure can they take before they fold or severely downsize? What will life be like when prices triple, or when restaurants, amusement parks, and other places that make life more fun and interesting go out of business?

To be clear, I'm not blaming individuals for taking the money. Who WOULDN'T take free money to sit on the couch, no strings attached? No, this is purely the government's fault, and it began with Trump and the GOP.

And now, the Biden administration is talking about MORE free giveaways, as if there aren't good jobs available for people to fill. Are they purposely trying to end small businesses in America indirectly, without a smoking gun that can pin the coming economic catastrophe on them? If that's their goal, it's hard to imagine a better way to accomplish it.



TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: labor; shortage; unemployment; usbusiness
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1 posted on 04/27/2021 8:13:09 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

It’s not a bug, it’s a feature.


2 posted on 04/27/2021 8:15:23 AM PDT by KC_Lion
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To: SeekAndFind

Because the Dems want permanent WELFARE right up until the 2022 elections!


3 posted on 04/27/2021 8:17:41 AM PDT by Harpotoo (Being a socialist is a lot easier than having to WORK like the rest of US:-))
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To: SeekAndFind

Because they want to create an artificial demand for illegal alien labor?


4 posted on 04/27/2021 8:18:08 AM PDT by Spirit of Liberty (Jesus said 'I am the Light of the world'. ~ John 8:12)
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To: SeekAndFind

This affects disproportionately small business, many of whom which can’t react as well to these kinds of crisises.

Government hates small business.


5 posted on 04/27/2021 8:18:54 AM PDT by Fido969 ( Sc)
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To: SeekAndFind

The MSM only do what the Democrats tell them to do and right now the Democrats a way too busy counting the money stolen from taxpayers to give orders to the MSM


6 posted on 04/27/2021 8:19:15 AM PDT by butlerweave
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To: SeekAndFind

There are two-year olds surrounded by masks and social distancing who may never learn to really recognize facial expressions or form normal social bonds.

There are kids in Junior High School who will be socially awkward and isolated far above the previous national rate.

There are kids in High School and College who will never learn to work in groups.

There are young adults who will be resentful that they can’t sit on a couch their whole lives, and who will never develop anything like a real work ethic.

The fallout from this social experiment/power grab will be with us for decades.


7 posted on 04/27/2021 8:19:17 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy ("I see you did something -- why you so racist?")
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To: SeekAndFind

Because they can..................


8 posted on 04/27/2021 8:21:14 AM PDT by Red Badger ("We've always been at war with Climate Change, Winston."..............................)
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To: ClearCase_guy
There are young adults who will be resentful that they can’t sit on a couch their whole lives

LOL!...................

9 posted on 04/27/2021 8:22:51 AM PDT by Red Badger ("We've always been at war with Climate Change, Winston."..............................)
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To: SeekAndFind
I'm not blaming individuals for taking the money. Who WOULDN'T take free money to sit on the couch, no strings attached? No, this is purely the government's fault, and it began with Trump and the GOP.

I.m sorry, but I can't excuse the individuals sucking off the government teet and loathing in their newfound dependence at the expense of their fellow man. Those who Refuse to Work shall also Refuse to EAT!.

We should ABOLISH Welfare and the Food Stamp Program and put up a Soup Kitchen on every corner that needs one,
10 posted on 04/27/2021 8:24:16 AM PDT by eyeamok (founded in cynicism, wrapped in sarcasm)
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To: SeekAndFind

BTTT


11 posted on 04/27/2021 8:24:30 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Free Republic: The Internet's 1st social media platform. Since 1996.)
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To: SeekAndFind

The media follows the revolutionary narrative. If something is not in the narrative, it doesn’t make the news.


12 posted on 04/27/2021 8:25:02 AM PDT by RoosterRedux
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To: SeekAndFind

The company I work for has 500+ Factory openings right now - Minimum for floor sweepers is $16 per hour with full benefits after 30 days.

No one is even applying - not even drug addicts or felons.

We could receive a $2000 bonus for every new employee we recruit who lasts 90 days on the job. So far no one has claimed the bonus.


13 posted on 04/27/2021 8:26:51 AM PDT by EC Washington
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To: SeekAndFind

Why Is Mainstream Media Ignoring the Government-induced Labor Shortage That’s Crushing US Businesses?
_____________________________________________________________

1) Because they are paid to lie.
2) Because they think it will destroy the country faster.


14 posted on 04/27/2021 8:29:08 AM PDT by JCL3 (As Richard Feynman might have said, this is reality taking precedence over public relations.)
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To: SeekAndFind

large numbers of small independent businesses are a major threat to fascist governments, because a small number of oligarchs are who own all the entire economy are extremely easy to control ... all it takes is a couple of small sticks and several bunches of carrots and the oligarchs are quite content to join in league with fascist governments ... and that is EXACTLY what is happening right now here in the U.S. ...


15 posted on 04/27/2021 8:31:14 AM PDT by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
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To: Fido969

Spot on! Small businesses are notoriously hard to control and pickpocket. Govzilla hates them especially for that reason.


16 posted on 04/27/2021 8:34:32 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (The politicized state destroys aspects of civil society, human kindness and private charity.)
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For those less than 35 YO, the risk of SARS death is 0.0035%...

Yeah, really important they get vaccinated with experimental drugs. /s


17 posted on 04/27/2021 8:52:54 AM PDT by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: SeekAndFind

I am a strong Sane, Pretty healthy Senior. I have 2 part time jobs, BUT I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY I MAKE BECAUSE OTHER WISE SOCIAL SECURITY WILL PENALIZE ME!!

LET SENIORS MAKE AS MUSH MONSY AS THEY WANT WITH NO PENALTY!

This is a no brainer, But Our Congress, many of them (R) have no brains.


18 posted on 04/27/2021 8:55:48 AM PDT by chicagolady (Mexican Elite say: EXPORT Poverty and Let the the Stupid AmericanTaxpayer foot the bill !)
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>> For those less than 35 YO, the risk of SARS death is 0.0035%...

BTW, that “if vaccinated” 0.0001575% value is nothing more than a projection based on 95.5% vaccine efficacy.


19 posted on 04/27/2021 8:56:01 AM PDT by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: chicagolady
LET SENIORS MAKE AS MUSH MONSY AS THEY WANT WITH NO PENALTY!

Absolutely AGREE. Sick to death of the gubmit taxing me on my measly Social Security, if I work yet. Yes.... I still want to work. It's fun.

Also, you read Basement Joe is hiring LOTS of IRS dudes and dudettes to ensure we all get audited. Back to the Lois Lerner nose in the air days.

We need to start fighting back, folks.

20 posted on 04/27/2021 9:27:58 AM PDT by WaterWeWaitinFor (Pray for President Trump, his family, and We The People. )
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