800,000 Jobless Americans to Lose Aid

USA Today / AP ^ | 12/28/2002 | AP Staff

[ex-Texan]

If GWB has good advisors, he will use this opportunity to address the nation and point the finger of blame at the Democrat controlled Congress in what was an evil and obviously ill-advised plan of 'divide and conquer.'

Bush also can issue an Excutive Order to continue to pay benefits until Congress can act immediately to extend them when it returns after January 1st. He ought to excoriate the Dims and Hillary Clinton and Dash-hole pulling the bone-head move, and giving themselves a raise while American suffer. [Also, he ought to laugh at this old, really predictablly dumb play right out of the 'Clinton Playbook.']

[Diana Rose]

I just got turned down by Wal-mart.

Good luck.

[gg188]

I say, extend unemployment benefits indefinitely. Heck---just simply pay us all so we don't have to go through the pain, suffering and humiliation of ever HAVING to look for a job, have a mean boss, get up early in the morning, scrape ice off our car windshields...

[spectre]

Too late.

Queen Hillary gave the Saturday RAT radio address to the Nation, saying "that the cut off in benefits has hurt our economy, especially this time of the year, when people are supposed to be spending the most." (paraphrased)..

She is shameless.

sw

[RLK]

If GWB has good advisors, he will use this opportunity to address the nation and point the finger of blame at the Democrat controlled Congress in what was an evil and obviously ill-advised plan of 'divide and conquer.'

---------------------

The person Bush needs as an advisor is Ross Perot. Everything Perot predicted in '92 has come to pass.

[lelio]

just simply pay us all so we don't have to go through the pain, suffering and humiliation of ever HAVING to look for a job
While I can understand your point, it isn't like live on UI is all roses. My benefits, the highest in the nation I believe, are 1/4 of what my salary was when I was working. I've sent out hundreds of resumes and haven't had a nibble, and the same is true of most high tech people here in Seattle. Part of the problem is that companies laid off their HR people and there's no one running the ship when they want to hire.

[Publius6961]

I'm glad somebody is picking up on this.
These are extended benefits we're talking about.

90% of those have enjoyed most of that time off "looking" for work like I "look" for a root canal.
Sure, let's extend this new "welfare" indefinitely... and make sure it's a "living" wage: at least the equivalent of $14 an hour...

[Publius6961]

I've sent out hundreds of resumes and haven't had a nibble

And I bet that you are steadfastly insisting on considering only jobs that pay you your former salary...
Nothing for less, not even temporarily.

[OldBlondBabe]

"Mrs. Carmichael is now considering returning to work, possibly at night, so she and her husband can alternate caring for their children. "

Seems to me Mrs. Carmichael should have thought about returning to work a while ago. Why is it that everyone looks for a handout when things get tough? Don't people save money anymore for emergencies? Don't people work out "what if" situations in their minds to help prepare for the unexpected bumps in the road?

Trouble is with a lot of these families; they've lived well beyond their means and now that the rug has been pulled out, they've nothing to fall back on.


My husband's still working, thank God, but we've put off purchases and saved. We've discussed what changes we'd make if he were to lose his job to hold us over til he found another. I've considered things I could do to contribute to our family income as well as taking care of the kids.

It's aggravating to live modestly and save, only to see those that have spent all theirs expect some of somebody else's money because theirs is gone.

[homeschool mama]

***And I bet that you are steadfastly insisting on considering only jobs that pay you your former salary... Nothing for less, not even temporarily.***

Good point.

When my husband was out of work we immediately scaled back our living expenses. He did maintenance jobs and woodworking (built decks, etc) and I cleaned houses and worked in an espresso bar friends own. My husband and I both have college degrees and he worked in a white collar world. It was not *below* us to do what was necessary. Looking back, it was the best thing that could of happened to us. We changed our lifestyle to be simpler and more meaningful. He found a great job working less hours for less pay and we're still thrilled. We've since downsized our home size considerably and enjoy our simple lifestyle. :o)

[Publius6961]

Been there... done that.

It was a liberating experience to realize how little I could live on, and how unimportant a new car and other stuff is.

I am now making 75% of what I used to and never been happier.

Starting in the late 80s the rules changed. I am surprised it's taken some people so long to realize it.

[Uncle Bill]

Bush, Democrats Pledge to Extend Benefits for Unemployed Americans

VOA News.co
By Scott Stearns
White House
28 Dec 2002, 18:25 UTC
Source

President Bush says he will work with Congress to extend unemployment benefits for hundreds of thousand of Americans who lose that coverage Saturday.

Congress failed to agree on continuing unemployment benefits before it adjourned in November. So President Bush says one of his first priorities in the new year is to extend payments to more than 750,000 Americans who are out of work.

He said it is part of a plan to turn economic recovery into sustained growth. "This economy is strong and it can be stronger," said the president. "I will work with Congress on a jobs and growth package to add momentum to the recovery and to put people back to work."

The president says he will work with the new Republican majorities in both houses of Congress to ensure that all Americans have access to high quality, affordable health care. He will also continue his push for a prescription drug plan for older Americans who are hurt by rising drug prices.

In the Democratic response to the president's radio address, New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton agreed that Congress should start the new year off right by extending federal unemployment benefits. "We owe hard-working Americans, and our own economy, nothing less in the new year," she said. "It will come too late for this holiday season. But it's never too late to do the right thing."

Senator Clinton says another 13-week extension of federal unemployment benefits is smart economic policy, quoting a Labor Department study that says each dollar spent generates two dollars and 15 cents in the economy.

[MainFrame65]

I'm one of them - and no extension is needed. The part-time consulting that I have been doing since I retired from IBM 7 years ago had been great, but it dried up last March, and I started collecting UI. Then I started collecting social security in September, figuring on full retirement when UI ended. I still do, but if they decide to pay me for another few months, I'll take the money, needed or not. I will accept work from established clients if it is offered, but I am not studying new systems and software like I did when I was actively pursuing new business.

Of course I realize that a lot of people are not as well set as I am, but extended UI is not justified by the current unemployment rate.

[homeschool mama]

Interesting how the media always looks to the Hildebeast for comment...ugh.

[Huck]

It's aggravating to live modestly and save, only to see those that have spent all theirs expect some of somebody else's money because theirs is gone.

BUMP

[Archangelsk]

Sorry, I think you two are way off base here. Most people on unemployment do not want to be there and will do just about anything to get off the rolls. The problem, as I see it, is since most jobs fit a specific niche of training and since the job seeker is in a pool of people with the same skills it becomes difficult to break through to a position (supply and demand applies to humans as well as things). Retraining is part of the solution, but that is very costly and most companies will not spend money on retraining during tough economic times (come to think of it, they barely do during fat times too).

As far as taking a pay cut, although this is a reality in today's climate it is very difficult to accept based on our cultural indoctrination. The lessons learned by the Depression and WWII generation (saving for a rainy day and owing nothing to anybody) are completely lost on the current 30, 40 and 50-ish crowd. The result is a crisis of debt that demands at least the same salary as before (it also proves that Madison Avenue was very effective in delivering the message that one's things are who you are). That being said, I think that many people - hard working, followed the rules types - feel betrayed when they are laid off as a result of forces out of their control and have to accept a salary that is sometimes less than half of what they were earning. If you ever find yourself in that position you'll know what I mean.

Finally, if the folks about to get kicked off the rolls think it's bad they should try talking to their parents and grandparents about the Depression.

[Hildy]

I understand your plight and I'm sorry for it. However, you can take a job in the meantime and still look for a job that you really want. Who knows how long it will be before your particular area will be up and running, if ever. You may need to make a life change. Take a bit of a pay cut and try something else. Or else ... sorry...MOVE to a place where you may have some opportunity.

[Huck]

The problem, as I see it, is since most jobs fit a specific niche of training and since the job seeker is in a pool of people with the same skills it becomes difficult to break through to a position (supply and demand applies to humans as well as things).

Poor excuse.

Retraining is part of the solution, but that is very costly and most companies will not spend money on retraining during tough economic times (come to think of it, they barely do during fat times too).

Lame excuse.

As far as taking a pay cut, although this is a reality in today's climate it is very difficult to accept based on our cultural indoctrination.

Excuse.

The lessons learned by the Depression and WWII generation (saving for a rainy day and owing nothing to anybody) are completely lost on the current 30, 40 and 50-ish crowd.

Excuse.

The result is a crisis of debt that demands at least the same salary as before (it also proves that Madison Avenue was very effective in delivering the message that one's things are who you are).

Excuse.

That being said, I think that many people - hard working, followed the rules types - feel betrayed when they are laid off as a result of forces out of their control and have to accept a salary that is sometimes less than half of what they were earning.

Excuse.

Man, that's a lot of excuses.