The 2010 Unemployment Benefits Extensions are still in peril after nearly one month of political agenda passing in the United States Senate. The Senate will have one more opportunity to pass the Extension of Benefits for the Unemployed on July 12, 2010 when they return from recess.
The losers in this political battle are clearly the jobless Americans both parties act as if they want to help. Those jobless Americans, who have lost unemployment through no fault of their own, are collateral damage in a colossal fight on the floor of the United States Senate. In fact, a reported 1.7 million will have lost benefits during the week of July 4th as the Senate pauses for a recess. This nightmare of a roller coaster ride of emotions for jobless without benefits continues as Senators stop working to enjoy the Holiday. It doesn’t seem fair or American-but those are the cards jobless Americans appear to be dealt almost one month after extended benefits began to expire. Or so say the Senators, just deal with it while I rest.
The 2010 Unemployment Benefits Extensions have received criticism on many fronts. Some Republicans argue the Benefits only add to the deficit. Other Republicans say these extensions should be funded. Some people who comment on stories are even pointing out that the jobless Americans are no longer looking for jobs while they are receiving Unemployment. Maybe there is a tad of validity to each of these arguments-but not enough for both parties to bicker and fight and allow those who are jobless to suffer.
Why can’t differences be set aside for the common good? I have said it before and I will say it again-our politicians are acting like children. Instead of figuring out a way to provide these 2010 Unemployment Benefits Extensions, they are willing to take vacation days and a recess while many Americans try to figure out how to pay the bills. It’s the ultimate slap in the face from people who are supposed to be serving “The People”. It’s disrespect for fellow Americans plain and simple. Sure there will be some to say both parties are trying. The end result will still be the same no matter which party provides the plan. Americans will have their 2010 Unemployment Extensions at some point. The economy depends on it. So why doesn’t the Senate set aside arguments and compromise it. If the Republicans want it funded and the Democrats don’t-meet in the middle somewhere. 1.7 million people are depending on you. How can you in good conscience walk away when so many people are depending on an answer? It feels like some grand political scheme to make the jobless start applying for positions. Maybe the jobless are starting to believe that, too. But the statistics say they can’t. There are 5 applicants for every one job. So 1.7 million people will not be returning to work no matter how hard they try. Period. So why not aid these people?
Why does it take over a month to get to this point? And we aren’t even at a positive point. It looks now, after the House passed a bill today, that Democrats will need to wait on a replacement for Robert Byrd before they can pass the item in mid July. How many months does it take for the Senate to pass a 2010 Unemployment Benefits Extension? It sounds like a political joke. The absolute truth is that it is a political joke. A joke in terms of effort.
It doesn’t make sense other than just election year politics. Both parties are trying to prove points. Republicans point to polls that say Americans are concerned over the deficit? Really? Americans are truly concerned over a deficit in lieu of helping their fellow Americans? I find it hard to believe that any such poll is that reflective of any truth. I have never been a poll person. Were polls given to the jobless about what they currently think of their own politicians? What about that poll? Since 100% polled would probably believe each needed to be voted out-should it happen? Where is the logic with using polls like that to make key decisions that directly impact the welfare of people in our country? If polls said that each Senator should do a Polka on the Senate floor-would they then do it? I have a pretty good feeling that many Americans would love to see the Senators do a little dance. I’m just going to say it outloud. Polls are useless and never accurate. So why would anyone in their right mind use a poll as evidence? It’s insane.
Statistics are the only numbers in my opinion that have any validity. 1.7 million people going into deeper debt? How about that statistic? I don’t need a stinking poll to tell me that something should have been done before this problem had escalated to that point.
The 2010 Unemployment Benefits Extensions should have been a no-brainer. It shouldn’t have mattered how it gets paid for. If any of the Senators had a son or daughter who needed a trip to the emergency room would they wait and opt out in lieu of their own personal debt? Of course they wouldn’t? It’s ridiculous to even come to that conclusion in any respect. Why would Republican Senators come to that decision when so many people are hurting? Emergency situations call for emergency spending. If Hawaii was hit by a Hurricane wouldn’t we rush to fix the problem now instead of waiting until we had funds? Of course not. You don’t wait to help people who truly need it. Jobless Americans are facing obstacles United States citizens have never faced before. Now the Senate, by indifference, is presenting yet another obstacle for the jobless to overcome. Let’s just say the Senate has not so kindly placed another hurdle on the track. The only problem is that jobless Americans are incapable of running right now. The job climate is just not what it needs to be for these jobless to find positions. The stats do not lie.
There will be dire consequences for this lack of empathy and urgency on the part of our politicians. Some may say that this stalemate is because both parties are too stubborn to back down and for good reason. I say there is absolutely no reason 1.7 million people and growing should be left without the ability to provide for their respective families. The fact that this 2010 Unemployment Benefits Extension bill did not pass in some shape or form after a month of arguments is a sign that our political system is failing us when we need it most.
I know there will be comments at this article from conservative people who believe the jobless are not trying hard enough. The fact is, and still remains, that there are 5 applicants for each and every job out there. That means that only 300,000 plus of the current people who fall under this umbrella have the potential to land jobs in the current climate. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the odds are stacked against job seekers. It does take one amazingly ignorant person to fail to realize that in this economy jobs are easy to come by. The truth is 1 out of every 5 of the 1.7 million will be fortunate to find a job. That leaves about 1.4 million people who will not be able to land a position if they scream from the rooftops while holding a gigantic resume. It’s just plain ignorant and insensitive for people to assume there are great jobs out there. It’s just plain ignorant to assume there are enough jobs out there. The politicians are very well aware of the numbers for the most part. Both parties seemingly are in agreement that this needs to happen–but nobody knows how to get there. I have made this analogy before in previous articles but I find it very similar. When two five year olds are fighting and you have to convince them to stop-you don’t care how it happens you just want it to stop. With the 2010 Unemployment Extension-jobless Americans don’t care how it happens-they just want it to happen, period!
The economy is still horrible and perhaps this lack of passing a 2010 Unemployment Benefits Extension will only make matters worse. Let’s face it. 1.7 million people do not have incomes. How will they spend any money? Imagine taking 1.7 million people out of the consumer equation? They are just no longer consumers. Not to mention that 1.7 million doesn’t represent the entire numbers because a good portion of these people have families that are also immediately affected.
It’s common sense for the Senate to pass this bill. Whether it is funded, not funded or funded by giraffes. It doesn’t matter. Just pass it. Just do it. And please don’t take a silly vacation while ignoring the needs of such a large number of people. Because the needs of the people are what you are paid to protect. The needs of the people is the reason you should be in politics. Don’t give excuses and don’t point fingers. It doesn’t make any politicians look good that this is happening. It just doesn’t. And let’s face it, politicians at the end of the day want to look good-so they can be re-elected.
Who on earth from the 1.7 million jobless Americans who are living without income would place a vote for any of the Senators who are blocking this bill in the next election?
Senators are going to have a tough go of it during July 4th celebrations this year. There will be questions and insults directed their way without a doubt. And rightfully so. How can 100 Senators now determine the fate of 1.7 million people? How can we allow that to happen? It’s shameful and it speaks volumes for why our politicians aren’t typically admired and instead poked at. The politicians are doing nothing to get away from that stereotype.
In fact, they are creating one entirely new stereotype. Politicians don’t care. Is that the way Senators want to be viewed come the next election? By taking a vacation when 1.7 million Americans needed them most? If it happens this week and there is no July 4th miracle, United States citizens will realize where they stand as a whole in the hearts of these politicians.
Millions of Americans without jobs will be hurting. Millions of Americans are losing faith in the political process. The second half of our political chamber is continually dropping the ball when Americans need it most. When time is of the essence, our political process is not only failing but failing to meet the deadlines jobless people need to survive. How can the Senate, in good conscience, go on a vacation when the Unemployed people are being devastated by lack of income? How can the Senate, in good conscience, not figure out a way to quit being stubborn and help the people who helped put them into office?
The delay in getting the 2010 Unemployment Benefits Extensions is unacceptable on all levels. The fact that 1.7 million are being forced to make horrible decisions concerning their homes, cars and groceries is unacceptable. The Senate has completely failed the people. When there should have been room for compromise, there hasn’t been any. A group of 10 year olds with a calculator could have solved this problem quicker than what the Senate has done. One month of worry and frustrations is the only real solution our United States Senate has provided for the people who need these extensions so dearly.
I find it ironic that many people have commented on stories I have written and other stories about the Unemployed using the money as a handout. I think it’s just a giant sign of ignorance that someone would ignore the statistics. Even the most conservative Republicans acknowledge the need for the 2010 Unemployment Benefits Extensions. They just don’t know how to get there and meet the Democrats in the middle.
Republicans want to use excess stimulus funds to pass this bill. Democrats was to clarify this spending as “emergency” spending. Neither side will bend so the jobless Americans, who were already suffering on a moderately low wage, are going to get the wrong end of the bat to the head. Collateral damage is never a good thing. I am desperately sad for the jobless Americans who are being tortured by the emotional roller coaster that is our current political process. I am saddened that fellow Americans are willing to leave such a topic of crisis up in the air while they pause, ironically enough, for Independence Day.
