Congress did not pass a bill today resulting in them taking a "recess"/Spring Break til next Monday, 4/12th when they will address the issue again.     :(

In the meantime, 100's of thousands of Americans are without any $ this week due to unemployment benefits not being extended/expired.   :'(

I find it appalling that our own U.S. government will help illegals and foreign countries with $ we taxpayers provide, yet our own U.S. government will not take care of our own Americans desperately in need.   >:(

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

2 years income was a pretty good deal I would say.

People need to start creating their own jobs, Instead of waiting for jobs to come calling or expecting government intervention. At least they can get some health care and food stamps if needed.

Rally around bring work to the towns, Get involved in the communities, sweep some floors 20 sweepers can do the same job as a 200,000 dollar machine and probably for less cost,(untill you add UC and other insurance costs) paint a house, become an innovator, open a business sewing or fixing, create, create, create..

I think a lot of folks believe their jobs will return as they were. Reality says this will not happen. We need to better compete in this country on an individual basis. If a former employer couldnt, ask why not? Were wages too high, UC insurance of 6.5% of wages maybe price them out of the markets, same old tired products?

When everyones on unemployment whos working? Who can afford to spend to bring back an economy? Untill the long term unemployed begin to take matters into their own hands the economy may continue to lanquish.

I know people cleaning lakeshores, mucking weeds, creating apps for I phones, A friend (former auditor) started dogsitting  and now has 38 dogs in kennels he built around an old shed, He's Looking at another location now in just 6 months. Another (former mechanical engineer in the auto industry) started metal scrapping and currently is purchasing all around the country, has 4 trucks rolling non stop and 8 employees earning wages. Another former production / plant manager started a catering biz she now has 5 employees in less than a year.

A local call for bids for landscape maintenance work estimated at an annual rate of 70,000 recieved no bidders in my area but a single 11.50 an hr job at the county jail recieved over 600 applicants.

Innovation Its the american way or should be. China figured it out while we educated our way around it.

There is most certainly a need for unemployment benefits as an interim rescource no doubt, but...... extending 2 years to 3.

We need good old pep rallys.

If I could draw unemployment I would lay myself off for 3 years and go live on a beach in Samoa or something. Used to think I'd go to the baja but it might fall in the ocean now and take San Diego with it.

Good post MJ.... And I agree with you.  :-*

Quote:

yet our own U.S. government will not take care of our own Americans desperately in need.

It's not one of the powers granted to the Government by the Constitution.

Quote:

"I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents..." James Madison

Totally agree MJ!  Great post! [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

What I have found mysteriously amazing is here in employment wrecked MI, we've hired four salaried managers after me just at one store and they are all gone, without other prospects.  Job's too tough, not to their suiting, unhappy, attitude, expectations, whatever, they left.  It may be an employer's market but the one thing lingering tougher is looking for another job, especially a self-suiting job.

Agree with MJ - unemployment insurance is a nice thing to help people transition, but is not an open-ended, eternal right. At some point in this depression, people are going to have to accept a drop in expectations.


Bob P wrote on Apr 6^th, 2010 at 8:19am:

It's not one of the powers granted to the Government by the Constitution.

Try re-reading the Constitution ... Section 8 authorizes Congress to levy and collect taxes, and to provide for the general welfare (ie, 'well-being'). The Constitution is very specific in some areas, and very vague  in others. 

The Constitution specifically authorizes an army and navy, but says nothing about an air force (yet we have one!). The Constitution didn't specifically authorize the government to create NASA or put a man on the moon. That doesn't mean that our F-18 squadrons and space shuttle are unconstitutional in any sense of the word.

Quote:

the general welfare (ie, 'well-being').

That's one interpretation.

See Amendment X to the Constitution of the United States:


Quote:

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Quote:

"Our tenet ever was... that Congress had not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but were restrained to those specifically enumerated, and that, as it was never meant that they should provide for that welfare but by the exercise of the enumerated powers, so it could not have been meant they should raise money for purposes which the enumeration did not place under their action; consequently, that the specification of powers is a limitation of the purposes for which they may raise money." --Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, 1817. "They are not to do anything they please to provide for the general welfare.... [G]iving a distinct and independent power to do any act they please which may be good for the Union, would render all the preceding and subsequent enumerations of power completely useless. It would reduce the whole instrument to a single phrase, that of instituting a Congress with power to do whatever would be for the good of the United States; and as they sole judges of the good or evil, it would be also a power to do whatever evil they please." --Thomas Jefferson But as early as 1794, Madison had begun to rail against the government's unconstitutional urge to redistribute the wealth of its citizens: "I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents. ... If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular exceptions."

I've read the constitution many times Monty and also read what the guys who put it together meant by their words.  I guess I haven't read the Progressive's ever changing version of the Constitution though.

Bob P wrote on Apr 6^th, 2010 at 8:19am:

Quote: yet our own U.S. government will not take care of our own Americans desperately in need. It's not one of the powers granted to the Government by the Constitution. [quote]

Is it our governments power to feed, clothe, shelter and provide medical for illegals?  What about helping foreign countries with aid and military?  Bank bailouts?  My point is we look like a bunch of hypocrites who take care of others when we need to take care of our own Americans.

Looking at the federal budget there appears to be a great amount of dollars spent on "taking care of our own".

Racer1_NC wrote on Apr 6^th, 2010 at 12:59pm:

Looking at the federal budget there appears to be a great amount of dollars spent on "taking care of our own".

Unfortunately not enough as we have thousands of homeless in every major city, and we have become a country of import instead of export, including illegals

LasVegas wrote on Apr 6^th, 2010 at 12:26pm:

My point is we look like a bunch of hypocrites who take care of others when we need to take care of our own Americans.

Define "take care of."

Brew wrote on Apr 6^th, 2010 at 1:36pm:

LasVegas wrote on Apr 6th, 2010 at 12:26pm: My point is we look like a bunch of hypocrites who take care of others when we need to take care of our own Americans. Define "take care of."

Food, clothing, shelter, education, medical, rebuild communities after disasters, aid in protection, create jobs, etc. 

LasVegas wrote on Apr 6^th, 2010 at 1:55pm:

Define "take care of."Food, clothing, shelter, education, medical, rebuild communities after disasters, aid in protection, create jobs, etc.

Except for rebuilding after disasters (to some extent, because I do carry insurance), each of those things on your list are items I pay for with money that I earn. None of it is guaranteed by the Constitution. Simply giving any of them to others would be considered a handout.

Does it not make more sense to "take care of" our own by teaching them how to be self-sufficient? Which method, in the long run, is in their best interest?

Goes back to the saying, "Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day -- Give him the "way" to catch the fish and he'll eat forever." (Or something like that)

We're educating a bunch of idiots to think they have to start at the top today... too damn lazy to mow yards or the "values" some of us were brought up to believe.

One of the reasonings on "guest workers" was that they do the jobs that Americans don't want to do. My question is WHY the hell don't Americans WANT to do them if it'll feed their families?

Do we have the idea that we're just too good to do menial labor? Or do we think that the government will just give us a handout.

Until we change our "thinking mode" - we're going to continue to be in this mess we're in.

I say the hell with helping everyone else - we need to cut out foreign aid, welfare, etc and start putting people to WORK for a change. But people are going to have to figure out that WORK PAYS and NOT the government.

Now if they'd just let me be dictator for about a month, we'd have this thing all straightened out........ :-*

BarbaraD wrote on Apr 6^th, 2010 at 2:32pm:

One of the reasonings on "guest workers" was that they do the jobs that Americans don't want to do. My question is WHY the hell don't Americans WANT to do them if it'll feed their families?

That started the day people started believing that manual labor and skilled trades were a bad thing and "beneath" them. After decades of "go to school, get an education so you won't have to dig ditches like I did" speeches, it's part of out culture now. Problem is, no one figured out that the ditches would still need digging. Go figure huh?

I lost my job of over 20 years on 12/31/09 at the age of 63.  I was in a niche market because I designed and sold parking lot lighting to commercial properties like shopping centers, car dealerships, colleges, etc.

At 63, too young to retire (I would lose over $600/month in SS), which I don't want to do anyway.  But I'm too old and not in physical shape to dig ditches either.  I applied for multiple jobs and was either too old (which the employer is NOT allowed to say), "overqualified" (which the employer loves to say), or "not qualified" (secretarial jobs - I don't have a degree or I don't know excel or QuickBooks) for any of the job openings in my area, including WalMart, who has no openings!   

I filed for unemployment compensation, and got just enough benefits to keep my head above water. 

But this was not for me. I decided to go it on my own, doing the same thing I had done for 20+ years.

I opened CLS Cullen Lighting Solutions, registered it with the state, working out of a small bedroom in my home.  I contacted every single developer, car dealer, general contractor, electrical contractor, architect that I could find throughout the southeast, targeting those whom I had done designs for through my employer, from VA to GA announcing my business. I found a lighting manufacturer who would take me on as their rep - commission only basis.  I notified the state unemployment commission of this, and my benefits cease.  My benefits ran from week ending 1/10 through 3/28. 

Know what?  This is fine with me.  I love what I'm doing, I'm busily designing and quoting projects (just quoted one for over $272,000.00 - that won't happen for at least 6 to 8 months minimum) and I'm living frugally, on a strict budget, making a little commission here and there on smaller projects.

Am I taking a big risk?  You betcha!  Did I mention I LOVE IT!!!!!  It won't be easy and I very well could run into times where I just don't have enough cash to pay all the bills, but I'll take that as it comes and borrow from the cash value in my life insurance policy if I have to, sell the house at a loss if I have to, whatever it takes.  I WILL succeed - I'm determined!

So, yes, unemployment compensation is a Godsend for those who need it as it was for me initially but  for a transition period until they can find some or any type of employment.  It is not meant to be the end all, be all income that anyone is "entitled" to forever.   We have to be prepared to take an income hit - big time and reduce our standard of living and quit expecting that perfect job to materialize out there paying us at least as much as we earned before we lost the old one.  It ain't out there!

So - find something else.  We all have skills - put them to use.

Sandy 

So if I lay me off, someone sends me a check?  What a novel idea.

           Potter

                     

I personally think creating jobs should be the first thing on any list, but it's not the governments responsibility to do it.  It's US.

Quote:

It's not one of the powers granted to the Government by the Constitution.

Very few laws on the books are challenged  as Constitutional. An awful lot of them are no doubt iffy at best but it's been agreed by almost all political stripes that most make sense and if each were challenged, it would be impossible to live here.

It's hard not to agree with everybody here. Some good ideas so long as people can eat while looking for work. A little what was called "creeping socialism" when I was a kid. I guess.

Charlie

Well said Barb...my sentiments exactly.

I know I've said this before but when I heard of the "Stimulus Package" I immediately thought of the programs implemented by FDR. I don't know, nor do I see where this program is going. That's not to say that it is being abused. But with today's political environment...who really knows?

I can drive through City Park in New Orleans on roads and bridges with WPA embossed into the concrete.  I drive the Blue Ridge Parkway and am amazed by the enormity of the endeavor it took to build that beautiful roadway.

I look a historical pictures documenting the people who contributed and may have little opportunity to use these things but built it for those who follow.

I have total respect for anyone who throws an bowl of corn flakes down their neck before heading off to whatever their task for the day encompasses.
It doesn't matter to me what it is.

Occasionally I see prisoners along the roadway picking up trash. As I head on to a job that daily becomes more and more stressful I often think, how wonderful it would be to be responsible for just one thing. Build a road, or something that would be looked upon as I look upon these wonderful accomplishments of those who were just trying to feed their families.

You want a job? Go to a construction site and stand next to an immigrant and compete. These days when I go to my job sites, I can't tell if I'm in the USA or Mexico. It's sad but true.

Exhausting 99 weeks of unemployment benefits...?  Come on! One could learn a trade in that amount of time.

Steve G

Quote:

A little what was called "creeping socialism" when I was a kid.

It sure ain't creeping any longer!  It's at a full sprint!

Quote:

I can drive through City Park in New Orleans on roads and bridges with WPA embossed into the concrete.  I drive the Blue Ridge Parkway and am amazed by the enormity of the endeavor it took to build that beautiful roadway.

Times sure are different. The CCC and WPA were creatures of FDR that actually worked.

The thing is that all over the place, here too, so much of our infrastructure was built by them and so well that it lasted. Tom Friedman writes about this all the time. He can be pretty far around the bend with some of his stuff but I think he's right when he says that it's time to do it again. He points out that the place is falling apart.

Sadly, I can't imagine getting people to live in camps and work on CCC type projects in 2010. What a shame. No new Hoover Dams today.

Charlie

99 weeks. Wow!

I have an employee who told me his wife was laid off and that she's going to just "take her time" finding her next job. Particularly BECAUSE of the extension - and really look for the "right" job this time. I was very excited about the possibility of getting dinged someday in the future for his urge to find "the right" job someday on my firm's unemployment insurance premiums.

Ferfuksakes! Have people been brainwashed by all this "what color is your parachute" crap for so long to realize that there are times when you just have to have a job, pay your keep, survive. Sometimes jobs suck - those one's build character and make you appreciate the better one later.

seasonalboomer wrote on Apr 8^th, 2010 at 6:36am:

.............there are times when you just have to have a job, pay your keep, survive. .............

Yep. Would you like fries with that?  ;D

Marc

Quote:

the Heritage Foundation's Index of Dependency on Government measures the relationship between net taxpayers and tax consumers, using 1980 as its baseline year with a value of 100 and reaching back to 1962. Heritage noted last month that the Dependency Index now stands at 240, up three points from 2007. It has grown 31.2 percent since 2001 when it stood at 183.

Seems entitlements just encourage dependancy.

seasonalboomer wrote on Apr 8^th, 2010 at 6:36am:

realize that there are times when you just have to have a job, pay your keep, survive. Sometimes jobs suck - those one's build character and make you appreciate the better one later.

Yep, 'tis real, Scott.

And sometimes even the good jobs suck. If they didn't, they'd call 'em vacation.

Quote:

I realize that there are times when you just have to have a job, pay your keep, survive. Sometimes jobs suck - those one's build character and make you appreciate the better one later.

Absolutely!

Charlie

MJ,

I couldn't have said it better!  In fact, I couldn't have said it at all, but I really appreciate your saying it!

A friend of mine got fired from a job several years ago when jobs were hard to find.  He got fired so they wouldn't have to pay unemployment, so he took his lawn mower and started going door to door cutting grass for anyone that would let him.  From that small push mower he developed a business in one year that almost trebled his previous pay.  Jobs may be scarce, but work is still plentiful.  I believe it was Thomas Edison who said (correct me if I'm wrong) "The reason most people don't recognize opportunity is because it comes dressed up in dungarees."

Jerry