Is our Liberty in jeopardy here in America? You decide for yourselves, or perhaps you have already decided with your vote. A government of the rich, by the rich and for the rich is far more likely to continue with Republicans back in power. We should know for sure very shortly.
But what you may not know, is that the Democrats are not much better. How can the rich (and there are no poor folks in Congress) ever really understand the struggles and despair of the impoverished? Look at their priorities and it is easy to see how disconnected every member of Congress is from “main street America.”
Since early this year, Washington has left millions of unemployed workers without the money, in the form of jobless benefits, to pay their rent or mortgage and feed themselves and their families. These most unfortunate souls are known as the 99ers. Had the Democrats not been so arrogant as to assume the 99ers would vote for them no matter what, and instead passed the Tier 5 bill before they recessed (yet again) they (the Dems) would not be sweating bullets worrying about their jobs. Hey Ms. Pelosi - I’ll bet you are not laughing at the 99ers now.
This Summer, the Democrats refused to budge on funding Unemployment extensions using money from TARP or the Stimulus Package.
But, Wall Street bankers and hedge fund managers, saw a proposed $19 billion tax shifted from their assets onto working people. While the toothless financial reform bill passed by Congress earlier this year was initially to be paid for by taxing the institutions most responsible for the financial meltdown of 2008, the Democratic leadership caved to Republican objections, agreeing to fund it instead with money left over from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP)—funds that otherwise would have gone to decrease the US deficit. Instead, those billions in deficit reduction will be gouged out of programs that benefit the working class and the poor.
So Democrats refused to compromise to get badly needed UI benefits passed for hurting Americans, but they did compromise with Republicans to fund the so called Financial Reform Bill via those TARP funds. What is more important? Saving Americans from homelessness and starvation, or passing a weak Financial Reform Bill that barely makes a difference to Wall Street moguls, crooks and thieves?
Also let us not forget, while slashing funds for the jobless and the working population generally, Congress approved $33 billion to pay for the escalation of the nine-year-old war and occupation in Afghanistan, bestowing billions of dollars on a corrupt Afghanistan regime. Although there may not be oil in Afghanistan - there is reportedly over $1 trillion in untapped minerals in the earth there.
Taken together, these actions provide an unmistakable portrait of a government that is of the rich, by the rich and for the rich—one that is utterly unresponsive to the needs and wishes of the vast majority of the American people. The actions of the US Senate (the “millionaires club”), the House (where the average net worth is $650,000) and to some extent the Obama White House are determined by the interests of the banks, the corporations and the wealthiest one percent of the population, while the majority of the country, the working people, are abandoned to the mercies of the capitalist “free market.”
The Democratic House and Senate leadership have blamed Republican obstinacy for the defeat of these meager relief measures. The reality, however, is that both big business parties accept the doctrine of deficit reduction and agree that social spending—including the pittance offered to the unemployed—must be curtailed to that end. As for the Obama White House, it declined to make an issue of millions of workers being left destitute.
What is to account for the chasm that divides the interests of the working class majority from the policies of the two big business parties? According to the latest data released by the Congressional Budget Office 4 months ago, the income gap between the top 1 percent, America’s millionaires, and the rest of the population more than tripled between 1979 and 2007. During that period, the top one percent saw its after-tax income increase 281 percent, compared to just 25 percent for the middle fifth of the population.
No wonder the Democrats stand to lose the House and maybe the Senate as well. If and when that happens, the Democrats will have no one to blame but themselves. Had they passed Tier 5 they would be sitting pretty, confident of winning enough seats to safeguard their majorities in both the House and Senate.
No matter what happens as a result of today’s voting, Congress should NOT wait another 2 weeks to get back to Washington - as is scheduled. They should return immediately and get that Tier 5 Bill passed and extend the UI filing dates as well.
There is wide speculation that the lame-duck Congress will not be addressing the unemployment issues of Tier 5 or extending filing deadlines at all. If that proves to be the case, then there is little doubt that America will erupt into violent protests in towns across the nation - likely by Christmas.
Perhaps the Government is already aware of what is sure to come, as they seem to be preparing for civil unrest here on our own shores. They are already spending millions to arm the guards patrolling our unemployment offices.
According to RTTV News: 20,000 additional U.S. uniformed troops, set to be trained by 2011, are to help as a response to the threat of a possible mass terror attack or civil unrest following an economic collapse. But despite assurances from the Pentagon, many Americans are worried by the prospect of seeing the military guard in the streets.
Comments
Well, the situation sucks, no doubt about it.
But we still need to keep fighting for a Tier 5, no matter how bad it looks.
Agreed! Looks like we will have to FIGHT hard for it!!!!!!
Redpossum and Ms King: Many seem worried about the results in the House last night, but I remain optimistic.
Democrats control the agenda until January, 2011. NO COSPONSOR of S.3706 lost last night, and Senator Reid, one cosponsor, should have the integrity to acknowledge that without the vote of the unemployed, he, too would be unemployed. The so-called "surge" in Hispanic voting, according to MSNBC, went to Senator Reid over Sharron Angle by only 68%-30%. That's very telling considering that Sharron Angle did everything in her power to alienate every Hispanic in the United States. It essentially means that Nevada 99ers and many other unemployed Nevadans placed their faith in the integrity of Senator Reid as an S.3706 cosponsor, and a hope that he would stand up for them AND his bill. Hopefully, Senator Reid will not continue to demonstrate that their faith might be misplaced. The record is clear about what happened to Rep. Titus and some others in the House who we actively contacted for help over the summer!
Blaming inaction on Tea Party or Republicans is an unacceptable excuse for Democrats until January. Now is the time for the cosponsors, especially Senators Reid and Stabenow, to do more than offer platitudes and political theater to 99ers and the unemployed. Time is of the essence; Republicans have stated on many occasions that unused funds will revert to the Treasury in the New Year. Why not use them now to help the millions out of work and suffering?
Do Senator Reid and fellow cosponsors care? Will Senator Reid demonstrate the steely resolve shown when he threatened to keep the Senate in session through Christmas last year on the healthcare bill? This could be the ideal time to work out a deal on a comprehensive economic package during the lame duck session, especially considering the Republicans' fervent desire to extend tax cuts and the fact that this would have to be done before year end to apply to 2010. Tax cuts, S.3706, extensions of existing unemployment tiers, and aid to states could all be appropriately on the agenda. If there is one clear message from last night's results, it is that the American people care about the economy, just as they did two years ago.
The unspoken irony here is that Democrats might have retained the House if they had ever candidly acknowledged this preeminent concern among their constituents over the prior two years!
Hopefully, we will remain focused on the 15,000,000 unemployed and the 50,000,000 who depend on them. Unemployment is not a political issue, but an economic one. It is also one that needs to be addressed in the very near future. Let's hope Senator Reid and the rest of Congress show the maturity to work together, dispense with the political junkets and extended vacations for now, and get to work on helping their constituents!
www dot unemployedworkers dot org
NELP dot org -- Website for Unemployed
Sign The Petition For Congress To Continue Jobless Benefits
Too many Dems tried to be like Repubs. Dems like ben Nelson made an unemployment issue in June a seven week headline. Supposed Dem Joe Lieberman held heath care hostage when Medicare for all was likely to have passed if not for his stupidity. That would have made the health care bill easy and well built legislation. Now those ignorant turncoat Dems can sit back and wonder what hit them. I hope the Teapublicans don't treat the unemployed as they have this past year or millions more will suffer greatly.
Mike, it's my hope that Senator Reid has the integrity to stand up for those who stood up for him last night in Nevada. MSNBC reported that 16% of Hispanic voters particiapted in the election, and that their vote went 68% to 30% for Senator Reid over Sharron Angle.
That essentially means that the theoretical "Hispanic surge" Senator Reid was widely reported to be counting on after Sharron Angle's alienation of so many in the Hispanic community, never materialized! I think we can logically conclude that the unemployed and 99ers in Nevada voted for Senator Reid in the hopes that he would finally stand up for them AND S.3706, the bill that he helped cosponsor all the way back in August.
In many ways, I agree with you, but your concerns actually relate to Senator Reid as well. He can place whatever items he cares about on the agenda until January 2011 with the clear knowledge that he easily has the votes in the House until then! Does he care though? Yesterday, you pointed out that Senator Schumer is a friend to Wall Street, yet he also is a cosponsor of S.3706. Even if Senator Schumer is a friend to Wall Street, he has been no more or less effective than other S.3706 cosponsors when it comes to helping the unemployed.
The unemployed, and especially 99ers, need action, not platitudes. To me, and to others who care about them, it makes no difference whatsoever if a Senator claims to care when he or she does nothing to back up the rhetoric. Now is the time for all cosponsors of S.3706 to stand up for the unemployed and do the right thing. The time for vacations and campaigning is over.
Paul Begala is a Democratic strategist who serves as a political contributor for CNN. (He's among the group that is seating at the "Election Table")
Said that the unemployment stat that includes unemployed & the unemployed that don't receive unemployment anymore is about 17% (I think it's more!) All these media networks reporting this,
why won't DC LISTEN!!!!!!!! What are they wait'n on. People dropping in the streets (dead bodies)
or Protesting like France (Molotov cocktails, riots, hell & mayhem), O- I hope not. DC LISTEN!!!!!!
OMG I just heard that Alan Grayson LOST in FL to a Tea bagger CRAZY?? What are they smoking in that state?????
I guess they passed that bong to Kentucky too -
Well, I didn't vote for the teabagger and I'm in Florida.
I followed the advice of the Chicago sages Al Capone and Richard Daley, Sr. I voted early and often to cancel out the votes cast by "undocumented" people (e.g., Federal judge in AZ recently ruled it was NOT necessary to prove citizenship when registering to vote-Excuse me?) Could they be yet another factor (in addition to the overall incompetence of Republican AND Democratic "representatives") as to why U.S. unemployment rate remains so high?
I am fast becoming sick to my stomach watching what is happening... If these people who voted straight Republican for whatever reason, as a country, we are going to sink to a new low!!! IF WE DO WHAT THEY WANT, IT WOULD BE LIKE KICKING OUR MOTHERS..
Great!!!
Alan Grayson, douche bag extrodinaire, lost to another great American tea partier!!!
Takes one to know one Schmuck !! oops I meant Shemonk......
Sodden morning on a western lake at the (Michael) Corleone compound. Fredo is in a small dory waiting for a fish to bite.
BLAM!!!!!!!! (echo echo echo echo)
Man, I am feeling like Fredo this morning i America.
Just means a lot of people have finally smartened up and realized that we have a rube for a president, a harpee for a speaker, and the Democratic party has been hijacked by left wing nut jobs. Not suprising, most people wake from a coma after awhile.
Thank God the steamroller of garbage legislation has permanently broken down! Harry and Babsy Boxer must thank the unions for pouring their money, time and effort to cinch their miserable reelection...I wonder what the "payback" is going to be to the unions from these 2 morons. I am sure it will be at our expense, whatever it is. Speaks volumes about the left in California, when they re elect Babs Boxer, who has WRECKED the states economy along with other sleaze ball politicians who are so indebted to the unions and special interest groups, that the state will NEVER recover. The real truth is that the unions are in trouble, membership is down and they are waning in popularity these days, so they are desperate to retain their stranglehold of power. And what about our narcissist in chief, who STILL doesn't get it, after the ass whipping the Dems got yesterday...???? He is a one termer for sure, but his ego won't let him see or believe that. My only comfort is thinking of Pelosi, unemployed and sitting at home after January 2011, sobbing and browsing through her Mary Kay catalog, scheduling appointments for more botox. These people in Washington are no different than other corrupt elites, who are not concerned about the people, but worried about ramming through their agenda before yesterday's slaughter took place. After the Fed performs it's idiotic QE2 move this week, at the direction of their boss, Soros, we won't have to worry about any of it. The country will be in dire straits because of this stupid move and we will all be waiting in the soup lines. No siree, 2012 can't come fast enough for me.
I can tell you spent the night getting drunk with Bonehead.
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