January 7, on the House Floor, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) asked the unemployed, to send him their resumes so he could put a face on America's continuing unemployment problem.
"In order to show the huge need for jobs, I'll be collecting resumes from Americans who are unemployed or underemployed. I'll submit them for the Congressional Record. I hope to dramatize the shameful condition of unemployment and compel action to do something about it. I want to remind my colleagues every day that people want to work. Today I call on my fellow Americans to send me your resume and your story to resumesfor america@mail.house.gov."
Unemployment, especially long-term unemployment has been addressed in the past year with little to show for the efforts. The House Ways and Means Committee collected letters from the long-term unemployed, heard testimony from experts, but failed to move forward with any recommendations or legislation. Over the past seven months, the problem of long-term unemployment has improved only slightly; 44.3% of the unemployed or 6,441,000 jobless have been without work for 27 weeks or longer. Those near record numbers are more than at any time since record keeping on this statistic began in 1948. 6.44 million long-term jobless Americans face a labor market with only one job opening for nearly every eight unemployed/underemployed workers.
On January 12, Rep. Jackson seemed pleasantly surprised by the response of the jobless to his resume collection idea when interviewed by Lauren Victoria Burke from Crew of 42 . Regarding the number of resumes he has received, "15,000 so far and they are coming in everyday." When asked how he came up the resume collection concept, Rep. Jackson stated,
"Working on a project back in Illinois, and I'm delivering 15,000 resumes to our Illinois governor because he truly doesn't understand the unemployment plight in Illinois."
The unemployment rate in Illinois is currently 9.6%. Rep. Jackson plans to place 9,000 resumes in the Congressional Record.
At PUSH headquarters in Chicago last week, Rep. Jackson said,
"We've got a Democratic Party, Republican Party, a Tea Party. We need a Jobs Party."
Rep. Jackson's statement will hit a nerve with many unemployed who feel ignored and abandoned by those they elected. His rhetorical Jobs Party could attract quite a few members, since nationally there are nearly 15 million unemployed, 2.5 million workers who believe the job market is so bad that they have stopped looking for work and another 9 million who are working part-time but want full time work. 26.5 million unemployed/underemployed could make the Jobs Party a force. In reality it's incumbent on Congress to act as one voice for the millions of jobless who have not seen the economy improve since this jobless recession began more than two years ago.
The unemployed and especially the long-term unemployed have been given a bum rap by many in Congress. Speaking of the unemployed, Rep. Jackson added,
"They are not lazy, they are not on welfare. These are lawyers, they're doctors, they're professional people. These are serious people"
Others in Congress need to treat the unemployed and unemployment with the respect it deserves. That time is now.
Since Congress saw fit to quickly bailout corrupt and mismanaged banks and insurance companies with trillions in taxpayer funds, they need to show that same resolve and urgency to bailout the millions of unemployed who have suffered the most from this Wall Street created Great Recession. They can begin the job creation process by eliminating tax breaks that encourage companies to outsource jobs overseas. Laws should be passed and enforced that end discrimination against job seekers due to credit score, age and time on unemployment. Congress needs to fix a broken unemployment insurance system that offers no more than unemployment benefits; continuing education and job retraining are vital components in any quickly changing jobs marketplace.
Congress has spent thousands of hours on a weak Wall Street reform package, agreeing on tax breaks for millionaires and DADT, disagreeing on the Dream Act, and arguing about healthcare legislation that will take years to implement, but they have spent comparably few hours on the issue most important to a majority of Americans; jobs. Congress must make the jobs crisis a priority, since the unemployment problem is rapidly evolving into an unemployment nightmare for millions of Americans. A real economic recovery is not possible without a strong job market.
While a Jobs Party may be needed, Americans would rather have a jobs party. Unfortunately that jobs party will have to wait until unemployment rates return to normal. Let's hope that time arrives soon.
Send your resume to Rep. Jackson at ResumesforAmerica@mail.house.gov and add your voice to the crescendo from Americans crying out for jobs now.
The Daily List
Congress.org has a great media contact list:http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/ as does http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=111
You can find your representatives contact information at: http://conservativeusa.org/mega-cong.htm, or at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt.
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I'm looking for stories from people who have been rejected during the hiring process for being unemployed. Have you been the victim of a temp agency that won't give you an interview because you are unemployed? Have you seen jobs ads for "employed only" or "unemployed need not apply"? Have you lost a chance at a job due to a poor credit score? Send your job rejection experiences to mike@layofflist.org.
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Huffington Post
Huffington Post is kind enough to give me a chance to post my work at their site. I hope to be able to spread the 99er word using their larger audience. You can see my efforts at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-thornton.
Comments
Only 15,000 OMG what is wrong with everyone??? We need to have hundreds of thousands of resumes sent to him weekly. I think we need to do a better job of getting the word out. THANK YOU MIKE!! Then we need to examine our own apathy!
COME ON 99er Nation we are MILLIONS STRONG and YOU DO NOT NEED to be a 99er to send in your Resumes!!! We should have had that email flooded daily by this point!!! Emails are free and you can do them from your cell phone!
Lets GO PEOPLE!!!!!!
Thanks for the push, Donalee. It's vital that the unemployed, especially 99ers, to keep the issue alive.
I just saw the article and I e-mailed my resume. I would have sent it sooner if I would have known. Also, I think a lot of people are losing their internet access for lack of money. I don't know how much longer I will have service with no income.
this bill does nothing for the 99er's right now.this is just a jobs bill,,,doesnt do one dam thing for the people who need money the most now,,.we need a tier 5 added NOW,,it doesnt matter how its paid for,,its an instant stimulis bill,,,,98 % of all the money will go right into our economy..which makes alot more sense than just printing money out of thin air like the fed wanted to do
Hello Michael and Donalee,
I sent my resume and copies of faxes, emails, & letters to Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. office, Courtney the lady that answered the phone told me that she will keep an eye out for my
9 X 12 manila envelope. She will also, email me to let me know when its delivery to the office. She told me they get mail 3 times a day.
Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr.
2419 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC, 20515
(Attn: ResumesforAmerica@mail.house.gov)
I think everyone should stop and look at who this is and ask about his agenda before blindly following suggestions. This is someone who wanted to run for Mayor of Chicago but had to drop out of the race due to an affair, which cost him the black vote and made a run impossible. Ask people in Chicago about him and see what they have to say before jumping on his bandwagon because he's saying pretty words and seemingly supporting the cause.
He stated up front that he will not be sending the resumes to any employers. He will not be helping anyone to find a job or jump to the head of the line to get one. So how exactly is entering them into the Congressional Record going to help with either rapid job creation or additional weeks of benefits being added to the system?
I won't be sending him my resume because I am from the Chicago area and know something about him. That's my personal opinion though, so please do not let it stop you from sending yours if you think it will help.
I understand your concern, chicagogal, but if ethical behavior was a prerequisite to keeping office, the House and Senate would consist of less than 20 members total. I know Rep. Jackson has a history, but that history has little to do with this effort. If a million resumes flooded his office, this would be a national story with legs. If he can keep the unemployment issue in the news, then it's likely time well spent. Sure beats the House spending days rhetorically trying to repeal a health care bill that won't be repealed in the Senate or by the president.
Mike, it's more than just ethical, or lack thereof, behavior. I agree that the 99er/UI story needs to remain in the media, but unless the Congressman can concretely say how this stunt will be used to further the cause or create actual legislation that will help the suffering, then it's just a stunt for someone who is a known media-hound and really only cares about what is happening for a small segment of society rather than all of his constituents.
Okay chicagogal,
I hear what your saying....I'm just sending my resume just to help add to the cause. My local Senator Barbra Boxer is a FORM-LETTER RESPONDING only politician. I sent her office a fax of a screen shot view of 11 emails sent that is EXACTLY the same form letter. I feel if she can't respond to my speciific question or concern then don't send me a form-letter response. I hear ya, polititian should do more to help the people not just talk.
I think that it can't hurt to send a resume and who know, it might help. It is hard to get behind any one politician or movement, since so far the efforts of the long term unemployed have been largely ignored but what is the alternative?
I am not sure why there have not been more resunmes sent but I can guess and I do not believe it is apathy. Soem have given up, many are tired and don't believe any action or communication on their part of the unemployed will make a difference. Some are too depressed to do anything, many can no longer can afford to pay for their internet connection and may not be getting this communication.
The long term unemployed have been ignored and insulted since this recession began. And the forces that are against us seem to be louder than those with us. I guess for some it is easy to shut out all the noise.
I cannot speak for others but I spend most of my days looking for work and when I am not doing that I am looking for ways to survive. With limited money and assets, this is an overwhelming task.
It is not apathy, it is a loss of will and a feeling of empowerment brought on my overwhelming loss and poverty.
If you can still raise your voice do so, not just for yourself but for the many out there who for whatever reason cannot.
Diane V.
I agree Diane V. Well said :)
Peace, Love, & Global Harmony to All... Thanks Michael your dedication to this issue has been more than honorable and truthful... We appreciated your ongoing support.
I'm spreading the word on this one now..
Unemployment driving more Ohio foreclosures
BY RUSS ZIMMER • CentralOhio.com • January 18, 2011
Tuesday, Jan 18, 2011 13:10 ET
How The World Works Why is the U.S. so awful at job creation?
Labor markets in most advanced nations are recovering quickly. But the United States lags far, far behind
Unemployment law overhaul stalls SC jobless checks
By JIM DAVENPORT - Jan 18, 2011 2:12 PM ET By The Associated Press
I am starting to see more unemployment articles lately, the Ohio one is particularly interesting because its in Boners backyard!
Lets reel this back in a little closer to reality. First of all the House is taking up Health Care Reform repeal because thats what they PROMISED to do when they asked for our votes. (Imagine that, politicians keeping a promise) . The Health Care Reform bill is a terrible piece of legislation and does NOTHING to help the unemployed. Secondly, the only place Im sending my resume is to a potential employeer. Im NOT sending it to Rep Jackson in that club of corruption known as Chicago. Your name and contact info will end up on multiple Democratic party campaign lists so fast, you wont know what happened. Dont fall for this.
I sent my resume but I think this is a fruitless act that will help the 99ers. How long will it take Congress and the president to address our issue. Healthcare can wait. The 99ers and the creation of jobs are more important now! WHEN WILL THEY ADDRESS OUR ISSUES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Congress has spent thousands of hours on a weak Wall Street reform package, agreeing on tax breaks for millionaires and DADT, disagreeing on the Dream Act, and arguing about healthcare legislation that will take years to implement, but they have spent comparably few hours on the issue most important to a majority of Americans; jobs"
It couldn't have been said any better. Thanks, Mike
I also am a Chicagoian and have been all of my life. I also know of the background of Rep. Jackson but something needs to be done about the unemployment situation and if he can do or say anything that will help then I am for it. I have a husband that has been out of work for almost 4 years and a daughter that has been unemployed for 2 years and trying to take care of a family of 5 on 1 income is a very hard & stressful situation to be in, so I could care less about his moral behavior we need help from wherever we can get it.
What I would like to know is what did Rep Jackson do with all those resumes? I have not heard anything on it since I sent mine in. :?
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