The "99ers" are people who have exhausted the full 99 weeks of unemployment benefits without being able to find work. These are hard-working Americans who had jobs prior to the financial meltdown caused by the rapacious greed of the wealthiest and most powerful in the country. Right now there are roughly five unemployed workers for every available job. That means that for 80% of the unemployed there simply are no jobs available no matter how hard they try.
In the Atlantic City-Hammonton metropolitcan area the "99er" problem is even worse. The unemployment rate in Atlantic City is 11.5%, nearly 2 full points higher than the national unemployment rate of 9.8% The Obama-McConnell tax cut raw deal does nothing for 99ers who have lost their last lifeline, through no fault of their own.
To remedy this unacceptable situation, House Democratic Reps. Barbara Lee (pictured) (Calif.) and Bobby Scott (Va.) introduced legislation Friday that would provide additional assistance to “99ers”, to which I say, about damn time. The legislation would add 14 weeks of benefits to the first “tier” of Emergency Unemployment Compensation, one of two programs that together give the unemployed up to 73 weeks of federally-funded benefits for workers who exhaust 26 weeks of state benefits. The full 73 weeks are available in states with unemployment above 8.5 percent.
With the Republicans about to take over the House in January, the expectation among the political punditry is that this bill will stall indefinitely. The excuse that Republicans give in opposition to helping the 99ers is that they are against more deficit spending, which is really just their excuse to be cold and heartless. Their desire for fiscal restraint certainly did not stop them from joining hands with President Obama to add hundreds of billions of dollars in tax cuts for the wealthy to the deficit. But on this issue I think the Republicans are playing with fire and will break eventually.
According to Republican Fed Chairmen Ben Bernanke, it will take 4-5 years for the country to reach a normal level of unemployment again, without factoring the possibility of a double-dip. That is a long time to leave millions of suffering voters high and dry. Republicans may not have compassion, but they do have a strong sense of self-preservation. At some point voter anger will reach a tipping point where the Republicans will have to buckle. But maybe I am just being hopeful?
Comments
• After 30 consecutive years of working I was laid off in Nov 08. I tried repeatedly to find work with no success. I went back to school to earn a nursing degree to increase my employability. I have 4 more semesters and have just lost my unemployment benefits. It appears I will have to drop out of school. My heart is broken. I have worked so hard. I am on the Dean’s list and honor role and for what? I cry myself to sleep every night wondering how I will keep food on the table for my son and I. I am a single mother. He works part time and helps but without the unemployment I/we are sunk. Please Mr. President, help us. We are trying. We are. We are not lazy or just sitting around collecting a check. I contributed to the workforce for 30 years. Please help. Any suggestions please write me at rentsnospace@aol.com.
I too have worked since I was 15 years old. I am now 57. My husband of 30 years died after being exposed to agent orange while fighting for our country in Viet Nam. This left me with only my income. I broke my leg and my boss deceided to get rid of me and most of my fellow workers. That particular job I was at for 10 years, working with autistic students. I have both an A.A. and B.A. degree, and can not find a job. I have gone back to school to get yet another A.A. degree with HOPES of finding a job when I graduate next Fall. Without UE I don't stand a chance. My husband fought for our country and our lives. As a result he lost his life. I need help now just as well as our country needed his help then.
I too would appreciate any suggestions.
Thank you.
garytarkington@msn.com
I am like you women and am also struggling alone. I worked and paid taxes for almost 40 years. i worked two jobs most of my life and put myself through college. I spent years paying off my ex-husband's debts, and I managed to get a high credti score and save a little money for a down payment on a condo. Now it's all gone. I cannot believe how many rejections I get when I am more qualified than the younger people they hire. I volunteer and am trying to freelance, but I have had no income since March. And all these insulting comments telling me to "get a job" when "I want a job" so much I am acting over anxious in interviews. I sleep on a friend's couch, and what belongings I have left are in storage. I hate this and want my life back and a job. What is wrong with people, human beings, to allow this and give money to the rich at the same time. I hear your stories and stories from people who served our country who are left homeless, and even dead like your husband. Does anyone have a conscience?
I am truly sorry to hear about all three of your stories. It really is backwards isn't it? The criminals on Wall Street crashed the economy, were bailed out by the taxpayers, and are now back to collecting record bonuses.
Meanwhile Congress refuses to do anything for average Americans who don't have an army of lobbyists working on their behalf and millions of dollars in campaign contributions to dole out.
Believe me I'd help you all out if I could, but I'm just a college student myself. The only advice I can give you is keep your heads up and fight for your rights. Call your representatives in Congress, every day if you can. Shame them into helping you.
I see nothing here that helps 99ers! Whats the point here?
Everyone please copy this message to other news forums.
Dear Mr. President, Congress and Senate: Please cut some of the hundreds of billions of dollars in foreign aid to provide domestic aid to the 99ers!!! Things are only going to get worse for the country if these people are hung out to dry. The amount of future government support that will be required by 99ers AND their families, after these 99ers lose everything, will burden the economy for decades to come. Instead of extending unemployment benefits to a family wage earner NOW, you will be paying for medicaid and foodstamps, and then state psych hospitals after these people completely break-down. There will be more crime from people having to resort to doing things they would never have dreamed of just to eat and survive. Police Departments, Courts, Prisons, etc... will all end up being overwhelmed with people who have to choose to end up in jail in order to get 3 meals a day and a place to sleep. And this just the cost side of the equation. There will also be whole families of people dropping out of consumer spending, sending the economy further into depression. Tens of millions more people not paying any taxes at any level will result in the local, state, and ultimately the federal government all going bankrupt. Children will be separated from their families who can no longer provide anything for them. This country is going to end up looking like Haiti if our elected officials do not do something NOW!!!
As much as i hate to do something like this, we need to organize a rally to show these damn idiots that the 99ers are not going to go away just because our benefits expire. my father told me about Unemployed people having a Rally when unemployment hit record high in Camden during the Depression and in the 50s.
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