It’s not direct help but in the midst of complete darkness any light will do. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (Democrat, Illinois) has crafted a plan to give the unemployed, and the “99ers” a voice and a presence on the Congressional Record.
Beginning today, Rep. Jackson will be soliciting resumes from the unemployed. Now unfortunately Jackson doesn’t have a few million jobs lying around waiting to be filled. This is, as I said before, not direct help. It’s symbolism, a way to highlight the Government’s woeful treatment of the long term unemployed.
The Congressman explains:
"Today, I began an effort to mobilize the unemployed, the under-employed and the economically desperate. I will be collecting resumes of out-of-work Americans in order to submit them for the Congressional Record as a way of putting a face on the jobs crisis we confront. By sending their resumes to me, the unemployed will be permitting me to use their stories as we fight for jobs and enter their curriculum vitae into the Record.
"Of course, sending me a resume will not put anybody first in line for a job. It will not be forwarded to anybody who is hiring. But it will put the jobs issue front and center before the government so that we can remind elected officials that we need to go to work every day for those who aren't allowed to go to work every day, but want to,"
Congress was able to pass a 13 month continuation of extended unemployment Tiers 1-4 in December as part of the tax cut compromise. House and Senate Democrats have been unwilling or unable to successfully advocate the passage of a Tier 5 extension that would push the maximum benefit period beyond 99 weeks.
To send your resume to Rep. Jackson please mail them to:
Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr.
2419 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC, 20009
You can also email your resume to:
Comments
Typical of this site....nothing new to write about. Same ole' s*it. Here's an idea, WRITE SOMETHING WHEN THERE'S SOMTHING WORTH WRITING ABOUT!! i.e. new legislation, politicians actually talking about 99ers, etc.... This article isn't worth the power used to write it.
I understand the frustration. Believe me, I want to write about actual movement on a Tier 5 extension, something, anything that helps the long term unemployed.
That said, I make no apologies for my decision to report on this story. It is, as I said "symbolic" but it is still news.
Thank you for your remarks.
ronron, I know the feeling. When yelling in the dark its a relief to hear someone's listening, even if they can't help. I think what's worst is when I Google 99ers or Tier 5 and the newest response is dated December 2010.
I guess to main stream media "a rat running up some guys leg on You Tube" or "a deceased pope becoming a saint " (not to knock anyone's religion) is more news worthy then a news organization's covering the big Unemployment Extension Lie. And millions of Americans becoming homeless or starving simply because THERE ARE NO JOBS!
Anything about us is news!
Someone might accidentally read one of these blogs and realize Obama didn't extend unemployment to everyone that doesn't have a job.
Thanks anyway Jason!
Thanks, Jason for the update.
It is easy to forget there are so many Americans struggling to find jobs when our stomachs are full. Where I live, the unemployment rate exceeds 10 percent and in some of our state's more rural areas (for example where factories have left) the rate is much, much higher. One such rural area has a shoe factory that until recently had shoes "proudly made in America." Now, these shoes are made in China, and we have many are unemployed workers with few jobs to be had.
Thank you, Jason for your information. I appreciate the effort. I follow Michael Thorton on his updates and I sent my resume to Congressman Jackson. Maybe no job but at least he's doing something to try and bring attention to our situation :)
I've said this many times, Mike has been from the very beginning the source for 99er news. I just try to pitch in when I can but anyone interested in 99er's, Unemployment, and the derelict actions of our Government in reaction to the scourge of joblessness would be well served to subscribe to Mr. Thornton's Examiner feed like I do...you can subscribe to me too if you like :)
Thanks, Jason!
Keep writing!
And thanks, also, to Congressman Jackson for at least calling attention to the serious employment problem.
There is a crisis in this country, and too many people are completely apathetic to it. There are somewhere between 20 and 30 million unemployed and underemployed right now.
Why don't we hear more about this?
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