For working links and to sign the petition (bottom of story) go here: http://tinyurl.com/...
One difference between a McCain and Obama presidency--there should be some I keep telling myself-- is that there probably wouldn't have been any unemployment extensions in a McCain/Palin presidency. In fact, unemployment benefits actually put more dollars into the community than are put into them. Unemployment benefits provide more stimulus than just about any kind of spending with the possible exception of food stamps.
( I have to confess: this makes me think that my old friend James Hughes had a point with his idea of a guaranteed minimum salary. There's something unethical about creating a society that demands that you work but offers just a one in five chance of getting a job....)
Unfortunately, it looks like the extension proposals before congress don't include a Tier 5. This means that if you run out of benefits after 99 weeks you're out of lucky. Or perhaps you think that you're that lucky one of out five that will get the job. Well, let's look at those odds: Its more than likely that you'll be among the four out of five that won't find work. And here's the bonus: You'll have a lot of these angry workers turn out just in time for the midterm elections, where it looks like the Democrats have an excellent chance of losing the House.
Tactically, it just seems that the Democrats are in a better position for midterms with as many people getting a check as possible. I think there should be a Tier 5. I also think that it should be triggered by lowered state unemployment rates, say back to back monthly rates of 7 percent unemployment or lower. That's if President Obama wants to retain congressional majorities. I have my doubts as do others.
You can sign a petition that asks for a Tier 5 and goes to every congressperson at the federal level. I signed and got responses back, canned responses but responses nonetheless. There are more than 11000 signers so far.
Here's the text of the petition:
Congress leaves 99ers out in the cold
Greetings
Senators and Representatives:
You have decided to ignore the people you reduced to poverty. The longest unemployed workers did not create this depression, you did. You did this with your failure to regulate the banks, health industry, and corporations. People who were fully employed, paying taxes, and raising families are now paying the price for your negligence. They trusted you to keep something like this from happening. You failed them.
Now you are deliberately failing them again. This may be a recession for you, but it's a depression for them. You know this depression will last longer than until March, yet you have no plans to add additional unemployment tiers to keep these people from becoming increasingly destitute. Tens of thousands will begin to lose all financial support on March 14. You know with full clarity that these benefits are the only money keeping food on their tables. You know that their benefits run out in March, and that these American families will be on the path to shelters and soup kitchens.
...and this is not of their making. They're not to blame. You are.
...and you're about to discount them again by allowing their benefits to end with Tier IV.
By the way, don't pride yourself on extending the current benefits for the more recently unemployed, as included in the Job Bill. Of course you should do this, but as you know, the bill as it is written will not help any of those who have been the longest and hardest hit by this depression. The Job Bill only half addresses the unemployed, and 50% is an F.
Please make sure that the only choice for Americans who want to work is either a job or unemployment benefits. Don't end benefits until there are jobs for them. As of now, there is only 1 job for every 6 unemployed workers. Take care of these victims.
ADD A TIER V