Hitting bottom: So they finally pass the unemployment extensions

[prolesunited]

and now states are saying it will take WEEKS to get the whole mess straightened out. If you were unlucky enough to be between tiers in the beginning of June or on Extended Benefits at the beginning of June, this means that you will have been without this critical lifeline for almost TWO MONTHS before you get a check.

While it's nice that the benefits will be retroactive, what exactly are people to have lived on for all of this time? These extensions were for people who have been unemployed the longest, so they've likely tapped out their savings by now. How many people couldn't pay the rent or the mortgage during this time? How are they supposed to make it until they get that check? How many more children have gone without food this summer? How many more families have lost their homes?

And for all those Republicans who said people will work if you take away unemployment, show me the record number of people who suddenly have jobs because you held out for so long. I wonder how much extra money it will cost to get this money out to people because of the bottleneck?

All of this pain and suffering was so unnecessary and what's sadder still is that so many don't even care.

[sandnsea]

1. Don't care and are ready to let more Republicans in office n/t

[JoePhilly]

2. This particular episode puts the lie to the Ds and Rs are the same meme.

[prolesunited]

4. Yep, if the GOP held either the House or Senate

this NEVER would have passed, as clearly demonstrated.

Even if you cut everyone off, there are not millions of jobs out there waiting to be filled.

And I'm so sick of the argument that you can just apply at WalMart or McDonald's if you really want to work. If you have a degree and 10+ years of experience, they are NOT going to hire you, even at minimum wage.

[MineralMan]

10. +10

[Crazy Dave]

3. I could see why some would not take an $8 an hour job....

...when they could make more money and look for something better while their benefits were active and I don't blame them. But that's probably a small group as everybody I know who has been out of work for a year or longer would work for $5 an hour right now if they could get it.

[prolesunited]

5. That's BELOW minimum wage

and the GOP's dream. High unemployment allows workers to be exploited. They can outsource more, not give raises, cut hours and benefits, etc. And if you won't do it, there are six people waiting in line that will.

Globalization only works if the U.S. workforce accepts a lower standard of living and corporations are more than willing to sit on their billions to starve Americans into a willingness to do so.

[Crazy Dave]

8. I know that but I also know people desperate enough to take it under the table

There's this one person I know whose company laid off about 3/4 of their staff and all the rest who stayed had to go on salary based on a 32 hour work week.

Now they all (except the owner and management) work ten hour days, six days a week and about half the people would quit if they could but he said there's still about half that are so happy to have any job that they're not complaining at all.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

6. Yup.......

I'm living that nightmare right now. It may be the end of July until I see some relief. But in all, I consider myself lucky. I won't likely have to vacate my apartment thanks to an understanding landlord, I won't have to go hungry because of some forethought on my behalf and probably won't have my utilities shut off, thanks to some generous family. That said, there are many out here who aren't so lucky and have already lost their homes their cars their possessions because of this delay.

But the most damaging loss is the one that many displaced workers suffer: the loss of dignity and purpose. Unemployment not only hits your wallet hard, but it hits your self-worth even harder. In a world that prompts us to shape our identities based on what we do, the loss of occupation and the subsequent asking for help for even the simplest materials of survival is humbling. Folks who have never been in this position will never know what its like, and I pray they never do.

[prolesunited]

9. You are not alone

I am in the same boat and I agree with everything that you said about fighting off those feelings. All of my friends still have jobs, so they can't figure out what my problem is. It really has put a rift between us -- most of it is just me and my own shame. You get very isolated.

I have a huge garden, make everything from scratch and had stockpiled a pantry, so I have not gone hungry. Luckily, I have no children to feed. My car needs work that I can't afford, so I've been biking for the few errands that I have to do. I have my AC set at 80 on the days that are above 90 degrees just to get some of the humidity out of the air. I panic every time it goes on about how I will pay the bill. I don't have health insurance and ran out of one of my asthma meds. Luckily, I still have other stuff for my allergies/asthma, so I'm still doing OK.

And then I listen to TV and read message boards about how lazy I am and just soaking up the good life on the taxpayer's dime. As if...

[Wounded Bear]

7. Here comes the "See, they survived" defense...

The Repubs will be pounding the stumps this election cycle claiming, "See, nobody died because we fought against Unemployment."

Always beware of "Tough Love" proponents. Inevitably, they just fall back on the "Tough" part. There is no love there.

[Synicus Maximus]

11. Congress should pass UI for an unlimited period until

the unemployment rate gets back down to 5% or 6%. Instead of having to re institute it every few months.

[Lisa0825]

12. Yeah, I am helping a friend with her rent and utilities for one month...

I can't afford two, so I hope she can come up with something to last until her check finally comes. I couldn't let her and her kids get evicted.

[prolesunited]

13. That's very nice of you to do

I'm sure she's very thankful for your kindness.