The unemployment insurance program should be reformed.

[kentuck]

The labor market is changing in this country. The workers need to change with the times.

The politicians in both Parties are quick to shut off unemployment compensation for long-term unemployed as if none of them want to work.

There is a problem when folks can make as much in unemployment compensation as they can in working a menial job. Where is the incentive?

Why should we expect people who have lost a $50K a year job to take a job making $20K per year?

This is why we need to reform the system.

I would prefer a system where an unemployed person could get 6 months compensation to look for a job. If unable to find a suitable job in that time, then there should be a training program for 6 months to help people find a new field of work, in which they would be paid unemployment compensation during training.

After one year of being unemployed and going thru training for a new job, if still unable to find work, then I would support unemployment vouchers which they could give to employers in return for employment. This could be for another 6-month period.

I think we need to have some new thinking on this problem. Our jobs and our labor force have changed and our political responses need to change with them. Just my opinion.

[Mass]

1. I totally agree, but I would not expect anything from Democrats along those lines.

They are tone deaf and think that sending checks is enough, which is still better than the GOP who thinks we need nothing except a few tax cuts for companies (which I could support if targeted, but not in general).

[HockeyMom]

4. I give you my IT husband

with "old" technology. He was offshored and outsourced 3 times for a total of 5 years. Train new technology? Did that and was told "no experience". Read between the lines as in over 40 and too OLD. Minimum wage McJobs would not hire him because he was "overqualified" and would QUIT after they spent time training (sic) him when something better came along.

Some people even told him he should start his own Offshoring Business since he knew so much about it. Know what he said, even as a REPUBLICAN? I will quote him on this. "I could never live with myself if I did that even if it made me RICH." "I KNOW what it feels like and could never do that to somebody else." I remember this every time we clash over political issues.

He did get a job, in another state, with his old IT technolgy. Why? They cannot find KIDS who know this. In fact, it is becoming a problem today. He has now even been approached to TEACH his "out of date technology". My, my, my.

[pacalo]

2. You are so correct, kentuck.

Congress should focus on job growth -- keeping good-paying jobs in the U.S. & sanctioning those companies who move their operations out of the country in favor of slave labor. Until then, any balking from legislators to take care of their own citizenry who can't find jobs is their own damn fault.

[House of Roberts]

3. Why wait until a person is on UI for a whole year?

Germany has a system called Kurzarbeit, or short week, where the government pays part of a worker's wages so the company can keep them as employees, and work them less hours, without the worker losing economically. Standard of living is maintained, and consumer spending doesn't suffer. The economy then doesn't fall as far before it recovers. This would be better than a voucher system that only kicks in when a worker has been off the job too long already.

I would also prefer to see employers pay into the federal UI fund, so it's 'paid for', then Congress couldn't play games with it. Federal extensions should be automatic when the unemployment rate of a state breaks a set threshold. If the 'job creators' can't step up and lower unemployment, let them pay UI for the long term unemployed in lieu of the jobs they took out of the country.

[el_bryanto]

5. I think this is wrongheaded right now - i understand the sentiment

But when you have a situation where for every job we create, 2 out of 3 applicants go back home without a job, than the issue isn't unemployment insurance.

I do agree that we could help people with training though; that part I agree with.

Bryant