“Short of telling them, ‘you can sleep all week,’ how much more reasonable can it get?” Seriously. Representative Michael Speciale (R-Craven) said that about UI recipients. Democrats have to try to take this guy out.
It is hard to express how offensive his comments were. Unemployment is more likely to trigger sleepless nights than weeks of snoozing. As anyone who has seen long-term joblessness up close can attest, the unemployed spend day after day keying applications into job sites, usually to no avail, and often punctuated by bouts of crying. Economist Carl Van Horn sums it up grimly: “It creates numerous other damage: stress, anxiety, substance abuse, fights, and conflicts within the family and feelings of embarrassment and depression.”
The high-octane, punishment-oriented sensibility of Speciale has little patience for these facts. But his district includes people who might object. The civic life of Pamlico County, for example, is dominated by retirees in the town of Oriental. These people came heavily from places like New York and New Jersey. They are Republicans. But revulsion at his seething nastiness could drive them toward, say, a Democratic-backed Independent. At least, it’s not out of the question.
It comes down to duty. The Democratic Party just cannot let this cruel man’s place in the Legislature go unchallenged. Beating Speciale may or may not be possible, but if the name “Democrat” is to mean anything, they should at least try.
Alexander Jones is an original contributor to PoliticsNC.
There are definitely several “sides” to this issue. Certainly a stagnant economy is contributing to depressed wages and low labor participation rate. There are definitely people out there desperately seeking employment who need temporary benefits. But there also are a number who are content to live off unemployment benefits for as long as possible too.
Just last week I flew down to Florida to hire someone for a new position in our multi-state company. I had received at least 100 applications for this job (starting at $15 per hour). Picked out what I thought to be the 12 best candidates. Imagine my surprise when only 3 responded to interview requests. And of those only 2 were actually interested. Why? It seems since they “applied” for the job, but avoided being “offered” it, they continued to qualify for their unemployment benefits.
Well, Morris, I would certainly have to agree with you that there are “are definitely several “sides” to this issue.”
I would disagree with you in calling this economy “stagnant.” It’s not “torrid” but certainly not stagnant either. “Stagnant” was 2010-11, in my view. The jobless rate is now below 6%, and new development projects, large and small, are everywhere to be found in NC. Let’s agree to call this economy “favorable but still recovering”?
And while you say that the “economy is contributing to depressed wages”, I see it exactly the opposite, i.e., low wages are contributing to less-than-a-highly-energized economy.” If consumers had better wages, they’d spent them in the retail sector, helping business. Just note the stories this passed weekend about how reduced gas prices are fueling the travel/vacation industry.
Finally, for every story such as the one you relate, I’d wager that there are an equivalent number of tales about folks currently on unemployment (or if they live in NC, many recently tossed off of unemployment assistance), who are very anxious and hopeful to find a job in a position that is somewhat related to what they are trained and skilled in, and is paying more than a mere $15/hour (which is what many economists believe should be the minimum wage nowadays).
REPUBLICANS DO NOT DISCRIMNATE WHEN IT COMES TO KICKING ANYONE WHO IS DOWN ON THEIR LUCK.
Of course I have sympathy to those who want to work, but can’t find a job. Fortunately it will not be coming to me, as I worked for 30 years (and ten years before that in various jobs).
At one point in my life, I worked 5 menial jobs and collected soda cans. Been there, done that.
I now have a comfortable pension, and social security.
I also agree that the 700+ page Tax Code allows the lobbyists, fat cats and some corporations to skate, while the shrinking middle class pays more and more (and Demicans and Republicrats are just as guilty).
It makes no difference what their party affiliation is, they’re all “Washington Insiders”, who tell lie after lie about how they are for the “little people”, but then sell us out over a drink at a Washington strip club, while they decide which prostitute (male or female) they will sleep with that night.
Now why do you think Donald Trump, Dr. Ben Carson, and Carly Fiorina are leading in the polls, and Hillary won’t make it to the starting gate? Because Americans are sick and tired of the spineless career politicians and Washington Insiders.
Amazingly, Trump is gaining support among African Americans and (legal) Hispanic citizens. Why? Because we all just didn’t come in on the Turnip Truck. We’ve figured out “a crook is a crook” no matter what party.
The current president seems to think the unemployment rate is “the new norm”, as America needs to be “downsized”. American Exceptionalism is a dirty word, in Obama’s mind.
It would not be perceived as such by Trump, Carson or Fiorina.
But of course, this would have nothing to do with Obama’s staggering economy? Could it have anything to do with Obama extending unemployment benefits indefinitely? Of course not
Would it have anything to do with small businesses (the engine of our economy) having to lay off their workers to reach the “under 50” magic number, or reducing their employees’ hours to 35 and under, so they don’t have to pay for Obamacare? (company lay off, closure, or reduction in force). Of course not.
Could Donald Trump be right that businesses are -re-locating in Mexico and paying less wages and benefits, then shipping their products across the border tariff-free have anything to do with it? Of course not.
Could it have anything to do with Obama bowing to Chinese leader Xi Jin Ping, and allowing Chinese goods into the US market (tariff free), while the Chinese will not allow US goods into China without tariffs? Of course not.
We must (of course) blame those “Wascally Wepublicans”, for suggesting that folks should “get a job”, instead of suckling on the government teat.
Oh, I forgot, it’s hard to get a job these days, after six & 1/2 years of Obama.
If you want to blame the President and his party, that is your business. Vote for who you think will fix your perceived failures, but the people caught in the middle did not cause this and to punish them, or call them lazy or shiftless is cruel. This is the message from the the GOP in the General Assembly.
I agree with you Brad. It is both vexing and sad that the callous partisans do not want government to help citizens in time of need; will jump as the chance to ridicule and portray those out of work and in hard times as leeches; still view an economy that has made a good recovery from the worst recession in history as “staggering”; will still swallow that bogus ACA-is-wrecking-the-economy claptrap offered by FOX News and conservative radio blowhards; will conjure up international trade conspiracies at every turn; and will squeal if the newly jobless receive $325/month for < 20 weeks but turn a blind eye to federal corporate welfare that exceeds the costs of public unemployment assistance.
Well at 5% unemployment Im not sure you have a leg to stand on. Get a job to some people the 5% is usually something other than a company moving to Mexico, or something the Chinese did. Its the usual amount of people that are in flux between jobs, or have a reason to be unemployed without the blame game. Wascally Wepublicans just dont seem to get it so there is no reason to blame those that cant grasp the empathy needed. Want a dictionary Radagast? God forbid if I have to take unemployment. Ive worked everyday for 46 years and paid in thousands just in case I needed it,,,,or,,,,my fellow Americans needed it. Watch what you wish for. It may soon be you.
FYI, you didn’t pay “in” for unemployment. Unemployment taxes are paid by your employer.
Thanks for regurgitating the FOX News B.S. None of that is actually true…
In the Republican mind, if you are unemployed and needing some help to feed and shelter your family, you are among the dregs of society. No matter if you are out of work due to a company lay-off, closure, or reduction-in-force. No difference if you were canned without cause by a head-case boss, or if finding a position in your specialty expertise is a very tough thing to do.
The GOP’ers simply believes that, even if you are a good citizen and/or parent and you pay taxes, you do not deserve much support from government when you are in a lurch. And that even if you are in dire straits employment-wise, you still deserve to be stereotyped and criticized as a slacker.
and the democrats treat the homeless so well? http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2014/11/10/3590672/manteca-homeless/
And how is that story on the homeless ordinances about Dems? Show us the roster of the city councils mentioned in that piece, with the political affiliations noted? And are we to believe that GOP’ers are just chomping at the bit to sponsor legislation/ordinances that will provide more homeless shelters or free housing/clinics/food for the homeless?
Try posting here with a little more research and thoughtfulness, please?