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A Really Scary Question

Posted Jul 13, 2010 by Kris DiGiovanni

Updated Jul 13, 2010 at 04:50 PM

Which do you think is worse; (1) increasing the amount of money the US government owes to other countries, or (2) losing your home, your health insurance, and the ability to feed your children?

#2, you say?

WRONG!  The Republicans and the Democratic “deficit hawks” will tell you the correct answer is #1.  At least that’s the reason they’ve given for not extending unemployment benefits.

But I’ve got a question for them.  To paraphrase a respected politician and personal hero of mine, Barney Frank, “On what planet do you guys spend most of your time?”

When millions of people in this country are losing everything they’ve scrimped and saved and worked their entire lives for; when breadwinners are overwhelmed by guilt and depression because they have “failed” in their duty to provide for their loved ones; when former middle-class families are being literally kicked to the curb, you think the responsible course of action is to ignore the desperate plight of millions of Americans, because the cost to address the problem would increase in our national debt?

Seriously?

I’m talking to you Ben Nelson, (D-NE), the guy who voted to extend unemployment benefits in November 2008, but said a few days ago you couldn’t do it again, because it

And I’m talking to you, Kevin Brady (R-TX) who recently assured us so emphatically that

And I’m definitely talking to you, Mitch McConnell, (R-KY), who insists,

Ok, well, here’s a dose of reality for you:  After you so stalwartly protected us from that horrendous 2% increase in the deficit, then rewarded yourselves by taking time off to go to watch fireworks and watermelon seed spitting contests, 1.3 million Americans lost that slender lifeline that was keeping food on their tables, the electricity on, and a roof over their heads.  Since June 2, when the first wave of those who had reached the 99 week limit stopped receiving their unemployment checks, a total of 2.24 million have lost the only means of support available to them.

2.24 million – that’s more than the entire population of Philadelphia – or Dallas – or San Diego.  There are now that many people out there asking themselves that scariest of all questions, “Now what?”

But I suppose you think all “real Americans” – the ones whose values you keep saying you represent - would rather let the bank take their home and live in their car, than ask the government to help them out.  I suppose you think this little act of “tough love” will make these average Joes and Janes realize that it’s really their fault they don’t have jobs, because they’ve been laying on their sofas living the life of luxury that’s so possible on $300 a week, instead of getting out there on the street fighting tooth and nail for that one job that exists for every five workers. 

I guess you feel like US Senate candidate Sharon Angle that the unemployment insurance that gets taken out of worker’s pay is too much of an “entitlement” and today’s workers are “spoiled.”  You agree with Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) who thinks unemployment benefits are “a disincentive” to work” because “people are being paid even though they’re not working, ” and with NV State Representative Dean Heller who says unemployment benefits create “hobos.”

Perhaps you alone understand that all of us long-term unemployed are really just lazy bums.  That would certainly that explain why the average length of unemployment keeps rising, and is now longer than it has been since the Great Depression.  And the reason that almost half of the unemployed have been without a job for more than 27 weeks, is because most of them want nothing more than to live on the government dole. Perhaps your uncanny insight into the true nature of the jobless explains why the U-6 schedule – the unemployment rate nobody wants to talk about – stands at 16 ½ %.   The Bureau of Labor says these are the people who’ve been out of work so long they’ve all but quit looking, and the ones who can only find part time jobs but need full time work.  But you their secret - they’re really just slackers.

So under those circumstances, I can see why you guys are so worried about adding to the deficit.  You’ve got your eye on the future and you’re trying to think ahead.  You don’t want to pass on the problems we caused for ourselves to the next generation.

Well, I’ve got some comforting news for you.  All you have to do is keep on saying “no” to more unemployment benefits, and tomorrow’s children won’t have anything to worry about - because most of them will have already starved to death.

To contact the author, email me at KrisDiGiovanni at gmail dot com or reach out to me on FaceBook.