I have been out of work since last January.
Extended Federal benefits will be running out soon, yet the government doesn't seem to care - The Dems were poised to pass 700 billion in corporate welfare with NOTHING for the UNEMPLOYED!!If the DEMS don't STAND UP FOR ME NOW in this horrendous WELFARE program for the Corporate elite, THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL I WILL STAND UP FOR THEM ON NOVEMBER 4th.
I have been searching for work for months, but have been unable to find ANYTHING. My career is tied to the home building/construction industry and it is brutal - there is NO WORK. I've NEVER been out of work for ANY period in my entire working career untill now (and yet for decades my employers have paid into state unemployment funds - BUT you are limited to ONLY 26 weeks of "compensation" - how unfair is that!!!????). The competition in the work force (especially here in Atlanta) is fierce, and if you are an older worker, prospects are GRIM...
Anyway we have used our tiny 401K and we have never been able to save much - but we also never lived above our means - we mostly just got by - you will find NO Big screen TVs or luxury amenities in our modest home. Both of our cars are old - 8 and 10 years.
This past summer the congress did the right thing and extended Federal UI benefits by 13 weeks - but Bush vetoed an additional 13 weeks for high unemployment states. Those benefits will expire soon and the situation for LONG TERM UNEMPLOYED has gotten worse - many, many more people have been added to the Unemployment role, so more people are competing for fewer and fewer positions. It is BRUTAL for unemployed people- and more states have now fallen into the HIGH unemployment category, yet NO mention of helping those in the most dire straights has been mentioned.
IF billioniares and investment bankers can get a 700 billion bailout, why can't they find enough to give a (PATHETIC) few hundred dollars per week to people who have WORKED for DECADES?????
These UI benefits are the ONLY thing that is Keeping FOOD on our table now. My "benefits" (all $320 per week) run out November 2.
If the DEMS don't STAND UP FOR ME NOw, THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL I WILL STAND UP FOR THEM ON NOVEMBER 4th.
Do YOU HEAR ME OBAMA, BIDEN, PELOSI, DODD?????????? I and MANY others need help also.
How unjust is it to give this HUGE amount to the corporate WHORES who caused this disaster, but refuse to help people with something as BASIC as putting FOOD on the table?
User Bio: I am an Israeli/American currently living in the U.S. I'm Jewish. I'm a Democrat, and am a supporter of John Edwards for President. I'm extremely saddened by what the Republicans have done to the U.S., Unions and working people.
I am also a U.S. Army Veteran, and proudly served in the 10th Mountain Division in the mid/late 80's. I am also a Zionist who served in Zahal - the Israeli Army - where I NEVER killed any Palestinians
