Unemployment News: United We Stand - in the Unemployment Line that is

With the “Silly Season” of political discontent nearing an end and our most recent Terror threat (delivery via UPS from Yemen), the term “United We Stand” should have special meaning to all Americans. These days, any unemployment news we hear is how more of us are standing united all right - in the Unemployment Line that is.

Of those experiencing the heartbreak of unemployment, the most desperate by far are known as the 99ers. There are over 5 million Americans who have been without any income from UI benefits for 8 months. With no jobs in sight for these long term unemployed “exhaustees” - the rapidly approaching holiday season will be nothing to celebrate.

It is not just about no gifts from Santa (but a Tier 5 from Congress would be nice), it is the threat of winter approaching with so many living in their cars or on the streets. No Tier 5 before Thanksgiving = a Death Sentence for many 99ers.

For many of us who are frantically holding on, barely one step ahead of eviction, there are more subtle dignities being stripped away the longer we are without any income. For some it is the isolation unemployment brings. Others like me are stripped of the ability to give this holiday season and that hurts everyone.

Nearly every year since I can recall, I have spent my holidays serving the down and out, holiday meals in whatever soup kitchen needed volunteers. I always contributed to the local food banks and gave volumes to the United Way and Toys for Tots campaigns. I volunteered at local women’s shelters to create gift baskets for the adult women and wrap gifts for the children. This year, I may well need to eat my holiday meal at one of the soup kitchens where I used to serve food to others.

I do not say this for sympathy. I am blogging on this subject to reach out to those like me who feel devastated by this reality and yes - even ashamed to be in this situation. Actually, I am one of the most blessed of the 99ers as I still have my apartment, (for now). I have a very busy schedule of job hunting, blogging, host my own weekly (non-paid) Blog Talk Radio Show [Jobless Talk], Facebook groups and a host of other activities that keep me in touch with really great people in my same situation. One such great person made the cartoon you see here. His name is Bud Meyers and is a 99er in Vegas.

I have been actively campaigning for a variety of candidates, determined to do what little I can to avoid a Tea Party/Republican take over of Washington and other state and local offices. I keep up with baseball and cry or often curse at my beloved San Diego Chargers. I am just like you (if you are a 99er) and no I am not a which. LOL

With over 5 million Americans unable to support themselves with UI benefits and a few more million soon to lose their weekly checks as of November 30, 2010 - America has begun to view us as invisible, lazy or worthless. I can tell you I am none of the above.

I do not have time to be lazy, I refuse to be invisible and the only worthless folks in this country are those who call the unemployed “bums, drug addicts and whiners.”
If you have ever expressed this view when commenting on the blogs or feeling frustrated with a relative you feel might have been unemployed too long - take heart. You could be next in the unemployment line.

The next time you find yourself agreeing with selfish losers like Glenn Beck (who only 3 months back said unemployment was natural selection and those who could not find work deserve to starve to death) thinking that 99 weeks is long enough to help Americans who have worked 30 years or longer, if you do not wish to help the 99ers get their Tier 5 through Congress - just remember that by this Christmas there may well be nearly 8 million unemployed in America without a dime of income to spend in their local communities. This hurts everyone. It hurts those of you who own businesses, wait tables, build houses, do landscaping, farm, suppliers, truck drivers, insurance salesmen, hotel workers, travel/tourist businesses, cashiers, investment brokers, landlords, local parks and zoos and the list goes on.

If you think that 5 million people over the past 8 months being incapable of contributing into the economy does not hurt you - you are WRONG. Take the average of $300.00 per week UI check and multiply it by 5 million and you realize that depriving the 99ers of means to support themselves over the past 8 months has cost America and our economy the stimulative equivalent of more than $2.7 billion each and every week. (based upon the Congressional Budget Office estimate of $1.78 economic return on each $1 spent on UI benefits). That is nearly 100 billion dollars lost to our economy forever!

So before you think to judge harshly the scruffy looking man or woman in the parking lot of your supermarket (who may well be a 99er) holding a sign and looking very hungry, remember - without a Tier 5 and the extension of the filing dates for those who have not collected all UI available the them - YOU may be next in the unemployment line and others may well treat you the way you treated those hurting Americans just down on their luck and victims of this horrible economy.

And while you are here, please take a look at this powerful and entertaining video by singer/songwriter James Mcmurtry called We Can't Make It Here Anymore. If it does not touch you with the hard truth of America today, nothing will.

Oh, if anyone reading this wants to hire a talented, smart, dynamic, hardworking go getter with a great attitude and superb work ethic anywhere in the San Diego area (or for online work) Please leave me a comment with how to contact you! You will be glad you did!