Jobs vs. Punishment

Hey Everyone,

If you get a chance, check out my latest blog post, “Jobs vs. Punishment.” I compare New Deal responses to unemployment (direct hiring and free classes) to modern responses (continued outsourcing, drug testing people who are laid off, upcoming cuts to unemployment benefits, threatened job training funds, and the legislative inaction & blocking of bills to create a new WPA & CCC).

A harsh contrast indeed, especially for people having to deal with the consequences of layoffs and our mean-spirited or apathetic political “leaders.”

http://nddaily.blogspot.com/

--Brent www.wpatoday.org wpatoday@gmail.com

You asked:
"Question: If unemployment is still high, and federal funding for job training is being reduced, and unemployment benefits are being scaled back, and American jobs continue to be exported, and there is not going to be a new WPA or CCC, what is left for unemployed Americans besides occasionally landing a service sector job with low-pay, stingy benefits, little security, and no future?

This is the American Dream? To get laid-off, drug tested, cut off from assistance, and pray you get a minimum wage job? Wow. Sounds more like a nightmare than a dream."

Answer: What is left for unemployed Americans is occasionally landing a service sector job with low-pay, stingy benefits, little security, and no future. Then you will get laid-off, drug tested, cut off from assistance, and pray you get a minimum wage job. This is the American Dream, which is more like a nightmare than a dream.

Year after year we lament our status as unemployed Americans and hope that the politicians in power will help us out, but there is little agreement about what to do and less resolve to do it. Instead of organizing and speaking with a strong voice, the unemployed have chosen quiet desperation except for those who vent on forums. A few jobs are found here and there, but greater numbers simply stop looking. Unemployed Americans are being punished for being unemployed Americans.

there were powerfull socialist, union and populist movements to put pressure upon FDR, who by best judgement is credited with saving capitalism...

under Clinton, legislation was passed
1)(NAFTA as well) that was completly delitrerious to the common man...
2)banking laws rolled back to pre-FDR
3)public airwaves deregulated

because the airwaves are full of rightwing non-sense that is unchecked
the entire mood of the country has shifted towards the right..

This has been the worst "recovery" since the Great Depression. A Jobless Recovery. Yeah, right, what recovery? The number of unemployed, or underemployed (working poor), or those who have totally given up stands at around 25%! This is totally unacceptable and should not be tollerated as the new normal. Not In America. Every time I hear that expression "New Normal", I want to put my foot through my TV set!

Greedy companies who love their record high productivity and shareholder earnings, by having their workers doing the work of 3 people (low labor costs), are using this job crisis as an excuse to reduce wages, do away with benefits including health care, and break up unions.

If they want to lower wages to that of Europe, India, or god forbid China, how about lowering the cost of living as well! I'm willing to make $12/hour, but not while paying $4/gallon for gas or heating oil, or $3000/year for auto insurance for example.