I thought this might interest some of you...my response to an Asian man on the Economy subgroup of Linkedin

Cheng Deng • Hi, turner,
What is 99er?

It is a movement of US citizens who have run out of unemployment benefits. Depending on the state you live in...gives you an end point of collecting unemployment benefits. For example, the state I live in Florida, has the third highest unemployment rate of states in the US. So that benefits end at 99 weeks. 8 million Americans have run out of unemployment benefits and have not been able to find a job, during that 99 weeks and after. We are homeless, have no means to pay for our bills, etc. This is not being covered very heavily in the media, because it is a major blemish on the US economy. Obama doesn't say a word anymore about us. There are many 99er sites on Facebook and elsewhere. Just google us, and you will see story after story about our experiences in the land of opportunity. At present, 2% of the population are the wealthy, while the remaining 98% ranges from dire poverty to just barely being able to make ends meet. So much for you to investigate, before coming here. I have seen foreigners working here with work visas, being very unhappy. They are getting much less in pay than an American could live on, and find that they have to pay the same expenses as Americans and have little money left to send back home. Most jobs have been outsourced to your country, Pakistan, India, Ireland and England. The outsourcing has occurred vigorously for the past 4 years. The jobs are gone from our country. The robber barons (corporations) are making huge profits from outsourcing plants to various countries. I heard that the Chinese were up in arms and wanted a raise. Well...there goes their jobs to Cambodia, Vietnam.
It is very sickening for someone like me, who has worked all of her life...to be tossed out of American society like a bag of garbage. BTW, America does NOT respect their elders...we are seen as a nuisance and a fly to be smashed against America's walls.
Hope this helps you understand our situation.
Ellen Turner

I am glad to see more people are asking what a 99er is. I like your response Ellen.

Right ON !!

Good for you! I don't imagine people in other countries have any idea what is happening to middle class working America. You explained it quite well.

When outsourcing was in its infancy, I was "told" that you could ask to be transferred to an American call center. It worked very well. Now, not so much. Lately I have been speaking with people from Mexico, the Dominican Republic & the Phillipines. I am not only frustrated because they are not very helpful reading from "scripts" but also I know this means the loss of American jobs. Personally, I think outsourcing should be illegal. It sickens me as a Mother of 2 college age children that they may not be able to find jobs when they graduate.

@jenny2 your college kids have to become analysts, engineers or be in health care. Oh, I know the one field that is really big....foreclosure specialists, Insurance companies representing banks. Also, if they are registered with the Republican party..they automatically will have an in for a job.
Accounting in reality it seems to always be an occupation that is good.
What about yourself?
Just remember...WHEN EVERYONE HITS THE BIG "60"....WE MIGHT AS WELL BECOME A FLY ON THE WALLPAPER TO BE SMASHED AND KILLED. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR US ELDERS.