Declare a state of national emergency

Declare a state of national emergency to deal with the economic crisis
This petition currently has over 300 signatures and regards the unemployment crisis as a national emergency. This is the text of the petition:

Greetings,

Please urge President Obama to declare a state of national emergency to deal with the economic crisis:

Dear President Barack Hussein Obama II,

As Chief Executive, please declare a state of national emergency to deal with the unemployment crisis. This is not a natural disaster or a war, but millions of Americans are now without means of supporting themselves through employment and are forced to file for bankruptcy and are losing their homes and life savings. The nation is threatened by economic collapse and many tax-paying Americans will soon become destitute, hungry and homeless. The Congress has failed to enact a jobs bill to employ the over 15 million unemployed and has also failed to extend unemployment benefits for the jobless who are now desperate.

As Chief Executive you cannot unilaterally grant unemployment benefits to the unemployed because of the limitations imposed by the Constitution in Section III of Article II. Millions of unemployed Americans are no longer be able to buy food, pay rent or mortgage payments or obtain health care. This situation is particularly acute for those who have exhausted their unemployment benefits and are faced with hunger, homelessness and hopelessness. We did not create the collapse of the economy and we had no say in the bail out of AIG, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, big banks, major corporations, etc., but we are suffering for the situation created by the gambling on Wall Street.

There is currently no legislation to address the urgent needs of the long-term unemployed, those who have exhausted their maximum unemployment benefits. Previous benefits have demonstrated that helping the unemployed puts more money back into the economy than given. Without the spending of the stimulus money of the unemployed, many businesses are going bankrupt because of less demand for goods and services and the Great Recession is double-dipping into the Third Depression.

Americans are having their utilities shut off and are being evicted from their homes and forced into shelters or onto the streets. Many state governments are too broke to provide services. Charities and non-profit agencies are stretched to their limits because of a lack of funding. Not helping now will make many of the long-term unemployed permanently unemployable because they won’t have the resources to keep their homes, vehicles, clothing or work related tools. People must sell everything they own just to survive on zero income.

Please support the passing of legislation with verbiage that includes a Tier 5 of benefits for the long-term unemployed for all 50 states or an extension of Tier 4. If the Senate and Congress fail to act, then take executive action to enact a state of national emergency. This will enable FEMA to help the unemployed with food and shelter and the Department of Homeland Security to enact certain provisions that will help restore order. This state of emergency will give you Presidential powers and authority necessary to meet this emergency threatening the nation. The paralysis of Congress and the lack of legislative relief or law for the benefit of the long-term unemployed have demonstrated that steps must be taken to preserve the American people.

You need the power to seize property, organize and control the means of production, seize commodities, assign military forces abroad, institute martial law, seize and control all transportation and communication, regulate the operation of private enterprise, restrict travel, and in a variety of ways control the lives of United States citizens. It is your prerogative and within your authority to take extreme steps in this situation of great urgency that threatens the lives of millions of Americans. You need to act for the defense of the American family and welfare of the citizenry to do what is necessary and proper to provide relief to Americans in need. You are now the steward of America and as the Chief Executive in the highest position in our great nation it is incumbent upon you to authorize FEMA, HUD, and the Department of Homeland Security to take drastic steps to protect the public interest. This decision is yours alone.

This crisis was unforeseen and its impact is great and calls for immediate action. The conditions are beyond the tolerable limit being imposed upon the unemployed and this requires actions not seen since the Great Depression. The danger to life and well-being to Americans is beyond normal and is unacceptable. This crisis has been building since the Great Recession began in late 2007, but its impact is suddenly becoming dangerous to the stability of our republic. There are Americans who are committing suicide because of this crisis and extreme elements are even calling for insurrection and rebellion, which will require the militia to suppress. The President must take command of the nation to prevent a national catastrophe.

In the past the Congress has given extraordinary authority to the President in times of emergency. As Chief Executive you must notify Congress that you intend to declare a national emergency if they do not act immediately to restore unemployment benefits and enact a jobs bill that will put Americans back to work. This is a labor emergency that requires you to use your discretion as Chief Executive to engage in emergency actions in response to the disaster challenging America now. Make an emergency proclamation to declare a national emergency, which will activate all of the stand-by statutes and provisions that delegate authority to you. These emergency proclamations have a precedent as seen in the actions of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who issued a national emergency proclamation within 48 hours of assuming office. This state of national emergency will only last until 2012, but that will give Congress time to turn its attention to this crisis and take legislative actions as necessary to help unemployed Americans.

Please have your administration scrutinize the United States Code and examine the 470 provisions of federal law which gives the Chief Executive extraordinary authority in time of national emergency under the prescribed arrangements for their congressional regulation. The National Emergencies Act allows the President to respond to the exigency at hand. The Chief Executive requires authority to regulate our nation’s domestic and international finances during this national emergency and to take action against nations that wage economic warfare against the United States. Please take these extreme actions with oversight and in close consultation with Congress under the procedures and regulations of the National Emergencies Act.

Sign the petition at:
http://www.change.org/petitions/declare-a-state-of-national-emergency-to-deal-with-the-economic-crisis

signed it!

Signed.

Please Sign! I did, makes a lot sense. This either an Emergency or WAR, both have Presidential Powers that could bypass the Congress and Senate.

This petition does make sense, and the President has the powers to do this, however, there is a small problem with the wording in this:

Please support the passing of legislation with verbiage that includes a Tier 5 of benefits for the long-term unemployed for all 50 states or an extension of Tier 4. If the Senate and Congress fail to act, then take executive action to enact a state of national emergency.

Only 22 states, and DC would be eligible for help under these terms. Twenty eight states now have unemployment rates under 8.5% and are not eligible for Tier 4 benefits.

@DesperateInRI - That sentence in the petition has been edited to remove references to Tier 5 or Tier 4:
"Please support the passing of legislation with verbiage that includes an extension of benefits for the long-term unemployed for all 50 states."
-Thanks for your input.
http://www.change.org/petitions/declare-a-state-of-national-emergency-to-deal-with-the-economic-crisis

Okay, I'll sign! Thank you!

USA, well done. You people always surprise me, you are all great writers. I'll sign.

Signed.

USA Citizen wrote:Declare a state of national emergency to deal with the economic crisis
This petition currently has over 300 signatures and regards the unemployment crisis as a national emergency. This is the text of the petition:

Greetings,

Please urge President Obama to declare a state of national emergency to deal with the economic crisis:

Dear President Barack Hussein Obama II,

As Chief Executive, please declare a state of national emergency to deal with the unemployment crisis. This is not a natural disaster or a war, but millions of Americans are now without means of supporting themselves through employment and are forced to file for bankruptcy and are losing their homes and life savings. The nation is threatened by economic collapse and many tax-paying Americans will soon become destitute, hungry and homeless. The Congress has failed to enact a jobs bill to employ the over 15 million unemployed and has also failed to extend unemployment benefits for the jobless who are now desperate.

As Chief Executive you cannot unilaterally grant unemployment benefits to the unemployed because of the limitations imposed by the Constitution in Section III of Article II. Millions of unemployed Americans are no longer be able to buy food, pay rent or mortgage payments or obtain health care. This situation is particularly acute for those who have exhausted their unemployment benefits and are faced with hunger, homelessness and hopelessness. We did not create the collapse of the economy and we had no say in the bail out of AIG, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, big banks, major corporations, etc., but we are suffering for the situation created by the gambling on Wall Street.

There is currently no legislation to address the urgent needs of the long-term unemployed, those who have exhausted their maximum unemployment benefits. Previous benefits have demonstrated that helping the unemployed puts more money back into the economy than given. Without the spending of the stimulus money of the unemployed, many businesses are going bankrupt because of less demand for goods and services and the Great Recession is double-dipping into the Third Depression.

Americans are having their utilities shut off and are being evicted from their homes and forced into shelters or onto the streets. Many state governments are too broke to provide services. Charities and non-profit agencies are stretched to their limits because of a lack of funding. Not helping now will make many of the long-term unemployed permanently unemployable because they won’t have the resources to keep their homes, vehicles, clothing or work related tools. People must sell everything they own just to survive on zero income.

Please support the passing of legislation with verbiage that includes a Tier 5 of benefits for the long-term unemployed for all 50 states or an extension of Tier 4. If the Senate and Congress fail to act, then take executive action to enact a state of national emergency. This will enable FEMA to help the unemployed with food and shelter and the Department of Homeland Security to enact certain provisions that will help restore order. This state of emergency will give you Presidential powers and authority necessary to meet this emergency threatening the nation. The paralysis of Congress and the lack of legislative relief or law for the benefit of the long-term unemployed have demonstrated that steps must be taken to preserve the American people.

You need the power to seize property, organize and control the means of production, seize commodities, assign military forces abroad, institute martial law, seize and control all transportation and communication, regulate the operation of private enterprise, restrict travel, and in a variety of ways control the lives of United States citizens. It is your prerogative and within your authority to take extreme steps in this situation of great urgency that threatens the lives of millions of Americans. You need to act for the defense of the American family and welfare of the citizenry to do what is necessary and proper to provide relief to Americans in need. You are now the steward of America and as the Chief Executive in the highest position in our great nation it is incumbent upon you to authorize FEMA, HUD, and the Department of Homeland Security to take drastic steps to protect the public interest. This decision is yours alone.

This crisis was unforeseen and its impact is great and calls for immediate action. The conditions are beyond the tolerable limit being imposed upon the unemployed and this requires actions not seen since the Great Depression. The danger to life and well-being to Americans is beyond normal and is unacceptable. This crisis has been building since the Great Recession began in late 2007, but its impact is suddenly becoming dangerous to the stability of our republic. There are Americans who are committing suicide because of this crisis and extreme elements are even calling for insurrection and rebellion, which will require the militia to suppress. The President must take command of the nation to prevent a national catastrophe.

In the past the Congress has given extraordinary authority to the President in times of emergency. As Chief Executive you must notify Congress that you intend to declare a national emergency if they do not act immediately to restore unemployment benefits and enact a jobs bill that will put Americans back to work. This is a labor emergency that requires you to use your discretion as Chief Executive to engage in emergency actions in response to the disaster challenging America now. Make an emergency proclamation to declare a national emergency, which will activate all of the stand-by statutes and provisions that delegate authority to you. These emergency proclamations have a precedent as seen in the actions of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who issued a national emergency proclamation within 48 hours of assuming office. This state of national emergency will only last until 2012, but that will give Congress time to turn its attention to this crisis and take legislative actions as necessary to help unemployed Americans.

Please have your administration scrutinize the United States Code and examine the 470 provisions of federal law which gives the Chief Executive extraordinary authority in time of national emergency under the prescribed arrangements for their congressional regulation. The National Emergencies Act allows the President to respond to the exigency at hand. The Chief Executive requires authority to regulate our nation’s domestic and international finances during this national emergency and to take action against nations that wage economic warfare against the United States. Please take these extreme actions with oversight and in close consultation with Congress under the procedures and regulations of the National Emergencies Act.

Sign the petition at:
http://www.change.org/petitions/declare-a-state-of-national-emergency-to-deal-with-the-economic-crisis

This is a great letter. If the Unemployed Friends Letter For 99ers could be attached to it, it would be icing on the cake. I tweeted this, but the tweet counter is still registering 0.

I tweeted it too and it still says zero We'll have to look into it. Must be a glitch.

TR11005 wrote:Please Sign! I did, makes a lot sense. This either an Emergency or WAR, both have Presidential Powers that could bypass the Congress and Senate.

I could argue the war thing- the Republican party definitely seems to be out to get us.

yes, Id have to somewhat maybe finally agree with this also, after especially listening to this mornings republican party statements (6 people spoke) about the state of the economy and jobs. Cantor, Boehner and 4 others were just soooo anti-government, it was so blatant blasting them, and 100% purely in favor of all businesses being entrepruenership arena, that the lower middle class and impovershed will not be addressed with their current conclusion and mindset to this ordeal, and makes us demand ((not emails) but direct phone calls and in person meetings to them demanding what exact specific plan they have in mind for us out of work citizens in how, when, and where we fit in with operating business in such fashion???

From what I can see, the unemployed have no leader and may not want one. There is no lobbyist for the unemployed, although many of the unemployed do their part to raise the issues. There is no fund raising effort to lobby or advertise or do any of the things that other organizations do to advocate their causes. There is also little reason for President Obama to listen to the unemployed because their advocacy efforts are splintered or fragmented. Forums are able to stir their readers to letter writing, emails and some personal advocacy, but as a whole we are not united in our efforts. The numbers of unemployed or underemployed has passed 30 million, which is enough to qualify as a social movement. As a social movement we could have many leaders advocating our cause in the ways they do best.

The media and Congress have recently focused on job creation, but there is no effective legislation that can address this issue in a manner that would put U.S. back to work in large enough numbers to make a difference. The bickering in Congress about tax breaks for the rich and business incentives has stalled any meaningful action and promises to stall legislation such as HR 589. Others have suggested that the recent announcement by ICE to enforce laws in regard to workers without proper documentation will help bring jobs back to Americans. The solution may involve the nationwide use of E-Verify, an Internet-based system operated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to help employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers. A Presidential Order by Obama could put this into effect and return millions of jobs to Americans. Free Trade agreements have also harmed the American economy, and correcting those injustices would be a legislative matter that could also bring jobs back to the U.S. It will take the political willpower of the President to turn things around for the unemployed. If Obama is NOT working for the unemployed Americans, then by his inaction he is working against U.S.