It's easy for Coburn, he has a job!

"It's as though Dr. Coburn, as he likes to refer to himself, were refusing to treat a heart attack because the drugs might one day cause cancer."   I think that's an excellent way to sum it up, and frankly I think he should be ashamed of himself.   Paycheck = paying taxes and social security = more money flowing back to the government = strengthening economy further = more spending = more money for the government...need I continue? ;) Helping now means more security in the long run for everyone. I find it amusing he can block funding for struggling families and then go home to his for a break. You stay classy, 'Dr. Coburn'.

It's obvious that the Coburns of the world aren't interested in jobs, health care, financial reform, etc.  They are only interested in defeating our President.  They are no better than terrorists.  The President and the Democrats in Congress need to ignore them and press forward with the platform they were elected on.

Full time well paid jobs now stand at the same level as in 1940 as America ramped up for WWII - The "They" who took the jobs is the idea behind how the world works - these jobs have been exported not by immigrants but as a by product of the current idea of globalization where only a few win.

These jobs will never come back AS THEY WERE.

My own hope is for a resurgence of a local local economy. We see this in Detroit now with the birth of local food. 40 acres being farmed. We can get behind this, then local energy, local manufacturing. Lots of small networked into something large.

In Detroit desperation was the spark. People had to give up on getting help from a mayor in jail, a bankrupt state, a federal Government buried in bureaucracy. People got together and started small.

Did you see that Philadelphia has an rfp out for a manager of a new local food project?

Who cares about these numbers? Unemployment is a downward spiral to invisibility. When you are robbed of the dignity and self-respect of being a provider, or a contributor, the day-by-day struggle that follows doesn't find an appropriate voice in the cold world of numbers. Regurgitating the near static statistics of unemployment on a weekly basis merely assures that the real gut-wrenching tale of unemployment loses the human connection and skews the perception of the magnitude of desperation the afflicted face every morning they open their eyes. Why keep focusing on the numbers? Why not spend the time instead focusing on the true-life stories of those neck deep in hopelessness? Why not give form to the invisible that have no hero to champion them? That is how you make a difference. That is how you make an employer think twice, three times, a hundred times, about dropping the axe. That is how you connect those that can help change lives with those that need and would cherish the help. So take those stacks of sheets with unemployment numbers and send them straight to the round file. The only thing they do is help the wealthy hedge their bets in the world of investments and give employers cover to ease their conscience by confirming for them that many employers are doing the same thing. So, is it Good Friday today? Unfortunately, for many, like me, no it's not.

The Invisible Lives of the Unemployed
http://aris-unchained.com/?p=8

How about import tariffs?

Secondly, why does the current curve look so analog?

Thank you Rachel for putting the unemployed back on the top of the agenda. In January Mr. Obama said he had gotten the message and he would concentrate on the economy and jobs and since then has concentrated on everything but. During that time many unemployed ran out of benefits and are being tossed into the streets from eviction notices to foreclosure. Then the Senate adjoins and goes home for a two week vacation knowing that people that are unemployed are being cut off from benefits. Societies are judged by the way they treat the most vulnerable among them and right now our leader and the Congress are not doing very well on that score.

I greatly appreciate your continued efforts in regards to unemployment in particular the long term unemployed. I am writing to inform you to make you aware of a quickly approaching crisis. There are hundreds of thousand who have or will immediately exhaust their unemployment benefits. The legislation which is to be addressed next week does not speak to this huge problem. The maximum number of weeks of unemployment benefits allowed is 99. As of today hundreds of thousands have received our last unemployment check. The majority are hard working citizens who are actively looking for employment. While I continue to search for employment, these unemployment checks have allowed me to pay primary/important bills. After this week, I will have no source of income. The days of reaching out to your congressman I believe are over. They only respond to media pressure. Please speak to our plight in your segment on unemployment tonight. We need additional weeks of unemployment benefits to merely survive. No exaggeration.

Is there a graph like this that includes the Great Depression?

538 has the best look at these numbers but it needs more added to it:

LINK

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/04/encouraging-employment-datasort-of.html#comments

One thing to add to the chart above:

Put the DOT on Oct 2008: Congress passes Banking Bailout. It's the equivalent of stopping the bleeding!

Put a second DOT on Feb 2009: Congress passes Stimulus Bill. The "blood transfusion" is applied!

I tell you Obama is playing chess while we're all playing checkers!

No one can tell me that the two plans did not work as expected. It's only the salesmanship that is lacking now. I don't want to go all Ross Perot on this, but with chart with labels speaks volumes!!!

Love the show, thanks!
-Vince from Ashburn, VA

Dear Rachel,

As an American whose family has fought and died in every war we have ever had, even before we were the "USA", may I ask a favor of you? Could you PLEASE use your media resources to address this emergency unemployment cut off, as Americans will wind up on becoming homeless shortly. Also, bring some heat to the forefront of the media concerning the failed legislators on the unemployment issue. Last week, certain legislators let us down horribly and we need to get some attention desperately. Our UI benefits have been cut off!!!! As you WELL know, the GOP "walked out" of Congress last Friday, while Tom Coburn, in a single handed manner, held up a request to extend the benefits, as the rest of the majority considered the situation a national emergency.....Including the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee! The majority was horrified at the turning away of Americans in a crisis period. The bill is STILL listed under the Emergency act! If you would like to see a VERY COMPELLING report on this, click this link for a press release from NELP:

http://www.nelp.org/page/-/UI/PR.april.arra.reauthorization.pdf?nocdn=1

What are we supposed to do and who is going to fight for us? Just in THIS next week, ONE MILLION people will be forgotten and swept under the carpet due to this cut off by Coburn. If some odd calamitous disaster occurred, and a MILLION were facing homelessness, would we ignore all those Americans? When the "WE WILL NEVER FORGET" slogan for the enemy was flown over Ground Zero, I remember it well. I was one of the many who tried to help police and EMS in aiding the effort on my own time. The country needed help and I was there...and this is what we get back in a time of need?? I can't believe I am typing this, but if I become homeless in the next week or two, "WE WILL NEVER FORGET" is a slogan that I apply to our government for turning their backs on Americans in an emergency....and this is NO FAULT OF OUR OWN! We are going for a major media campaign for help before we wind up in the "Tent Cities" being created across the country for us. That is another hush-hush issue in the press I guess though... PLEASE HELP FIGHT FOR US!

Best regards to yourself and your beautiful family-

Thanks for trying to keep the unemployed from being forgotten. I have been out of work over a year and applied for over 260 jobs. No one seems willing to take a 57 year old woman, no matter how great her references. I have experience at many things, and besides, I've never failed to learn a job yet! It is extremely unhelpful when people say, "just go to Walmart", or "you can always work at McDonalds". Like we can just show up and demand a job. I have applied for MANY menial jobs and been rejected for being overqualified. No one who hasn't looked for work in the last few years knows what it is like out there. The employers have all the power and they're acting like spoiled brats.

There is a whole group of unemployed Americans that have now become invisible. We are the middle-age, former middle-class who have been jobless for two years (some more) and have exhausted all of our benefits. We are experienced, educated and hard-working individuals who, over the past 30 or 40 years have helped the economy grow. We have been through many recessions and until now have been able to keep our heads above water and go on. We are the so-called baby-boomers and now we don't even get a second look from potential employers. There are (or will be very soon) millions of us out here. From my own personal experience with this recession it appears that individuals in the 45 - 55 yr. old age group have been put out to pasture. We are "Too old to hire....Too young to retire". After the benefits are gone, we have nowhere else to turn. We don't qualify for welfare or medicaid, we have worked all of our lives and have no children under 18. Some states may give us foodstamps, but that doesn't pay the rent or utilities. We are looking at homelessness. I don't think I have ever been as afraid as I am now in my whole life. The arrogance of our US Senators and Representatives is appalling! I can't believe they could leave Washington, in good conscience, for a two week spring break without addressing this issue!!! We need jobs. The highway jobs created just don't cut it for a 54 yr. old female!!

From: the National Employment Law Project

For Immediate Release: March 26, 2010

Washington, DC – Today the National Employment Law Project released the following statement in response to the successful action of one senator to block, for a second time, the extension of existing federal jobless programs set to expire on April 5th.

The obstruction, this time by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), could force as many as 1 million unemployed workers to lose benefits in April, halt vital training and education services, and significantly disrupt state agencies’ efforts to administer benefits.

“It is unacceptable that Congress has, for a second time, failed to extend the existing federal benefits programs with so many people counting on this assistance. We have been down this road already and seen the turmoil it caused. Congress cannot continue to play games with people’s lives. They need to get the job done, now,” said Christine Owens, Executive Director of the National Employment Law Project.

“One million people are now newly at risk of losing benefits in April because of Congress’s failure to act, and 212,000 alone will lose benefits in the first week. It will be devastating if Congress takes a two-week break with such significant business left unfinished.

There’s no break in the crisis for unemployed workers. The House has passed an extension, and now the Senate needs to get it done before the program is slated to expire,” said Owens.

“The delay in the extension comes at great expense to jobless workers and the U.S. economy. There are now 14.9 million unemployed Americans and long-term unemployment afflicts 6.1 million – over 40 percent of the unemployed. Over 11 million jobless workers are collecting some form of unemployment insurance, including nearly 5.7 million receiving extensions. There is much work to be done and workers simply cannot afford to go through this benefits renewal drama every month or two. Congress must approve this stopgap extension immediately, and
then after the recess, extend the jobless programs through the end of 2010 so that we do not find ourselves in this situation again,” said Owens.

While the current stand-off is occasioned by Senator Tom Coburn’s (R-OK) displeasure that the 30-day extension would not be paid for with some budget offset, earlier this month eight Republican Senators joined all but one Democratic Senator in agreeing that unemployment insurance and COBRA extensions through the end of 2010 should be done through emergency spending. That led to the bi-partisan passage of the American Workers State and Business Relief

“It is time to close the loops and see this through to the finish. For the sake of millions of unemployed workers and the future of our economy, we cannot delay a full-year extension of jobless programs any longer,” concluded Owens.

Thank you Rachel for keeping in the light the underground holocaust in the lives of 16 Million Americans. We have degrees, we vote, we pay taxes, raise children, yet now we have been buried in Republican obstruction and Democratic minimizing. Employment discrimination based on race, gender and age is rampant, and only because businesses can be so. The largest group of long term unemployed are those between 45 and 64. This is unconscionable when our legislators bandy about concern for the deficit when they enjoy their self appointed raises, health care and lifetime congressional retirement pensions of nearly 200K per year.

Their blatant disregard for the swath of America that are tax paying home and auto buyers will result in a no or low growth struggling economy for the next decade.The idea of aggressively outsourcing companies overseas and no long term thought given to revenue and income needed to support the "World's Consumer" was utterly penny-wise and pound foolish. In the name of quick short term profits, higher stocks and huge bonuses, The American government - both parties - has been complicit in literally killing its Golden Goose. The American Consumer as you knew it, is no more. We cannot buy with no money.

This is unconscionable behavior from our government. The American Dream is dead for millions of Americans.

Here is an exerpt taken from a blog dedicated to the "99ers" on Facebook. This says it all pretty well:

"I will be 58 next month and have been out of work for 2 years also. My last job i dedicated 23 years to, only to have them lay off hundreds of people and send our jobs to India. WTG JP Morgan Chase! No one wants to hire anyone our age...we are too close to retirement and they are looking for long term employees if they are hiring at all. The age limit for SS keeps going up, what does our gov't expect us to do? We are considered the baby boomers....and they are slowly killing us off. Without the knowledge and work that we have contributed to this country the past 40+ years, half of the technology that we see today wouldn't exist. We are the ones that made this country strong...and this is the payback we get. Jobless, homeless (before long) and no one to turn to. I have been trying to get into the DOL website and phone lines to certify my LAST check also but their system is down. Go figure, they probably blew it up trying to find all of us that they need to give that "This is your last check, there are no more extensions" message to before they delete us off the system. Now let's sit back and watch the media and government get all excited because unemployment numbers have dropped. The reason their dropping is because we will no longer be counted as unemployed. Unreal!! Not only do we need a Tier 5, they need to take away the penalty for early withdrawals of IRA's because if you are lucky enough to have a little money left after Wall Street and the Banks killed our retirement, you will need to withdraw what you have to survive. Only in America."

Thank you Rachel for keeping in the light the underground holocaust in the lives of 16 Million Americans. We have degrees, we vote, we pay taxes, raise children, yet now we have been buried in Republican obstruction and Democratic minimizing. Employment discrimination based on race, gender and age is rampant, and only because businesses can be so. The largest group of long term unemployed are those between 45 and 64. This is unconscionable when our legislators bandy about concern for the deficit when they enjoy their self appointed raises, health care and lifetime congressional retirement pensions of nearly 200K per year.

Their blatant disregard for the swath of America that are tax paying home and auto buyers will result in a no or low growth struggling economy for the next decade.The idea of aggressively outsourcing companies overseas and no long term thought given to revenue and income needed to support the "World's Consumer" was utterly penny-wise and pound foolish. In the name of quick short term profits, higher stocks and huge bonuses, The American government - both parties - has been complicit in literally killing its Golden Goose. The American Consumer as you knew it, is no more. We cannot buy with no money.

This is unconscionable behavior from our government. The American Dream is dead for millions of Americans.

Many of us have exhausted unemployment and are the forgotten citizens. We need help getting Tier 5 proposed so we don't lose everything while we still look for work. Please help us get the message out.

Thanks, Bill

This information came from the Labor Board. And it shows that in some states the unemployment rate has actually gotten worse. This table shows the comparison from 2009 to 2010.

This is important info to bring out when ever we contact our Senators about a Tier 5.

For example California was 10.2 in 2009 and now is 12.5 in 2010 - Other states have also gotten worse..

--------------------------------------------------------------

1 Data are not preliminary.

p = preliminary.

Table B. States with statistically significant unemployment rate changes

from February 2009 to February 2010, seasonally adjusted

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

| Rate | PLEASE NOTE ALL STATES HAVE INCREASED UNEMPLOYMENT COMPARED TO THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR!!!!!!

|-----------|-----------| Over-the-year

State | February | February | rate change(p)

| 2009 | 2010(p) |

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alabama ........................| 8.7 | 11.1 | 2.4

Alaska .........................| 7.3 | 8.5 | 1.2

Arizona ........................| 8.3 | 9.5 | 1.2

Arkansas .......................| 6.8 | 7.7 | .9

California .....................| 10.2 | 12.5 | 2.3

Connecticut ....................| 7.4 | 9.1 | 1.7

Delaware .......................| 7.4 | 9.2 | 1.8

District of Columbia ...........| 8.8 | 11.9 | 3.1

Florida ........................| 9.2 | 12.2 | 3.0

Georgia ........................| 8.7 | 10.5 | 1.8

| | |

Idaho ..........................| 6.9 | 9.5 | 2.6

Illinois .......................| 8.7 | 11.4 | 2.7

Iowa ...........................| 5.3 | 6.7 | 1.4

Kentucky .......................| 9.6 | 10.9 | 1.3

Louisiana ......................| 5.9 | 7.3 | 1.4

Maryland .......................| 6.4 | 7.7 | 1.3

Massachusetts ..................| 7.4 | 9.5 | 2.1

Michigan .......................| 12.0 | 14.1 | 2.1

Mississippi ....................| 8.6 | 11.4 | 2.8

Montana ........................| 5.7 | 6.9 | 1.2

| | |

Nevada .........................| 10.1 | 13.2 | 3.1

New Hampshire ..................| 5.5 | 7.1 | 1.6

New Jersey .....................| 8.0 | 9.8 | 1.8

New Mexico .....................| 6.1 | 8.7 | 2.6

New York .......................| 7.5 | 8.8 | 1.3

North Carolina .................| 9.8 | 11.2 | 1.4

Ohio ...........................| 9.1 | 10.9 | 1.8

Oklahoma .......................| 5.5 | 6.7 | 1.2

Pennsylvania ...................| 7.2 | 8.9 | 1.7

Rhode Island ...................| 9.9 | 12.7 | 2.8

| | |

South Carolina .................| 10.7 | 12.5 | 1.8

Tennessee ......................| 9.6 | 10.7 | 1.1

Texas ..........................| 6.8 | 8.2 | 1.4

Utah ...........................| 6.1 | 7.1 | 1.0

Virginia .......................| 6.1 | 7.2 | 1.1

Washington .....................| 8.1 | 9.5 | 1.4

West Virginia ..................| 6.4 | 9.5 | 3.1

Wisconsin ......................| 7.7 | 8.7 | 1.0

Wyoming ........................| 4.8 | 7.5 | 2.7

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

p = preliminary.

OH YEA, THINGS ARE GETTNG BETTER!!(sarcasm)

Our kids are paying for it now and have been paying for this.We have moved and lost a lot and hasn't been the same since.Can barely keep a roof over their heads and food on the table.And the little you get is to much to get any other help.And if left with nothing you have to wait another month because you still got to much for that month to get anything still.There for we will have nothing for a month.And then even less after that to live on if recieve help elsewhere.How are you really suppose to survive on crumbs.

And they need to add weeks besides the new extension dates.People are being left out with nothing even if they pass new dates.It does not extend anymore for the long term.Not even the new bill they are working on.This is not for the long term.Only renews dates for what is already passed and pushes the dates to end of year.And the one now is only to renews it for a month untill the other bill is passed.

So hr 4851 only extends for month may 5th
hr 4213 only extends dates till dec. 2010

Does not add no weeks for the people running out.They need more weeks added to the last tier or create new tier.Or add amendment to 4851 and hr 4213 to add more weeks to expiring dates renewel.It is not a new extension in order for it to be have to add more weeks or new tier.And the sooner the better people are left out with nothing month or so ago.This is not for the long term unemployed.

There will be tens of thousands left with nothing.Please help call congress to help these people before they are the next homeless if not already many have lost their's over a month ago.
Some didnt even get the last tier since their state didnt hit the 8.5 they were left out in the cold.
Those extensions are not helping the rest who are out a month ago and are out now.

Please dont let congress fool you.
is not adding anymore weeks other then dates for what was already passed.

Latest Press release on radio interview
http://tinyurl.com/yf4zeyz

VIDEO http://bit.ly/cD7w8c HELP IT GO VIRAL

SIGN The Tier 5 petition link: http://tinyurl.com/yfq85sx

KEEP emailing/faxing/tweeting & calling.

http://unemployed-friends.forumotion.com/campaign-and-support-legislation-f79/tier-v-more-weeks-call-in-campaign-post-your-call-in-results-here-t4885-75.htm

http://tier5.webs.com/apps/forums/

Looking over my little rant from earlier, I feel compelled to add just a few lines. Rachel, Laura Conoway, it was not directed at you whatsoever. You provide an immensely valuable service to our nation and I certainly tip my hat to you and your crack team of truth-seekers. It just pains me to see unemployment turned into some kind of game that can be scored and I read quite a few stories this morning that tried to do just that. I guess my frustration bottle just happened to stop spinning when I landed on your blog and voila! You bore the brunt. My apologies. I know you'll keep the very real, human costs of unemployment front and center. Keep up the great work.

And to you Mr. Coburn, you should be ashamed to call yourself a legislator. Yours should be, above all, a mission of service to your constituents and your nation, not service to your party, or to yourself. I think you need to take a good look at your reprehensible, selfish behavior and ask yourself some hard questions in the mirror, if you can stand the sight long enough these days!

From: The National Employment Law Project

For Immediate Release: April 2, 2010

Press Contact: Tim Bradley, 314.440.9936; Anna Deknatel, 646.200.5311
Workers contact: unemployedworkers@gmail.com or 212‐285‐3025 x 309

NELP STATEMENT ON MARCH EMPLOYMENT REPORT

Washington, DC – Long‐term unemployment pushed well past all‐time highs in March, as modest payroll growth was unable to move the unemployment rate below 9.7%, the Labor Department report revealed today. There is now a record 6.5 million Americans who have been looking for work for more than six months – a stunning 44% of all jobless workers. Even though payrolls registered the largest one month gain (165,000) in two and a half years, there is still much work to be done to reduce unemployment and bolster the job market, the National
Employment Law Project said today.

“Americans are right to be relieved about the upturn in March’s payroll report from the Labor Department. But March’s encouraging jobs gains barely register in the battle against severe joblessness. For those laid off, unemployment is stretching longer and longer and putting severe distress on families. Throughout 2010, we are going to have to contend with extremely high unemployment. The long slog of looking for work and surviving on jobless benefits is going
to continue for millions of Americans. It’s Congress’ job now to take effective and aggressive steps to create jobs and extend unemployment through the end of the year, so that the economy can get back on its feet,” said Christine Owens, Executive Director of the National Employment Law Project.
As further evidence of the severe nature of joblessness, the average duration of unemployment is now 31.2 weeks and 11.2 million jobless workers are collecting unemployment insurance, with six million relying on some form of federal extended benefits. Because Congress failed to extend the deadline to apply for federal jobless benefits last week, April 5th marks the cut‐off for benefit checks for hundreds of thousands of unemployed workers. Approximately one million unemployed workers will lose benefits in April should Congress not extend the provisions; as many as 212,000 will lose benefits next week alone. NELP’s state‐by‐state estimates of “Workers Prematurely Cut‐Off of Federal Jobless Benefits
During April 2010 Due to Expiration of the Recovery Act's UI Provisions” can be found here. The controversy and delay in passing another stopgap extension was unnecessary and unjustifiable. In March, the Senate passed with bi‐partisan support a bill to extend unemployment benefits and COBRA programs through December 31st, called the American Workers State and Business Relief Act. The House has also approved a longer extension than the pending 30‐day stop‐gap measure, and the two bills are awaiting reconciliation when the current Congressional recess is over.

“We urge Congress to extend federal jobless benefits through 2010 as soon as it returns from
recess. And even as these jobless benefits keep families afloat and stimulate local economies, we are going to need more bold action from Washington to turn the ship around. The jobs crisis is a crisis for all Americans, employed and unemployed alike – so hopefully when Congress returns from recess, it will move past pointing fingers and playing games, and confront the national jobs emergency,” said Owens. “There is no more important work for Congress now than to put America back to work.”
###

NELP is asking for an extension of the filing deadlines for the tiers of benefits created by 3404 and 3548. Right now there are 4 Tiers, and not all states received the fourth. In order to qualify for those 6 extra weeks, the state unemployment rate had to be at least 8.5%. Tier IV is just about exhausted and unless there is another tier, or amendment to 3548 creating additional weeks of jobless benefits, there will be a lot of homeless babyboomers!! They have worded their latest proposal so that many Americans believe we can collect unemployment through the end of the year .... NOT!!! We are the 99ers, and there are many of us who have absolutely nothing left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Racheal Maddow:

Thank you 4 bringing attention to our plight. Please have staffers check out: http://prlog.org/10595073

I would LOVE you to read: http://prlog.org/10585816 also.

The latest Press release on my radio interview
http://tinyurl.com/yf4zeyz

Thank you for helping us fight!

All the best~

What if? the Senate returns after their long break and Colburn will not release his block?

Rachel, I hope you will keep up the C-Street pressure on Colburn and the other rent freeloaders there. It is also time they all fess up about their pretense of having a legitimate "church" as well as. The IRS and the ethics committee should sink their teeth into this one.