Norman Rockwell's Hobo and Dog
Nevada is not only a key 2012 battleground, it's also a state that struggled more than most when the Great Recession began in 2007. Though Nevada's unemployment has improved considerably over the last two years, it's still 12%, well above the national average.
Given this, plenty of Nevadans are looking for policymakers who care about those hardest hit by the crisis. It also means Sen. Dean Heller (R), running this year for a full term after being appointed to the seat in May 2011, has a "hobo" problem.
At a debate last week with Rep. Shelley Berkley (D), Heller laughed off a question about whether he referred to the unemployed as "hobos," denying he'd ever used the term. The facts, however, are clear.
"This is the hardest part of an election, proving something you didn't do or say. And in this case, this is something that I did not do, and something that I did not say," the Republican said.
But that's not true.
In February 2010, Heller questioned the wisdom of extending unemployment benefits for people thrown out of work by the recession. He told the Elko County Republican Party's Lincoln Day dinner that the longer a person is out of work, the smaller the chance they'd eventually be re-employed. "Is the government now creating hobos?" he asked, according to the Elko Daily Free Press.
I remember writing about this when it happened, because it came at a time when many Republican members of Congress were actively trying to block extended unemployment benefits, despite the awful economic conditions. Heller, still a House member in February 2010, suggested jobless aid risked "creating hobos."
In other words, unemployment benefits created government dependency and encouraged those without jobs to be lazy. As far as Heller was concerned, those struggling most during a recession have only themselves to blame -- if they want a job, they should simply get one, as if jobs grow on trees -- and there's no reason for the country to make it a little easier for these folks to pay their bills until they can get back on their feet.
Dean Heller may be embarrassed by this now -- given Nevada's unemployment rate, I don't blame him for hoping voters forget what he said -- but as recently as two years ago, he suggested those looking for work have it too easy.
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My how stupid in so many ways. I mean during the great depression many "hobos" were forced to travel from place to place in order to find a job of any kind. They lived a life of poverty and whenever they did get work most of them sent the money to their family back home. It is just this kind of scene unemployment benefits are preventing. After all I doubt he wants true hobos going to Vegas and raising a tent or a shanty so they can take jobs at half the pay the present workers get. I mean really darling these bums are so uncouth.
Your research friend and mine sez:
A hobo is a migratory worker or homeless vagabond, especially one who is penniless. The term originated in the Western—probably Northwestern—United States during the last decade of the 19th century.[1] Unlike "tramps", who work only when they are forced to, and "bums", who do not work at all, "hobos" are workers who wander.
A sub-class of "bum"( those who do not work at all) is the "elected official"- esp. "Congressman."
Bad name calling, correct ecnomic theory:
"Effects of Unemployment Benefits"
http://blog.heritage.org/2010/05/13/effects-of-unemployment-benefits/
Puhlease ... The Heritage Foundation has been putting out bogus, alarmist claptrap about the impending doom pushed by the Chamber for years. It's a scam by the Corporate Welfare State to try and skirt their responsibilities to society. They want to take the money they're required to put in unemployment insurance and give it to executives in the form of even larger bonuses. It's the same reasons the the Chamber, ALEC and the Republican party are attacking pensions and Social Security. To skirt their responsibilities to society while sucking $ trillions more into the rigged, unregulated, Wall Street Casinos we (for some reason) still call "banks".
What is amazing to me is that these concepts are lost on folks like "bannedagain" who will continue to dance and sing for the oligarchs like a court jester while bitching about the crumbs that fall from their plates. Unless of course he's a hedge fund manager, in which case my apologies - you are doing exactly what you are expected to do.
http://articles.marketwatch.com/2012-02-09/commentary/31040778_1_big-government-heritage-foundation-report
Somebody should have warned Banned about mentioning the heritage foundation on this "blog" The truth is not something these people want to hear,mostly because it makes them feel bad. Even if The great Paul krugman said it too. I bet less than 30 % of the people here hit the link you provided. Oh well, can't say you didn't try.
The "truth" is that while those receiving "unemployment benefits" may stay unemployed longer, please tell me for someone who has been laid off, if they were making say $75k a year, and now you tell them that the only "work" they might be able to find is a "minimum wage" job - mind you the bills (food, shelter, transportation, gas/electric) are still at the same rate, exactly how many of those jobs are they supposed to have to meet their basic needs? And more importantly, if the shoe was on your feet - would you stay unemployed, or take 3 of those minimum wage jobs? And frankly, Larry Summers was 1 of the architects that helped to lead US off the cliff, so I'm not really willing to listen to any more of his failed advice.
I find the moral degradation and bankruptcy that exists from many Americans outstanding, that they fail to not just understand, but have empathy for "the least among US"!
Those on the right are inordinately fond of wallowing in whining, narcissistic self-pity. It should be obvious that they really do expect to be able to lie to your face and have you accept their lies with no disagreement.
If this happens, remember to put some food out by your back door for the *hobos*. This is what they did during the great Depression.
Hobos! LOL Just in time for Halloween. Where's my burnt cork?
In all seriousness, it is interesting that Mitt's 47-percenter comments have somehow legitimized this view for some people. It's now ok to: a) call anyone receiving any sort of government assistance a moocher, a hobo, a bum? and b) to be prideful about it? I've had some conversations with Republicans that I know who absolutely do not get how not only inaccurate this is, but moreover how offensive it is to hard-working Americans who just need a little help to get back on their feet. It's as if people on the right do not even know or see with their own eyes that there are people who exist who don't WANT to be on any sort of government assistance. Who WANT to have a better life and are working hard to better their lives. Even when you tell folks on the right that this is the case, they deny it. It baffles me. In my state, the poverty line for a single adult is around $15,000. Do you have any idea what life is like at or below that much money coming in per year? Just imagine for a moment. Who would not want to get out of that situation as soon as they possibly could?
"Even when you tell folks on the right that this is the case, they deny it."
Of course they deny it, even though they have to realize that it is indeed the case (unless they are literally psychotic). They deny it because they are malicious and it is in their selfish interest to deny it.
And if unemployed Americans collecting unemployment have indeed become "hobos", then what does he think of corporations sucking on the government teet - oh, that's right, those "people" are the job creators?! I think NOT!
Our politicians are bankrupt spiritually, mentally, morally! Their collective failure to acknowledge that it's their policies that have US in the greatest Depression since the 1930's! To continue to blame Americans that are unemployed/underemployed for the situation that they are in due to the avarice of the elite is shameful, and should make him ineligible for public office!
We need to learn a lesson from Germany, there are no people living on their streets.They take care of their elderly and impoverished. How can we say we are number 1 when we can't even do this? Oh, yeah we are now being measured by how many guns we have...how ignorant is that?
http://eslkevin.wordpress.com/2010/05/11/homelessness-in-berlin-modern-wealthy-germany/
Every country has homeless. Germany is no better off than the U.S.
No lesson here.
Well, that was in the 80's. So, I guess the 80's were also very, very, good for Germany also. And now every Country has suffered the consequences of a Bush Regime.
The GOP just got confused: they hate homos, not hobos!
Their bad...
Reminds me of one of my all-time favorite lines from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia:
http://www.thecitrusreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/7Nanx.gif
I live in Nevada and I am very familiar with the candidates. Heller is and has always been for his party. He is also a mormon, excuse me a moron! I have sent him numerous letters about his actions regarding bills he supposedly supports. He answers me in some cockamamy way about what I wrote to him, never answering. By the way, my daughter who lives in San Francisco was unemployed almost 2 years. She is a skilled professional and couldn't get a job. She had depression and was upset about not being able to find anything out there. Costs in San Francisco are exorbitant. Fortunately, she finally got a job but at 25 thousand dollars a year less. Also had to move to a studio apartment. Heller does nothing for people here, Shelly Berkley has been working in Congress and has always come thru. She has the best interests of her constituents at heart. As far as the ethics issue, two Republicans signed up for that saving of UMC. They knew who her husband was! Now Heller is disclaiming any knowledge.