Evil Congressional Bastards!

[chequita guevara]

DF, you don't know what you are talking about. Unemployment is insurance, not a tax. Businesses pay this, not the average tax payer.

Imran, the House only passed a five week bill. Thirteen weeks is the norm, and Bush refused to keep Congress in session to deal with this.

We need to remember that one million people is between .5% and 1% of the workforce. We are talking a hit on the economy when they can no longer pay bills and buy groceries.

[David Floyd]

Unemployment is insurance, not a tax. Businesses pay this, not the average tax payer.

Taxes on businesses usually end up hitting the consumer in the end, as well they should from the businesses perspective. That's why I'm not a fan of corporate taxes, either.

Any sort of unemployment from businesses should come from case-by-case severance packages negotiated between the individual and business (or rather, the business just telling the individual what, if anything, they are going to be getting).

[DanS]

"Imran, the House only passed a five week bill. Thirteen weeks is the norm, and Bush refused to keep Congress in session to deal with this."

Bush can't keep Congress in session.

[Ming]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
the House only passed a five week bill. Thirteen weeks is the norm, and Bush refused to keep Congress in session to deal with this.

The norm? Just because it was done that way in the past ONCE, doesn't make it the norm

And again... you are badly attempting to blame Bush for what the Democrats could have done, but didn't. The Dems are the evil ones here, and you should be blaming them. The Democrat Controled Senate is the one that screwed you. They are the ones that put politics above the needs of the people. They are the ones playing games with unemployement insurance...

[Japher]

get rid of unemployment all together. that's what I say.

[uh Clem]

Government assistance should be limited to the truly needy, such as United Airlines, Eli Lilly, Halliburton, the Texas Rangers baseball team, etc.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

My guess is this is yet another political game between Dems and GOP.

Dems figure a) let the new republican congress/senate take the hit on screwing the unemployed. It will play well for the next elections and rally/motivate the voter turn out.

b) they resent the fact that they weren't supported en masse during latest elections and figure screw them.

Republicans are sticking to their normal agenda of smaller gov and less entitlements. Which normally speaking is a good thing but is best suited during times when the economy is in decent shape (i.e. not now).

End result is this is completely FUBAR as partisanship ends up screwing only the general public and serves only the interests of the parties.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by DanS
"Imran, the House only passed a five week bill. Thirteen weeks is the norm, and Bush refused to keep Congress in session to deal with this."

Bush can't keep Congress in session.

Are you sure. I seem to remember several years ago that Clinton was threatening to keep Congress in secssion until they dealt with some issue, but I can't remember what.

Ming, it's been done at least twice (maybe three times) before. It was done during the '91 recession and has been done since 2000 (wish I'd known about it last year).

And yes, I should have said Evil Congressional Bastards. Both groups are responsible for this, but the Republicans are being more stingy. Almost no one hires in December.

[Capt Dizle]

A couple of comments. I kinda resent quips on the economy and unemployment from young people who have never had to work to keep a family afloat. Never had to get up at five in the morning for work after staying up until two thiry with a sick baby. Never had $15 bucks left after paying bills and had to figure out how to feed a family of four for two weeks until the next paycheck. Quips from young people who never had to take a pay cut and clean bathrooms during a recession.

Nor do I appreciate quips from the well to do who think that every person having financial problems are bums.

Dang, I sound like a Democrat or something.

[DanS]

"Are you sure."

No.

[David Floyd]

A couple of comments. I kinda resent quips on the economy and unemployment from young people who have never had to work to keep a family afloat. Never had to get up at five in the morning for work after staying up until two thiry with a sick baby. Never had $15 bucks left after paying bills and had to figure out how to feed a family of four for two weeks until the next paycheck. Quips from young people who never had to take a pay cut and clean bathrooms during a recession.

I'm sorry, all I got out of that was "Blah blah blah, I'm gonna be condescending because I can't actually argue a point, blah blah blah." If you're trying to say you deserve my money because you've worked **** jobs in the past or have a family, that argument ain't gonna wash with me.

Seriously, though, age is really irrelevant to this discussion. If you can refute my points, fine, do so - but attack the argument, not the person.

Nor do I appreciate quips from the well to do who think that every person having financial problems are bums.

I never said this, although many (even most) of them are not doing all they can to help themselves or get help from voluntary sources such as family, churches, and charity.

[Ming]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Ming, it's been done at least twice (maybe three times) before.

The NORM is 26 weeks... ANY extension is not the norm

And again... The Dems are the ones that screwed you. It's the Senate that screwed you... So another one of your poor attempts to blame the Repubs for something that is totally the fault of the Dems blows up in your face

[Capt Dizle]

Originally posted by David Floyd


I'm sorry, all I got out of that was "Blah blah blah, I'm gonna be condescending because I can't actually argue a point, blah blah blah." If you're trying to say you deserve my money because you've worked **** jobs in the past or have a family, that argument ain't gonna wash with me.

Seriously, though, age is really irrelevant to this discussion. If you can refute my points, fine, do so - but attack the argument, not the person.

I never said this, although many (even most) of them are not doing all they can to help themselves or get help from voluntary sources such as family, churches, and charity.

I am not going to enter into a debate with you in which theory excludes logic. You are really threadjacking here, trying to turn what was a discussion of real world issues by real people into another warped David Floyd whimsy.

[chequita guevara]

David's entitled to his opinion, but he does need to get his facts straight.

As a society, we have recognized sine the 1930s that the world runs smoother when Unemployment Insurance exists. Without it, crime, homelessness, family abandonment, death, etc all rise considerably. Lack of it also shows the system to be cruel and heartless, and makes it a lot easier for people like me to convince others that the system needs to be abolished. Unemployment insurance isn't just about saving the unemployed. It's about preserving the system.

[MosesPresley]

Originally posted by DaShi
Can anyone see Bush responding, "Let them eat cake."?

That should be "Let them eat guns." There is no butter at the national table.