The Unemployed vs The Republicans

Like the other 2.5 million people in America, the month of June has been rough since extended unemployment benefits ran out. What we saw were Republicans and Ben Nelson (D-NE) block anymore extensions due to the increase to the deficit. However, the “deficit” hawks new found glory is to punish those who have lost their jobs. What drives this insanity?

The easy answer is power, which is true. The GOP wants to regain power so much that they are willing to do it on the backs of the poor and unemployed. Their goal is use Stimulus funds that have already been allocated, but has not yet been spent. That is a flawed argument while people cannot pay bills, and in some cases eat. This is emergency spending that is desperately needed while there 5-8 people for every one job.

I began a new job today after nearly 18 months after being laid off. And I will continue to advocate for those still searching, because unlike those in the GOP and/or Tea Party, it’s hard to tell the difference these days, I know the effects it has on our lives. After applying for nearly 1,000 jobs I received no offers until this past Friday afternoon. This is the case for many Americans, and in some cases more jobs were applied for.

So, back to the “insanity” driving the GOP. After authorizing two wars, prescription drug benefits, and the Bush Tax Cuts, none of which were paid for, they suddenly are now concerned with the deficit. “deficits don’t matter,” were Dick Cheney’s famous words a few years back, and there not a peep from conservatives. There were no protests from the Tea Party wing of the Republican Party or whining from conservatives in the media. This is their chance to rile up a conservative base that simply cannot believe the Democrats and President Obama defeated them.

The Republican response to critics has been even more insane. While blocking the extension of benefits, they propose making the Bush Tax Cuts permanent, which add to the deficit and only provided cuts to the most wealthy. Which can lead us to believe they are taking advice from Jude Wanniski, who while advising President Reagan essentially said “spend like drunken sailors while you are in power, and whine about spending when you are not. So, while the GOP chorus of “offsetting” the costs of “emergency spending”, statements have been made that the tax cuts do not need to be offset while in 2005 they added $539 billion to the deficit. . It is the double standard that is defining Republicans.

This is about power and a attempt to see President Obama “fail.” Politicizing the horrific economic issues and doing it with the unemployed is simply disgusting. A middle school friend of mine recently contacted me about this. He stated “I am disgusted by comments made about the unemployed lately by Republicans and even further disgusted that, it took the death of a Senator to block the current legislation. I can guarantee you, I will think twice about voting for anyone currently in office from any party.” He is right, and has at points in his life supported Republicans, yet when he sees old friends and a wife referred to as “Hobos” , “lazy”, “drug addicts” and “unmotivated while we still have benefits.” These remarks by Republicans and Republican candidates are reprehensible.

So, come November keep in mind when voting that it is the GOP’s hunger for power that has left your friend(s) or family members in the difficult position they may have been since late May. Do not buy the argument that it can be paid for with unspent stimulus funds, because those funds are going to employ people in the future. Deficits do not matter right now.

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