If your an American then I agree, your dim witted, just how on earth do you think the rich are paying for anyone's "unemployment", people are unemployed because of our tanked economy, you know the one that the rich TANKED. moron.

I would venture to say, you are at the top of the dimwit class of 2010.

"And she's upset that it was nearly taken away."

What about all of the jobs that will no longer be created do to the huge increases in unemployment insurance that employers are having to pay? Do the people who could have been employed get to be upset with her for taking their jobs away?

Talk about selfish and ungrateful, she should be thankful it was ever given to her to begin with.

PVPerson and Metalworker1,

those must be the dumbest comments I have ever read. The top 1 percent of earners pay 37 percent of taxes. The top 10 percent pay 68 percent of the taxes. What part of the rich pay all of the unemployment do you not understand? By the way, the rich have paid a higher percent of taxes almost every year, after the Bush tax cuts.

That same 1% owns 50% of this country's wealth; so, if they're in fact paying 37% of all taxes I'd say they're coming up short.

The real burden of taxation has fallen not on the shoulders of the extremely wealthy nor the impoverished; no, that burden has fallen squarely on the backs of middle-class workers.

The wealthiest 1 percent earn 19 percent of US income and pay 37 percent of the taxes. The middle class pays less than 30 percent of the taxes, but earns the most income, and is the largest group. Please don't let facts get in the way of your conclusions.

This class warfare thing is idiotic. Read some IRS statistics. The top quintile changes every ten years. Doctors, Lawyers, Engineers, Accountants, Dentists, all enter the top quintile late in their career and then they retire and drop out of it. There are no laws in this county that say you cannot be a professional or start a business, or develop your own ideas. If it is so easy to become rich, do it, and stop bitching about other people.

The idea you can forcibly take other people's labor is anti-American, and is simple slavery.

MG - we do not tax wealth, we tax income, and the two are not the same.

Once again, that top 1% owns half of this country's wealth; consequently, half of this country's tax revenue should come from the top 1%.

Incidentally, my specific problem is not with the innovators and entrepreneurs who have raised this country's standard of living exponentially throughout the years. From Ford to Gates, Carnegie to Jobs. These men introduced invaluable products to the American population and deserve to be wealthy beyond anything I can imagine. As for doctors, engineers and similarly rigorous professions, I believe they're underpaid (I myself am an architect).

My problem is specifically with the parasites that populate Wall Street; you know, the hedge-fund managers whose personal annual incomes - in some cases - are in the billions. Yet they've produced nothing of value and created no jobs. Oh, and they paid 15% on that $4 billion.

...and you're an elitist pig with no compassion for your fellow human beings.

The top 1% owns 38% of the nation's wealth not 50%. This is because the wealthy are business owners. The business is an asset that produces the income that is taxable at a corporate rate, a dividend rate, and an income rate. If you add in corporate taxes, the rich effectively pay even more.

The two numbers correspond, you cannot have high tax payments, without the income generating assets. The people I know, start the own businesses and are self motivated. The people you know think like is too hard, and the government should give them the teat. Your friends think rich people stole their money, but they won't get off of their butts and start their own enterprise because it is too hard. Personally, I like spending time around people, who believe in personal responsibility, as opposed to hanging around with people who bitch about others all of the time.

There is a problem with Wall Street, but that is predominantly related to the size of governement. Obama is a statist and a corporatist. Elimination of earmarks, term limits, regulation of Collateral Default Swaps, etc. would be a huge improvement. But, that is not what happened with this Democrat president and congress. The fin reg bill was a farce, that loaded up regulation, that kills competition, and did nothing to regulate Fannie, Freddie, CDS's, or many of the other issues that caused the Wall Street blowup.

Democrats believe in centralized power and control of the masses. They can do that just as easily with GE as with the federal departments. Hedge fund managers are overpaid, but that does not mean that they do not serve an incredibly valuable purpose in our economy. They improve velocity of money, and generally decrease costs of borrowing. The problem we had was not lack of regulation, but a requirement for banks to lend to those who could not make the payments, and a lack of enforcement of existing regulation.

The majority of the rich should be celebrated and thanked for what they provide in jobs, taxes, and motivation. The idea of blaming all of the rich for, literally, a small handful of Madoffs, Diamonds, etc. is wrong and immoral.

I find it ironic, that you are in a profession, that relies on the rich, and yet you get on this board and denigrate them. I don't recomment you offer your name, as I doubt you would get hired for any jobs with that type of an attitude.

As we see, there are some self centered greedy, stingy , no good people on here today. I can't understand why these people hate the very ones that made this country in the beginning. The rich are the cause of our problems today. The banks made bad loans in the name of the bottom line, profit. Wallstreet became the laughing stock of the world because of all the "inside trading". All you Madoff's in the world will realize some day that it will disappear as fast as it came. You know what, when it does don't ask the middle or lower class for help because we will tell you where to stick it.

Octopus,

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. You clearly cannot reason the argument, why not extending the unemployment benefits is the more compassionate route. Stop trying to treat the symptom and help fix the problem, or get out of the way.

You act as though you know what to do dim witted so why don't you become part of the solution instead of part of the problem. Why don't you create jobs for them? It's easy to be an armchair politician but when it comes down to it hot air does nothing for the economy.

Randy,

Damn you are ignorant.

Is Bill Gates self centered, greedy, stingy, and no good? How about Mark Zuckerberg?

Bill Gates has directly created jobs for almost 100,000 people. You, Randy, are a jackass. Do you really believe that Bill Gates does not deserve to be incredibly wealthy for what good he has done for our economy?

Facebook already has a few thousand employees in just a few years. Does Zuckerberg not deserve to be rich. Are doctors greedy? Are engineers self centered? Are small business owners stingy?

The rich don't cause our problems, dim witted people like you cause our problems. You, and your attitude of stealing from the productive, are the single biggest cancer in our society. Go out and get rich if it is so easy. Go and out provide jobs for other people, rather than bitching about the job creators.

Randy,

I do create jobs idiot. Fixing the problem is easy if our elected officials had any guts.

1. Fix Social Security.

Simple, index retirement to longevity.

Don't give retirement benefits to rich people. That's lame because they have put the most into Social Security, but it really it is an insurance program, and they received the insurance and didn't need it.

Separate out Social Security from the general budget.

Increase Social Security payroll taxes by .4%

Social Security is now fixed.

2. Term limits, kill earmarks, separate out Medicare and Medicaid from the general budget. Cut federal department spending 15% across the board including the military. Cut pay by at least 20%. Government pay should be less than private pay because of the benefits and job security. The general budget is now balanced.

3. Index Medicare to age longevity. Provide catastrophic insurance to everyone. Have health savings accounts. Eliminate the health tax deduction. Have everyone pay their medical bills directly. Provide many different health plans with different benefit levels across state lines. Medicare is now fixed.

4. Simplify and lower corporate tax rates

5. Hold on for massive economic growth and full employment.

I was laid-off in June 2009. Until then, I worked as a project architect for a Greenwich-based architectural firm. Yes, Greenwich - ground-zero for the hedge-fund/private equity industry. As such, a number of our clients were indeed among the most notable names in the financial world. And, incidentally, we rarely designed & managed the construction of primary residences. No, we typically worked on fifth & sixth homes.

Well, when the market crashed these same people decided they would put off the the construction of their seventh home. Consequently, my firm went from 34 architects, designers and support staff to six by the time I was let-go during the third-round of layoffs.

You are the dimwitted one among many others in the same state of mind. Yhe Unemployed do want jobs, are NOT lazy and also pay taxes out of their piss poor lowly weekly amount of money they do get. The rich do not help them as they do not create more jobs with their money. When there is no demand for their products or services they have no need to create jobs. Unemployment funds help the economy as every penny is spent each week by the Unemployed, with NO money left over at all. I am so happy for you that you must have a job. I hope you lose yours real soon so you have to go thru what the Unemployed are going thru right now. You won't be acting so high and mighty then, you fool. You must be a Repigblican. They have no heart, no brains, no compassion for their fellow man and buy their jobs with the use of rich people's campaign fund donarions. Otherwise, they would not have these jobs. That is why they refused to work until the Tax break was extended for the rich which will take billions of dollars out of the economy, to put it in their own banks. The Republicans know that is how they will win the elections. They promised their rich fat-cat buddies that already backed them they would get this extension passed and by God, they did. I suppose you thought it was very great that they handed Harry Reid a letter stating they would not do any work UNTIL this extension got passed. In any other job but theirs this would either be considered a STRIKE where they would not get paid OR they would be FIRED. It is pathetic that there is really no accountability in their jobs. They call all the shots with absolutely no consequences. You probably agreed with what they did though. They put every one in this Country in jeopardy of having a tax increase so it allowed them to blackmail our President to get it done. The Unemployed paid UI and taxes out of each Paycheck they received while working. This is NOT A WELFARE PROGRAM as brainless heartless have-it-alls believe. If you go to Church you are just a phony as you do not believe in caring for anyone else other than yourself. How dare you! I hope you get fired!

To the holier-than-thou, not-yet-unemployed people:

Do you even think about what you're saying?

Why does every not-unemployed person assume that all unemployed people should be manual laborers, simply ignoring their wealth of experience, (expensive) education, and professional knowledge? Should our collective brains become a puddle of goo so we can mow your lawn for you for five bucks or flip your McBurger for $7.25 an hour? Should we be prostitutes and gigolos, too? No! I'll be damned if I go back to the job and wage I had as a 16-year-old in the 1970s. I didn't get a degree and amass 30-plus years of professional experience to go that far backwards. Those of you who suggest otherwise are out of your minds. Get real. They aren't hiring people like me for jobs like that anyway.

Let's try some common sense for a change, shall we?

I was laid off in February from an amazing job as an editorial manager and writer for a brain fitness company. I'm highly educated, I've got great reference letters, and an impressive résumé. I've been searching desperately for full-time writing, editing or managing work since the day I lost my job, and I've had no success. I'm required to search for full-time work in my usual occupation as a condition of receiving UI benefits, so don't tell me I should be looking for temporary or contract work. And yes, I've expanded my search to cover anything remotely connected to anything I've ever done, including travel agent, ad copywriter, and much more. With the new online, faceless, nameless world of job ads, applications, and emails, I'm lucky if I even get a "we received your application" note. Forget about a phone call, a meeting or an interview. I use employment agencies, creative agencies, online sites, résumé sites, and more. Even craigslist, for what that's worth. Doesn't matter. I'm either overqualified, too old (only 47), or have made too much in the past (since when is $45,000 "too much?") to be offered a job for $10/hour. I can't make ends meet writing articles for 3 cents a word (if that), and last I checked, unpaid internships (which are usually illegal anyway) are all unpaid. But I still search, every day, seven days a week, and I know something will turn up eventually. I may be discouraged, but I'm not giving up.

Do you expect me and my fellow unemployed citizens to PERMANENTLY accept jobs that are low-paying, low-quality, low-everything? Is that your solution? Should we all live on the street - YOUR street - because we want to do work in the field we're trained, educated, and knowledgeable in, rather than accept a menial position that requires NO skill, NO education, has NO future or advancement opportunity, and pays at most about 1/3 of what we made previously?

It's really easy to talk big when you have a job, isn't it?

There are no jobs magically being created somewhere. There are no employers begging for workers, at least not in southern California. No, moving isn't an option. It's not free to move, my wife still has a job (should we both be unemployed?), and our rent is thankfully fairly low. How would we get an apartment in a different state with no job and no income? We're not moving somewhere else to put us in a worse position than we're in now! It's as if some of you who aren't unemployed believe in the Move-And-Find-A-Job Fairy - you just snap your fingers and *poof!* - you're in a new state with a new home and new job, and everything's just peachy keen!

Life doesn't work like that. What if every unemployed person just moved to another state to find a job, because "that's where the jobs are?" The jobs are few and far between everywhere, and chasing one's tail around the country is about as inefficient and unproductive as it gets.

The only winners would be moving companies.

I'll stay here, keep searching, and eventually, I'll be a productive member of society once again with a job that's important, challenging, and rewarding.

No, I'm not "too good" to do anything, but I won't be used or taken advantage of either. I have more to offer than spatula or mopping skills, and I shouldn't have to settle for a job that will keep me at poverty level just because I got unlucky and got laid off from a good job. I deserve the opportunity to find a REAL job that matches my skills and experience and pays a fair wage. To steal that opportunity from me because YOU think I'm lazy, or I'm unwilling or unable to take a manual labor job, or because it's taking so damn long to find work because good jobs are so scarce, or because YOU think I think I'm "too good" to flip burgers is impatient, short-sighted, and destructive to society. The job market sucks, and it's going to take time to recover. That's why UI extensions and middle-class tax cuts are necessary!

Will America thrive and prosper and grow by putting our best and brightest - but unluckiest - to work mopping floors, washing windows, or cleaning stables? Even if the local McDonald's is hiring, it's ludicrous to think that every educated, qualified professional should flip burgers for minimum wage instead of seeking actual employment that pays a wage one can live on. That's not how the economy grows, and it's a waste of talent and brainpower. Taking a crappy job is not going to fix either my world or the economy in general. There aren't enough burger joints in the world anyway to employ all the "lazy, unmotivated, entitled hobos" - er, I mean unemployed, no matter what the Tea Party & GOP might want you to believe.

To all those who think it's so damn easy to find a job, or think any unemployed person should take ANY job that's offered:

QUIT YOUR JOB AND GIVE IT A TRY!

Now, shut up and get back to work. And be damn glad you have work to go back to.

To the employed, the unemployed, and "others":

From outsourcing to tax cuts, we're going nowhere as a country until the economy is back, and these UI extensions were reluctantly tossed to us like table scraps tossed at a dog. "Here you go, boy. Now shut up and get away from OUR table." We wouldn't even have that if the super-wealthy didn't get to keep their obscene $700 BILLION in tax cuts. That's OK, though, it only costs us $3,000 per person (not per family) to keep those fat wallets bulging, which the unemployed can easily afford to part with. It's not like we need that money for food, shelter, utilities, or anything else. Oh, yeah, plus Chinese interest. The greed of the rich at the extraordinary expense of the middle and lower working class is sending this economy and this country downhill at a rolling snowball's pace.

The tax cut "compromise" is a disaster. This $700 billion "gift-for-the-rich" scam will destroy what little recovery we've made in this country; they're happily widening the divide between those who have and those who desperately want to have. This is class warfare. Make that class nuclear warfare. Don't believe it? Then how could the GOP justify NOT spending 1/56th - less than 1.8% - of the GOP's top-bracket tax cut for millionaires (read: FREE MONEY) on a short-term UI extension to help out millions of unemployed, desperate Americans who are in dire straits due to NO FAULT OF OUR OWN instead of handing it to the richest people in our country to add to the top of their pile? Then they add insult to injury by having the enormous steel balls to say we can't afford the extensions, and call the unemployed the greedy ones. Unbelievable. Money-bundle Jenga, anyone?

A few people are surely taking advantage of the extensions, but the vast majority of us are not. Do many of the wealthiest in our society not take advantage of the tax code and hide income and avoid taxes? We're NOT leeches, we're NOT lazy, we're NOT "too good," and we're NOT unmotivated! We NEED these extensions, we DESERVE these extensions, and we desperately WANT good jobs and fair wages!

So, rich people, you got your tax cuts. You'll have more money than you know what to do with, and you won't spend a dime of it to create jobs, because you don't have to or need to or want to. Your lives just got a whole lot better and easier and cushier. You're welcome.

And if you find any more scraps on your well-appointed holiday tables, can you toss a few our way? We hate to beg, but your greed has left us no choice.

Woof.

The domino effect; as America lost it's manufacturing base; then the supplier base, to the manufacturing, then the retail base to market the manufactured goods, then the workers who earnings fulled the consumer spending. There can be no recovery without middle class manufacturing jobs; all the new plants are being built overseas, our plants are rusting out, our income base for taxes, Social Security is drying up; Congress Rep and Dem, still are hell bent on not revoking tax credits to company's building overseas; we are collapsing and relying on handouts to keep people from starvation; No Nation is more than three meals from a revolution , that is why the benefits have been extended, if not we would be in a revolution !

way too long my friend

break it up so we can read in one sitting

Problem Solver,

I wouldn't hire you to clean toilets. Your post is so ignorant, so void of reason or fact, that I am suprised you know how to turn on a computer let alone be an editor.

The extension of the lower tax rates for the rich costs for two years is $60 billion per year.

The AMT fix is about $137 billion.

The Social Security tax break is $112 billion.

The extension of lower rates for the middle class is about $150 billion.

The expanded child tax credit is about $91 billion.

Unemployment extension is about $57 billion.

Expanded college credit is about $18 billion.

Based upon your post, you will not get a job, because you are a sanctimonious bastard who doesn't know his head from his butt. You have no understanding of how the economy works, or what it takes to provide jobs, and you have an irrational belief that people owe you because you are so special.

There are many costs of unemployment that are greater than the suffering involved. Unemployment for 26 weeks is an excellent program and we all pay into through our employers. Unemployment past 26 weeks is welfare and is paid for with borrowed money that depresses investment and job creation and disincentivizes people to work at a lower wage which resets employment costs and creates the basis for a return to full employment.

Denise,

Everything past 26 weeks is welfare. Look it up.

Problem Solver -

Picking and choosing what work you are going to do is a luxury. If you can afford it, great. If you can't, don't ask me to pay for it. I work with my hands. I don't see why you can't, too. The job market is what it is. The type of job you seem to feel entitled to may never come back. Figure out something else. Your attitude is exactly why all these neverending unemployment benefits are a bad idea. People need to face reality and find some way to pay their own way regardless of the circumstances of the job market. It is ludicrous to think that we have 10% unemployment yet still have classes of jobs that "americans won't do".

And if you don't like the wages paid for the kind of jobs you don't want then support controlling the border and the illegals that hold down those wages and make many job categories undesirable.

You're ignorant. Those unemployed paid their own benefits from all the years they worked paying taxes....otherwise they would be collecting nothing. Those billionaire bankers you seem so fond of defending that got million dollar bailouts for screwing up the economy are the reason the working class are out of work. Shame the working man didn't get million dollar bailouts apparently that is only for the already rich. I feel so sad for your poor babies.

When I first read your comments, I thought you were speaking satirically (ala Cobert). However, as I read on I began to think you are serious in your commentary. While I don't wish evil on anyone, I think there is a serious lack of compassion on the part of many people in this country. Sadly, I keep thinking of the words of my mother: "you need to walk in someone else's shoes, before you pass judgement." It is an embarressment to me that we actually have people in this country that continue to be so condescending to those less fortunate. Remember: Whatsoever you do for the least of my brethen, so you do unto me". Might be a good idea to check that out.

Hey man , I have a better one for you. I have a Ticket to work from Social security so i can work partime,and i have a state job coach.guess what no job.some people are not in tune with realilty.

Jerad,

You paid nothing into your state unemployment fund for the extension from 26-99 weeks. Please read the post before commenting.

Irene,

Where in any of my posts, do you pull out that I am wishing evil on anyone. I am in favor of the 26 week unemployment fund, I am in favor of charities and church giving. I have lived much of my life with scarcity, and I am well aware of the pain that comes from being broke with children at Christmas.

I am telling you quite simply that there is less overall and long term pain, if you do not extend unemployment to 99 weeks. People receive dignity from working, not from feeling that they are entitled to other's labor. 99 weeks is almost two years and that is a ridiculous amount of time to give someone unemployment benefits.

What's wrong, Robert In Ohio? Problem Solver's superb post too hard on your eyes on the screen? What was written sums it up perfectly for me. Magnificent.

The "free market" is not a fair market.

I wonder why the president still has such high numbers if he is so bad? I believe the majority of the country still thinks he is doing all he can against the people who just hate him because he is black.

That is the real issue and we all know it. Lets take a look at the Gop and just what they have done since they messed this country smooth up. They cause the biggest melt down in decades and then vote against unemployment stating as one of their reasons that people are just lazy. They expect us to work for the pennies that they offer and be greatful. Be greatful for a job at mcdonalds, living on a wage that makes it so you cant afford the bare minimum. These same people say we need to help the rich which by the way we have been doing all along and still losing jobs even under a republican president. The real issue is that now more and more white people are falling into the catagory that minorities in this country have been facing for along time and they are lashing out. They are blaming, they are angry, and they are uneducated. It is a hard reality for them to face that they were never really rich enough to be voting republican in the first place. Now that same party that they loved is voting to take their unemployment, forclose on their house, and send their jobs to china. Im sorry that this reality is now real for so many more americans but continuing to follow these GOP dumbasses will get just what we have had, the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer and no one in the middle. Obama is not the problem the problem is the party that got us into this mess and wont lift a finger to help us out of it. TWO unfunded wars really they just get a pass on that? Drug program unfunded pass? Tax cuts unfunded pass? Voting no on unemployment for americans really pass? Obama may be a spender but at least he is spending the money on america and not saudi princes!

I wonder if these new tax cut that were force on the people by the GOP will be held against them or will the deficit hawks just give them a pass because they still believe that one day they too will be rich? Wake up most of you will never make more that 250k a year. But most of you will be laid off from a job and force to make a career change. Your hatred may make you a republican but your wallet makes you a democrat. The republicans will continue to show you that.

the problem is not at home. i believe the 1 trillion 376 billion we spend on defence and foreign afairs could be used to get us back on the right track. if we save the rest of the world and go broke doing it what have we to win. even our leaders say we are not getting the results we need.

Hoosier,

In many cases you are correct that the market is not fair. A certain amount of regulation is necessary and oversight is always lacking.

Even with that, I would dread the day that we create "the fair police".

Dim witted, obviously your solutions on the whole would work to stabilize the economy, your tact leaves MUCH to be desired and your elitism is showing.

The wealthiest 1 percent earn 19 percent of US income and pay 37 percent of the taxes.

Dimwith is a flat out wrong. He is quoting Rush Limbaugh who is a downright liar. Try looking at the IRS statistics page for the truth.

Hey dimwit

I am tired of the rich taking my money to build the Interstate Transportation System. I do not want it and have no need for it. It makes me no money. Of course most businesses could not survive without it. So it is quite simple, if they want it, if they need it, let them pay extra in taxes to support it. In case you are also stupid, the money the middle class pays for internet service keeps an infrastructure afloat that is much more important to businesses than it is for them to check their email. The middle class pays for the infrastructure that enables businesses to make what ever percentage of the wealth they make. Then we have to listen to them whine about paying an extra thirty-six one thousandths' of their income to support it. They should get guns and rob people like real men.

delet this

"I don't understand how the unemployed are angry at the government and the rich. Those "rich" are the only ones paying for your unemployment."

Americans are dim witted,

Jobs are created by demand, the freeing up of lending by the banks and new company creation. The Middle Class for all intents and purposes created itself in a climate driven by common sense regulation (FDR at the end of the Depression) and with the help of the government elect directing tax dollars towards synergistic programs, i.e the Interstate Highway System, the G.I. Bill and the Apollo program which without you would not be posting your comments today on your PC. Ten years of Bush tax breaks created only 1.1 million jobs (this is beyond sad) in his two terms and the Great Recession we are now in the throws of. Supply Side (trickle down) Economics has been irrefutably disproven - it doesn't work! Under Clinton and at much higher levels of taxation 23 million jobs were created. Making the rich richer will not make you less poor. Great economies trickle up not the other way around! By the way your MO no doubt best describes a group to which you so obviously belong!

dim witted you are an ass!

According to The New York Times, the richest 1% of Americans now earn 24% of total income in the U.S., compared to 9% of total income in 1976.

Bad Bob,

You're absolutely right.

80% of Americans collectively possess less than 7% of this nation's wealth.

1% possesses more than 43% of America's wealth.

That's wealth, not income. The IRS reports that the top 1% earns more than 23% of annual income. The top 1% pays roughly 10.3% of their income in taxes, after deductions. (source: www.irs.gov)

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distribution_of_wealth#In_the_United_States

...http://www.good.is/post/americans-are-horribly-misinformed-about-who-has-money/

http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html

Those "rich" are the only ones paying for your unemployment.

The middle class have tax burden in this country, not the rich. You and I are paying for unemployment, unless of course you happen to be rich. In which case, what do you have to complain about:

We used to be a country where you didn't bitch about your situation, you fixed it.

Are you kidding? Americans are great bitchers and always have been.

dim witted, feel sorry for your selfishness, you, the wealth should learn generosity and philantropy. You got more of the pie just because you were bullying through life more than others.

SAGGG (and others as well) - thanks for the kind words!

As for Dr. Dim-witted, well, methinks his posts speak for themselves:

"I wouldn't hire you to clean toilets. Your post is so ignorant, so void of reason or fact, that I am suprised you know how to turn on a computer let alone be an editor."

Attitudes and comments like that make his posts considerably less important and informative. He contributes nothing to this discussion with commentary like that. Surprisingly, I do know how to turn on a computer, and I can actually edit and write, too. And lo and behold, I have no interest in being hired by him to clean his toilets. Yep, I'll turn that job down. I'm not certified to handle that much hazardous waste.

As I expected from the vast majority of you, you're doing a fine job of letting him know how wrong he is. And I don't know where he got his numbers, but they couldn't be further from accurate if they were compiled by John Boehner himself. Take a look at the CBO cost estimates of the tax cuts; $700B is surprisingly accurate. Claiming that the top-tier tax cuts will only cost $60B for two years is quite possibly the most inaccurate estimate ever printed. Even the tea party and GOP agree that $700B is about right!

Even better: "Unemployment for 26 weeks is an excellent program and we all pay into through our employers. Unemployment past 26 weeks is welfare and is paid for with borrowed money that depresses investment and job creation and disincentivizes people to work at a lower wage which resets employment costs and creates the basis for a return to full employment."

So...at the stroke of midnight on day one of week 27, an "excellent program" becomes "welfare?" Wow! Apparently you don't realize/accept/believe/understand that there's only ONE job available for every FIVE qualified applicants! What would you suggest - that five people work one day per week to cover a 40-hour shift? You have no experience being unemployed in this economy, and your rhetoric is tiresome, unwelcome, and not at all constructive or helpful.

We can't all be manual laborers, nor should we; that's what education is for! Would you hire a college-educated, 47-year-old with no manual labor experience over a strapping young 24-year old to do a demanding physical job? Neither would I! I'm not "entitled" to anything, but I won't spend the rest of my productive years watching everything I worked so hard to achieve go up in a puff of smoke because you think I should be scraping grease off a grill at McDonald's.

You're the problem. I'm the Problem Solver. Therein lies the difference.

Next?

Dim wit, define what you mean by 'rich' - who is that exactly? People who make over $1mill are rich and pay for everything so the rest who earn $999,999.99 or less can have education & streets to drive on? To insinuate that the 'not-so-rich' don't work and pay proportionate taxes that fund these very things is an insult!

Oh Jack, half-truths are still lies. What you noticeably left off was the % of total taxes paid by that 1% - it is double what their share of the income is. So proportionally they pay more than their fair share - unless you want to measure using your silly numbers.

So to complete your thought - the top 1% earn just over 21% and pay 39% of all income taxes.

Please explain why you think you need more of their income than that?

And then explain how this has worked in the past - look at income levels, and then look at what happens when you raise taxes, and you will see the income levels drop.

Do you know why? Because these wealthy people are not as dumb at they look. Your very rich liberal law makers insure that there are many tax-free methods to deal with income, so the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.

You also left out that after the Bush tax cuts, the Rich paid a HIGHER % of the total income tax bill, and the middle class and poor paid a LOWER total % of the income taxes paid.

Looks like your idea kind of looses its steam when you include ALL of the truth.

Americans are dim witted

This type of behavior can only get worse. Class warfare may soon become real with real blood. It has happened repeatedly through out history in many countries around the world and can happen here with continued posts such as yours.

Life liberty and the pursuit of happiness comes from Americans shedding blood and there are millions suffering painfully. Just a few more pushes over the edge from people like you and it may happen sooner than you think. Not a threat, just a fact from history's past, and I am more than happy to fight for those individual liberties. For those that have only cold, hunger, and loss due to none of their doing, will do unspeakable things to stay alive.

The more this Nation becomes divided, the more likely we will fall, and at our own hands we will cause this. And like MTMIKE below, you are the spark that will flame the fire.

You guys have won. You have overwhelmed me with your ignorance and fake compassion. I cannot keep up.

Alexis, I feel sorry for you, in that you believe the world is unfair to you. I cannot help you. The wealthy in America are the most generous in the world and the world's largest philanthropists. Your belief that the rich got more pie because of bullying instead of work ethic, risk and brains, is sad and pathetic. Tell yourself whatever you need to, to keep yourself happy in your nonsensical buble.

Citizen K., the middle class pay less of the federal tax load than they ever have.

Jack and Bad Bob, I am unclear what your point is, we looked at different years, but the numbers are very similar. The fact is we live in a meritocracry, and those that can and do, will become wealthy. The opposite is socialism, communism or a dictatorship. Which do you prefer. Take another look at the irs data and look at how much of the top quintile turns over every ten years as the wealthy retire and the young become more established in their professions. There is a very small permanent wealthy class, and a small permanent class in poverty. When I was younger I was easily classified as poor, but I worked and worked and gained experience, knowledge and assets. Aren't we all so lucky that we live in a country where we are free to do so.

HBE, a clarification, you are an ass. Great addition to the subject. Your knowledge of the economy and how to move us out of the downturn was illuminating for everyone.

BiggDave, it is a sad truth that people will not listen to the facts unless you shout. This whole exercise is a silly experiment. There is a percentage of any population that will not take responsibility for their actions, and will therefore blame others rather than fixing their own situation.

ir12, your post is just rambling nonsense that it is challenging to address. Highways are paid substantially by gas taxes paid by those driving on them. You can't really believe that you are subsidizing the internet for the benefit of the rich can you. That would make you a likely Berkeley graduate student.

Tank, you actually started off with some facts, but were spoon fed the wrong answers. Under Bush we were at full employment. How do you create additional jobs if everyone is working? Tax revenues went up 40% in just seven years. How are you going to spin that as a bad economic record? The problem with Bush was not the tax cuts or revenue, it was spending! And the commie loving bastards, aka the Democrats, have doubled down on all of the mistakes of the Republicans and decimated this country since they took back congress.

Americans are dimwitted,

What is wrong with you. Why do people like you vote against their own self interests every time and cheer on the other team. Are you one those people living in a house on wheels who votes as if already rich believing someday you will own your own corporation so you can send jobs overseas (job creation for the Chinese) and enlarge your six car garage to twelve while people can't find work and children are writing Santa Claus not for toys but clothes! The power, the might, the manifest destiny of this country has been for most of its history created by working Americans, the Middle Class, common sense governance and people with heart! Honestly, the Rich don't need your help because in the end your just one of us - a working Joe or Sally. The RICH DON"T MAKE JOBS THEY DOWNSIZE!

I don't agree with your foul language or temper in your posts. But, I do agree with the principle and point of what you are saying; I think you are absolutely correct. Unfortunately, I don't think this type of "tough love" approach is something Americans want to hear about.

Paul...I don't need their money. Their nation needs their money. You know, the nation that provided them with the opportunity to pursue their wealth and success, built their roads, bridges, dams and airports, and provided them with a productive and loyal working class. I know most of them don't feel compelled to kick something back in to support that nation when it's in trouble (of their own doing), but that's just inexcusable.

I have looked at what happens when taxes are more effective, or less so. The Great Prosperity of 1947-1975 occurred with top tax rates of 70 - 90% and with a more reasonable income gap (top 1% earning 9% of income). The depressions of 1874 and 1929 happened when the income gap widened to an unsustainable degree (top 1% earning 23% of total income, both times, as it is today), and income taxes were lowest or nonexistent.

You like to talk down to people. That seems to be endemic in people who make your arguments. Why is that, Paul?

Hey Dim wit, arent the rich the ones with all the jobs by virtue of owning and running the business. And arent these the same ones that sent most of the jobs to other countries because they didnt want to pay a decent salary, but would rather use child labor in some third world country to "Get Richer". Now Dimmy gues who the Repubs are...The Rich. Now Guess why there are no jobs even after the Bailouts. Because they took the money and have been setting on it and drawing intrest on it. I wonder what the Intrest rate is for Say.....3 Billion dollars for 2 years. And lastly once they layed off everyone, they found those left behind were willing to do the work of 2 for less money. So is that what you call good business or just plain GREED.

The blame game is falling on the rich or the poor when it should fall on the greedy, the lazy,and the dishonest.

You are clearly an idiot. In a just society, you would be muzzled. Case closed.

Why do people only talk about wealth and income?The wealthiest 2% own 90% of the property.Property is what the country is made of, so that means they own 90% of the country.If they own 90% of the country, they should be paying 90% of the operating expenses.The whole income tax system is the origin of the consolidation of wealth in the hands of a few at the top.Income tax should be replaced with property tax, and unless it is, everyone except the very wealthy are screwed.

Blaming the unemployed for being lazy makes no sense.Were they lazy two years ago, when they had jobs?They paid unemployment insurance and more than their fair share of taxes all their lives and now they need a little something back.That doesn't make them lazy.

I'm lucky enough to have a job, but I see many people who are not so lucky.People who are struggling to make ends meet and taking any work they can get.Low pay, part time hours, no benefits.The scumbag politicians and media talking heads who blame the poor and middle class workers for our economic problems are merely trying to protect their masters from the public outrage that they deserve.And divert peoples attention from the fact that the wealthy got that way primarily by stealing from the people who actually produced something.

What a bunch of tools you all are. Contrary to your belief I am not part of the 1%, but I can't believe that all of you are ready to steal from the wealthy win the pay most of the taxes.

This whole rich sending jobs overseas is so utterly overblown and ridiculous, I find it implausible that so many of you believe it. Get a clue, and separate out large multi-national corporations and the rich. Most of the rich are business people and job creators. You take 50 CEOs and a handful of Wall Street bankers or hedge fund managers and paint all the wealthy with that single brush.

The bailout to non-government entities has been almost entirely repaid. Stop the idiotic repetition of blaming the bailouts.

jf, if this country doesn't get some real tough love, we are all screwed.

Tank, holy hell, you spout some serious nonsense. The rich don't create jobs they downsize? Who in hell's name do you think creates jobs? Have you really never read a single article or statistic on job creation?

PVPerson, I'd say you're the dim-witted one. How are the rich paying for unemployment? Let's see ... 49% of Americans PAY NO TAXES. Therefore, the other 51% cover the rest. On a sliding scale ALREADY IN PLACE for taxes, the more you make, the MORE YOU PAY.

I don't if it's just me, but it's pretty clear that the wealthier you are, the more you're taxed as it is. The only reason to be angry at the 'rich' is because you're either naive, stupid, or socialist and want what they have.

JohnPat, nice post. What kind of an @!$%# suggests violent revolution because they are concerned about getting their welfare check. America is the most prosperous large nation in the world. If you want to spout your college fed cries of abuse, go to a country where the message actually makes sense.

All I can say to you dim witted is that I feel sorry for you. A church goer?? I dare say not or you wouldn't have the ignorant name calling stupidity that you show the world. Unlike you, most are not born with a silver spoon stuck in their mouth so get over it and go count your lumps of coal.

Yes, Dim-Wit...and Bill Gates and Warren Buffet both think and have said publicly that the rich (including themselves) do not pay enough in taxes. Mr. Buffet said that his companies were doing as well if not better back when he was paying a higher tax rate.

Calling the unemployeed dimwitted.. it is you who seems uneducated in the way American Unemployment works.

When one has a job and gets paid, one of the taxes taken out is unemployment insurance. This means the unemployement people have been paying for years as they lost jobs 10, 20 years in.. are being paid out. The worker already paid for their benefits, not the rich.

As Americans are dim witted has stated several times (re-stated here in detail because there is still ALOT of incorrect information):

The American worker pays for Federal Tax, State Tax (where it applies), Social Security, Medicare, and any applicable/additional local or municipal taxes where they apply.

State Unemployment Tax (also called SUI or SUTA) and Federal Unemployment Tax (also called FUTA) are payed exclusively by the employer.

Problem Solver,

I didn't see anywhere in your post where you offered any solutions other than tax the rich. You, out of everyone who has posted on here, are the elitist snob. Why does someone owe you a job at whatever dollar you choose? Why don't you create your own company, and pay people what they demand. You need to take a long look in the mirror as to what you think is owed to you.

"I wouldn't hire you to clean toilets. Your post is so ignorant, so void of reason or fact, that I am suprised you know how to turn on a computer let alone be an editor."- AMERICANS ARE DIM WITTED

After reading these post, it takes one to know one AADW! Go look in a mirror! BTW, "suprised" is spelled surprised mister smarty know it all...LOL

TO: Americans are dimwitted

Firstly, rich people do NOT pay for unemployment benefits. Unemployment benefits are paid in part by the companies, and the rest of the funds are deducted from our paychecks in the form of Unemployment Insurance taxes which, like other taxes, ARE NOT optional.

Not all states make their employees pay UI taxes, but most states do (including my state of NJ). I started working a "real" job when I was 16, and I had UI taxes taken out of each and every single paycheck I've earned from my first job at the age of 16 all the way to my most recent job at the age of 31 (the job I was just laid-off from). I always had a job during those 15 years... I was always employed and willing to work for what I wanted and what I had to do (like paying my own way through college for 7.5 years straight).

Some of you people see the term "unemployed" and automatically picture some Hill-Billy sitting with a mullet sitting on a couch with a 6 pack of beer resting on his thigh.... but that fact that is "on average" there is only 1 job right now for every 6 Americans... and when you mine down deeper into specific things that people went to school for (in my case, Computer Information Technology) it becomes something more along the lines of 1 job for every 100 applicants).

And it's not all about people making bad choices. Yes, some people do make bad choices, but not all. When I completed my first college degree (in Business Administration) and then started to pursue a second degree in Information Systems the fact was that IT Computer Science were the "go to" fields. Some companies gave out brand new "Porsche's" as sign-on bonuses to lure in talent. But then came the bubble burst of 2000 and companies increasingly did to IT what they had done to manufacturing... that is... they took a skill which was once dominant within our country and all but obliterated any further need for it here... instead opting to send the jobs overseas to appease shareholders (I'm guessing, shareholders such as yourself).

What's done is done. My job is in Bangalore, India and it's not coming back. I can't even call a tech on the phone from "any" company without hearing an Indian accent on the other end.

So, the jobs are gone and are not likely to be coming back as they did such as during the 80's. And if I and others pay into UI taxes then it seems only fair to me that people like you should stop bitching when corporations send our jobs to go to other countries leaving us no other choice but to accept unemployment payments until companies decide to stop hoarding their RECORD profits and start hiring again (and I mean hiring AMERICANS... not sending jobs to China, or India, like mine went to). Sending all the jobs to other countries will, in no way, aid in the recovery of the U.S. economy, with the exception of making those who are already rich even richer due to increased stock gains.

Actually its paid in part by the employer, the majority of it comes from the employer, but some does come out of ones check (depending on state for state) from the worker.

Those people deserve it because the free market is always right and if they wanted to get jobs they easily could. Their benefits should be cut and their taxes jacked up. Jesus hates them because they are lazy. Rich people are rich because they're brilliant and motivated.

Randy, I have already posted that I am not in the top 1%, that I did not grow up rich, that I paid for my own college, and that I have been in the poverty class in my life also. Your understanding of religion is different than mine. I don't believe that you are entitled to another persons labor arbitrarily which you clearly do. I believe your position is unethical and immoral. I believe that 50% of the population paying no taxes and 1% paying 40% of the taxes is just plain wrong. If everyone paid taxes, even a tiny amount, they would want the government waste stopped and the size of government dramatically reduced.

I hear you!! And I agree wholeheartedly. The question is how do we get from here to there? Look at the posts you have been addressing... If this is mainstream american economic philospohy, how on earth are will anyone be able to introduce changes that are really good for the nation but may not feel good.

Unfortnuately, it seems that we are really heading for an ending. There's a lack of maturity to face what really is the right decision in the long run.

I think everything you have said here is right on - you can't get any "true-er" or more frank. But look at the response... No one is willing to really listen/read without reacting off the cuff..

jf-2211853 said "State Unemployment Tax (also called SUI or SUTA) and Federal Unemployment Tax (also called FUTA) are payed exclusively by the employer."

Except for the fact that your own information is incorrect. Most, but not all states require employees to pay UI (Unemployment Insurance) taxes by means of paycheck deductions. There is NO OPTION not to have these deductions applied to the paycheck... it is not optional... and if I have had UI deductions taken out of every single paycheck I've earned in the past 15 years then that means I've got about 15 straight years of "paper proof" that UI is not paid "exclusively" by the employer. The employer may pay a greater percentage than we do... but the fact remains that we, ourselves (depending on which state you happen to live in) do, in fact, contribute to the UI fund.

Hey Dim Wit! The rich didn't pay for her unemployment benefits, SHE did with every paycheck

TRMSfan56,

I agree with Bill Gates and Buffett that taxes on income over $5M should be raised to 39%. Even with that I find it hypocritical of the two of them arguing that and suggesting to their billionaire buddies that they should give all of their wealth to charity. Bill Gate and Warren Buffett could fund companies that would generate another 100,000 jobs and don't. I would not go to them for lessons on helping people or resolving tax issues. Even with that being said, I appreciate the economic growth and job creation they have provided and they can do with their money whatever they would like, including giving it to the government, if they put their money where their mouth is.

Dear Mr Americans, it is the rich who screwed the economy of an entire globe. It is the middle class that are paying for it. I don't even have to exaggerate. And you can't figure out why people are mad at them?

Problem solver and all others like him,

I find the vitriol of your posts amusing. In one breath, you rage against 'Dimwitted', claiming he is evil because HE DOESN'T SHARE YOUR OPINION. Typical. When someone doesn't agree with you, call him names and call him evil.

As for not wanting to take a job that is beneath you, that's fine, just don't demand benefits if there is work available.

I would wholeheartedly agree with the extension of jobless benefits if people worked for it.

As for all who say that we, as employees, pay for the unemployment insurance, think again ... employers do that, so right now, you're taxing employers even more which means it will be less likely that they will hire anyone soon.

I am a small business owner. I earn less than $100,000 a year and have the opportunity to hire. I can't because the tax would kill me. I would go from making $100,000 to less than $60,000 by hiring someone. Not much incentive there, so I pace my work flow.

If problem solver ever applied for work from me, and I saw this post of his that said he would never take a job beneath him, I would never hire him. I did all that work in the past and would do it again in a heartbeat if it meant having work and money coming in. I'd make my lifestyle accommodate the change and therein lies the problem.

PEOPLE WANT WHAT THEY HAVE AND REFUSE TO CHANGE THEIR LIFESTYLE WHEN IT'S CALLED UPON. It's not laziness. It's greed and it lies on the unemployed like Problem Solver as it does on the wealthy.

Get a clue, people. Live within your means. When your means changes, then adjust. Don't be like this loser Problem Solver, holding your nose up too high so you can't see the s^%t you're stepping in.

Dimwit:

The rich do not pay for anything. Not even for their life styles! It seems if you have money, you are given gifts and incentives, to continue, to keep the wealth you have never earned! How can anyone justify the Hilton's? Trump? Melons? Bush? Not one of them, started at the bottom! They inherited wealth and then kept on keeping it! I am willing to bet, if those idiots met, the original ancestor, who earned their nest eggs, they would not allow the real entrepreneurs, to dine at the same table, with them. Most rich are born with money.

J. Paul Getty was a greedy old man, rich with money, from oil. His grand son was kidnapped. He refused to pay the ransom, until the kidnappers, sent the family, his grandson's ear!

Most wealthy people have never "earned" anything but a "birthright!" That includes Queen Elizabeth and Charles, "Clamidia" and the rest of the "Royals!" Why doesn't someone tell all of these "birthers" to get a job!

Come on people, it has been written about a thousand times already that people have paid into and deserve their 26 weeks of unemployment. It is also true that people are suffering and life is a bitch. The discussion is whither extending the unemployment to 99 weeks creates more harm and suffering than it solves.

A lot of BS in these postings when the facts are right there on the IRS site. The last year hard data is available from the IRS is 2008. Who would know better than them?

The top 1% paid 38.02% of the nation's taxes;

Top 5% paid 58.72%;

Top 10% paid 69.94%;

Top 25% paid 86.34%

Top 50% paid 97.30%

and wait for it

Bottom 50% paid 2.70%

Hmm half the people in this country whom file tax returns with positive AGI pay only 2.70% of the nation's taxes and they bitch that the rich aren't paying enough. How much is enough anyway?

dim-please search "warren buffet pays more in taxes than his housekeeper or secretary." you will see, from a very rich man, that the rich DO NOT pay their fair share.

Without any loopholes, Warren Buffet paid 17.7% in taxes on his 46 million dollar earnings in 2009. His Secretary and housekeeper paid 30% in taxes on their $60,000.00 earnings. You think this is fair?????

You sound like a Glen Beck blackboard moment. It is you that needs to look past your nose for the real facts-- See what Warren Buffet has to say.

Now who would I believe? A billionaire telling us about the unfairness of the taxes, or you?

Sorry dude-I'll listen to the billionaire. Not a Glen Beck parrot.

man you are a dmwith of all the As*hole in the world you rank right up their..along people likethe leaders of NK and Iran. And Sadam Hussin. YOU BIG DIM-WIT

I don't understand how the unemployed are angry at the government and the rich. Those "rich" are the only ones paying for your unemployment.

Congratulations on making the dumbest statement ever on Newsvine. Unemployment insurance is based on earnings. The rich make money through stocks, bonds, real estate, and other ventures. There's no unemployment on that stuff.

lol-alot of those in the bottom bracket are the senior citizens. I think they have put in enough by the time they are in their 70's or 80's. Don't you.

Consider this-if they are losing their homes, depleted any savings they had, they have absolutely nothing, and you think they should pay more than 2.70%? **** 2.70% of NOTHING is nothing.

Take that back,

Seriously, are you really making that argument? The tax cut discussion was for people making $250K/year. Do you really think that is the Rockefellers, the Gettys or the Hiltons? All rich people are evil, corrupt and abusive because of a dozen monied families? Why don't you add the Kennedys, or the Gores, or the Kerrys, or George Soros?

The wealthy in this country, by and large, and the smartest, hardest working, highest donating to charities, and the main source of job creation in this country. Why don't you just screw over the people that can actually provide the jobs if the government with get out of the way?

AnotherCasualty2India

"For the most part, state unemployment taxes are imposed directly on employers and you don't withhold these taxes from your employees' wages. Currently only three states, Alaska, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania also assess unemployment taxes on employees."

Taken from:

http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/businesses/small/international/article/0,,id=104985,00.html

Damnit YashBudini,

Do you just walk into any room and then spout off stupid things with out hearing the discussion before hand? WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT FROM 26 TO 99 WEEKS THAT IS NOT PAID BY YOU, YOUR EMPLOYER, OR YOUR STATE INSURANCE FUND.

Ted, I have already commented that Warren Buffett can and should pay more taxes if he likes.

The fact that he only pays $7M in taxes, you find unfair. I find that humorous. How much of Warren Buffett's time and energy are you "entitled" to. With all of the work he owes you he should get to work while he is still alive. He is only 80 of course and you should be able to get some labor out of him.

Ted- So you are saying that 25% of people in this country whom file tax returns with a positive adjusted gross income are in their 70's and 80's? Somehow I doubt your stat's being that only 12.5% of the US population is over 65! Also please note that people with no adjusted income are not included in those stats. So people that paid nothing because they earned nothing aren't included in those figures. I know that is a hard concept for some people to grasp. BTW I just laid out the facts and did not render an opinion. I just asked the question. If 97.5% of the taxes being paid by the top 50% of earners isn't enough then how much is?

Help is on the way for the unemployed. The help is the simple fact that this is the last time the unemployment benefits will be extended. And I think they realize that. Now the economy will improve. People will take the jobs that are out there, even if it involves work, even if it causes inconvenience, even if it is hard work, even if it is work they do not like. I also think that this will be a good time for Churches, because when there is a time of need, then people can look for help, and there Religeous faith should result in people seeking heip from their Church if necessary. This is America. I doudt if anyone is going to starve. Also wealthy people are normally very giving people. I can see a lot of money being given by these people thru the Church and other organizations. These people have paid enough taxes to the Government to be wasted. However that does not mean that they are not going to help the poor in other financial means.

Here are links to the most recently available figures of earnings in America:

http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=2908 - note the source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities - CBPP. Check out Figure 1.

http://elsa.berkeley.edu/~saez/saez-UStopincomes-2007.pdf - Saez' work is cited often in these discussions.

Link to Saez' works: http://www.econ.berkeley.edu/~saez/

For the audio-visual learners:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNLUZExvVis

Another source to compare with:

http://www.tax.com/taxcom/taxblog.nsf/Permalink/UBEN-8AGMUZ?OpenDocument

chart within the link above: (note how much increase in income occurred under Clinton versus Bush - with his tax cuts for the wealthy - and note that the numbers for Obama reflect the nearly 10% unemployment resulting from the Great Recession which began in December 2007 under BUSH.)

http://www.tax.com/taxcom/taxblog.nsf/0971609221721415852572ac0067c130/6b48105c474ae41f852577c4005d04c1/$FILE/Tables%20%28continued%29%20.pdf

Income Gaps Between Very Rich and Everyone Else More Than Tripled In Last Three Decades, New Data Show

http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3220

Here's the link to Fortune 500 CEO comp for 5 years, published April 2009. Use the little box at the bottom to see names in each pay tier.

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/12/best-boss-09_CEO-Compensation_Compen_Total5Yr_3.html

This link is pay for 1 year and in descending order:

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/12/best-boss-09_CEO-Compensation_CompTotDisp.html

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT FROM 26 TO 99 WEEKS THAT IS NOT PAID BY YOU, YOUR EMPLOYER, OR YOUR STATE INSURANCE FUND

Are you implying somebody out there is oblivious enough to employ you? A person who's 2 minutes from going totally postal at any given time?

YashBudini,

You entered a completely ignorant post on a topic, that had been addressed over ten times, and called my post the dumbest post ever on Newsvine. Since you weren't able to read sentence case, I switched to all UPPER CASE for your benefit. Now that you are aware of what we are all talking about, I do not have to use upper case anymore.

JThomas2121:

"Problem solver and all others like him,

I find the vitriol of your posts amusing. In one breath, you rage against 'Dimwitted', claiming he is evil because HE DOESN'T SHARE YOUR OPINION. Typical. When someone doesn't agree with you, call him names and call him evil.

As for not wanting to take a job that is beneath you, that's fine, just don't demand benefits if there is work available."

==================================================

First, I'm glad I brought some amusement to your life. Entertaining you is what I live for.

But your claim that I called him names and said he was evil because he doesn't share my opinion is false. Where? What I said was: "You have no experience being unemployed in this economy, and your rhetoric is tiresome, unwelcome, and not at all constructive or helpful." That's hardly name-calling. OK, maybe I shouldn't have used "unwelcome," but that's not name-calling either. He's welcome to spout his opinion wherever he pleases, but he (and you) must accept criticism and dissent. And you're free to respond, intelligently or not. That's called America.

I never wrote that I was above anything or that any job is "beneath" me; I wrote that forcing well-educated, experienced people to take low-paying, menial jobs is detrimental to society as a whole, wastes incredible brainpower and resources, and does nothing to solve anyone's personal finances or the economy as a whole. And if you haven't noticed, THERE ARE NO JOBS TO TAKE!

And lest you forget, overqualified people do NOT get hired for menial jobs! Employers realize that the cost of hiring and training people who are only taking a job out of desperation and have no desire to stay with the company is a poor business decision. When's the last time you went to a fast-food joint and saw more than one 40-plus-year-old that appeared to be well-educated working in a non-managerial position? McDonald's doesn't hire people like me to wipe down their grills, and they shouldn't!

It's not a matter of menial jobs and manual labor being "beneath" me or anyone else; the job market doesn't need, want, or hire people like me for that kind of work, because others are more suited for it, just as companies that I've worked for don't hire people who are only qualified to flip burgers! It's called education and experience, and finding APPROPRIATE work. The fact that none exists doesn't shift the entire American workforce downward; if it did, we'd have an entire generation of unemployed young adults who will never get a job that requires any education or skill, because us geezers will have taken all of 'em!

Is that how America prospers and grows and gets out of this hideous recession?

Yes, the only logical solution is to raise the tax bracket on the top end to the extent necessary to end the deficit. Until that happens, nothing will change for the better. That's how the economy works. Or in this case, doesn't work.

Back to you, JT.

Dim,

You are a childish misanthrope with a temper problem in dire need of professional help. You scream about what's going on, but truth be told if you were the one out of work you would be screaming even louder asking for your unemployment benefits.

Since you give the impression you have a job perhaps you can afford one or two Rx's to calm you down, maybe the same stuff Rush Limbaugh was taking.

Skeptic,

What is your conclusion from those links? America's GDP has gone up dramatically in the past thirty years; we have had an incredible technology boom, and we have a medical, nano-technology, information, and materials science boom coming.

With that amount of newly created wealth, it will of course go disproportionately to the best and brightest. I don't have a problem with incentivizing those who create jobs, pay all of the taxes, and move our entire economy forward. I do agree that the congregated wealth needs to be put back into the economy more effectively. The worst method of doing that is taxation. I believe that the stimulus should have been low interest loans to anyone or any business who could qualify based upon assets, income or credit, and would create one job for every $50K borrowed. The $800 billion works out to 800,000, "million dollar low interest loans", or 16 million jobs. My company would have borrowed about $7 million and created 140 jobs. It is impossible to borrow from banks right now, but the administration doesn't understand small business to save their lives.

Dim also missed that Exxon Mobil made 19 billion last year and not only did they not pay any taxes, they got a $165,000 refund. Do you hear Dim complaining about corporate welfare? Of course not, because he's simply parroting the party line. Without people like Dim I wouldn't be buying stock in green CoolAid.

I don't understand how the unemployed are angry at the government and the rich. Those "rich" are the only ones paying for your unemployment.

Considering our current deficit the assertion that the rich are paying for unemployment benefits seems peculiar.

The rich don't owe you money.

When taxes are structured to favor income that tends to be the province of the rich why not?

It is one thing to have anecdotal tales of the pain and suffering caused by unemployment, but that type of attitude of theft, is what is holding the country down. We used to be a country where you didn't bitch about your situation, you fixed it.

You might do well to study the history of the great depression. Hoovervilles located in view of the White House and songs such as "Brother can you spare a dime" make me wonder where you get your standard for the behavior you describe.

We all have the same opportunities, but some of us make poor choices and blame others for it.

We all have the same opportunities? You can't possibly be serious.

Aren't the unemployed encouraged to take any gainful employment they find? They are not encouraged to hold out for the best long term career move.

Banks, insurance companies, and investment bankers received massive Federal bailouts and continued to pay huge bonuses to the same people who made the poor decisions that caused their problems. Many of those bonuses exceeded all unemployment received by the 99ers. Would these be the rich people paying the unemployment? However can we thank them?

I sense that there is a morale component to your comment. Are you saying that that justice works so well that all rich and poor people deserve their lot?

YashBudini,

You write that I am a childish misanthrope. You are wrong on both accounts. My posts are well thought out and they state fact, not childly whining, wants or emotions.

Additionally, I am the opposite of a misanthrope. I like people, and I believe they can be smart, hard working, giving, caring, and job producing. You, however, believe in the nanny state, which is misanthropic in its very nature. It believes that we are all children, that need to be told what to do at every moment, and that the smartest kids, should be punished so they don't make the other kids feel bad. Well, golly, I guess I have made you feel bad, so go call the nanny police.

YashBudini,

You bring up a non-stop list of lies. Clearly you didn't read any of the posts, before opening your big fat stupid mouth. I have already stated that I am opposed to statists and corporatists. I have not written anything in support of congress giving favorable treatment to big business, and I oppose it. I am completely in favor of closing all of the loop holes and lowering the corporate tax rate.

By the way, Exxon paid $7.7 billion in other taxes, likes sales tax, and more than $50 billion worldwide. If we pulled our head out, we wouldn't push them overseas with their profits and we would charge them a fair rate and reap all of the benefits.

Well, I have to agree with the majority vote here: that you are the dimwitted one! I'm going to take a wild guess and say your NOT unemployed and don't know how hard it is to struggle to get by while watching congress vote to raise their own incomes then squabble about the deficit. Regardless of your beliefs, the truth is this: the rich don't NEED the tax cuts. They simply WANT them. Unfortunately for those losing their homes and sleeping in cars with their babies, want doesn't even come into the picture.

I have a college degree and am nearing completion of my Master's and guess what? I gave up and went to McDonalds. I now cannot make ends meet due to the low pay scale and cannot find a job in my field because the market is so bad for employees.

You say we shouldn't be angry because the rich create the jobs we need but you have got to be insane if you believe that. The rich create the jobs THEY need. In other words, they only make room for what will make them more money. The wealth gap grows and the poor get poorer. If the wealthy were going to create enough jobs with these tax cuts to make an economical difference, they would have done so back when Bush put the cuts into place. since that time, we have barely made progress at all and many have watched as their benefits dwindled to nothing.

Do us all a favor and take your thoughtless and clearly unintelligent remarks off the web. Unless you are willing to hand your job to the next qualified jobless worker you meet and take their place among the struggling, no one wants to read your filth. You're the kind of pathetic that has ruined America.

Scott,

I have answered the points in your post in many places, but I will summarize here.

The rich pay most of the taxes; the extension of unemployment benefits from 26 to 99 weeks is not paid by the unemployment insurance funds but by the bills passed by congress. Whiter we pay for the benefits today, or borrow and pay them back later, it is predominantly on the backs of the wealthy.

Tax policy should encourage saving and investing. The capital gains tax is effective at that. I agree that dividends should be taxed at normal income even though those earnings were already taxed at the corporate level.

This is quite clearly not the great depression. We live in a world of abundance, and the suffereing occuring now is no where close to the sorrows of the great depression, nor is it even a pale reflection of poverty in India, China, and in many countries.

In a generic sense, yes we all have the same opportunities. It is impossible and unwise to try to coerce every

I've got a prediction to make about Dimwitted-- some day he will foolishly give voice to a sentiment like the one he's expressed here, only he will do it in the presence of someone suffering from some combination of the facts and bad luck of life-- maybe someone who lost a job, has a sick child, just had their car break down, that sort of stuff. Let's imagine this person on unemployment, maybe even food stamps, and following all the rules regarding looking for work each day.

Dimwitted would seem to think such a man doesn't exist, and if he thinks it, he believes it, because Dimwitted knows everything-- hey, it's the kind of guy he is.

Now, no doubt, though the man we're imagining is exactly the kind of person with the kind of situation our grandparents were most clearly thinking of when their generation created the safety net under FDR's leadership. Nonetheless, he will be ashamed to be collecting his relief check; each time he's required to go to the office, he feels transparent, like he's failed-- this is partly because he was raised American and is accustomed to caring for himself, and it's partly because the Dimwitted's among us have ensured that the entire process of seeking needed aid is something so demeaning to a man's pride that no matter how deserving he may be, no matter how desperate his family's situation, he still feels badly. Plus, in case he's not sure whether people can "tell" he's on relief and judge him, or whether he's just being paranoid, he has the benefit of Dimwitted and his self aggrandizing superiority available to confirm for him that yes, in fact, he is, as he suspected, a loser and a leech for accepting government aid; Dimwitted thinks so, anyway, as do a whole lot of other dime a dozen little keyboard warriors who gain a sense of power and potency not native to their emotional and masculine bodies, but temporarily available to them each time they type something that causes such pain to another.

Okay, so to the point-- Dimwitted is, as we have seen, aptly named. Further, like most right wing keyboard warriors on this site, it's not enough for him to lay out his standard insults; he's got to throw in an insult to the injury he's caused, and he accomplishes that by forcing us not only to endure his insults, but to receive his instruction-- "The rich don't owe us money," we learn from Dr. Dimwitted. Right from the start he serves up quite an insight. Then he shifts from philosophy to history, informing us that it didn't used to be this way: "You didn't bitch, you fixed your problems." More original wisdom from Dimwitted. Where he has traveled, what he must have had to endure to have gained such knowledge; stuff no one else has ever thought of. Our attitude, he continues, is "what's bringing America down." I assure you-- in any right winger's holier than thou post, you will never not be treated to one of these; it is very important to such people that you not only blame yourself for whatever the circumstances of your life may be, but that you also perceive that your guilt extends beyond your personal situation-- in fact, the entire nation is at risk due to you.

And then not to have his rare pearls of knowledge and wit outshone by those which had come before, he concludes with this bit of poetry: "Some people make poor decisions."

Thank God for Dimwitted. Before we encountered him, we were lost; had no way of knowing where we'd been going wrong. But after thirty seconds with his mini textbook of contemporary morality, the road has opened up in front of us and for the first time, we can see the way.

Anyway, Dimwitted will go on insulting and condescending as he does until the day he makes a poor decision of his own, which he will very definitely blame on others, too-- he will state these same sentiments in public rather than from the safety of his home and computer room. The words will leap out his mouth before he realizes it, and on this particular day, who should be present but the man we described above, who is reluctantly collecting relief payments even though the cruelty and self aggrandizing moral bullies of the world-- a club in which our friend Dimwitted proudly claims membership-- have filled him with shame and self hate for needing to do so.

The thing is, though, when Dimwitted foolishly blurts this out, he will invariably do so with a very Dimwitted, ignorant look on his face which will very clearly display the sum total of Mr. Dimwitted's moral character to the man whose life and whose humiliation he has just raked his fingernail over-- and before Dimwitted even realizes what has happened, I predict that our friend the family man will make Dimwitted understand he ought never again express any opinion about anything in public.

And I predict Dimwitted will be guided by that precept for the remainder of his life. He will buy himself a new computer with all the newest ways to connect to internet message boards, but he will never again say a Dimwitted thing aloud-- not to a stranger, not to a woman, not to his priest, not to a child. He will have become a frightened and chastened little dimwit. ;)

Exxon paid $7.7 billion in other taxes, likes sales tax, and more than $50 billion worldwide.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5OtB298fHY&feature=player_embedded

Pffft who here has credibility? Not you.

dmerrin10000

What are you talking about...

This message board is a free discussion about the recent change in unemployement benefits....unemployement is the topic.

Americans are dim witted:

I agree with you and your posts. Unfortunately, too many Americans have now fallen in line behind Europe and is now in an entitlement mode and feels they are owed - for everything (and take a look at how well it is working out for Europe!) Unemployment numbers have been at these levels before without giving out unemployment (welfare) for 3 years!

Sad stories are sad. But if we all take the position that many here have, we'd all be sitting home collecting unemployment checks. And I know there is a big chunk of people on unemployment that would like to be working, but there is also a big chunk of the people on the dole that think anything less than what they had is beneath them. There is also a big chunk of people on the dole that are just fine and dandy with being on the dole.

So for all of you chastising the "rich", well, they are the people that create jobs. It certainly isn't the grunt cubicle worker or burger flipper. Thank God the "rich" and the rest of us are going to keep a little more or OUR money by the extension of the Bush tax cuts.

I'm just sorry we had to compromise and continue with the unemployement for another year. Study after study has shown, people wait to get jobs until they've exhausted their unemployement. But you are only hurting yourself, the longer out of the job market, the less desirable of any employee you become.

Nikki,

It sounds like you have a job where you are appropriately qualified. You apparently did not read any of the thread before. I am guessing your Master's Degree is in Art Studies, or Women's Studies. I worked my way through college but apparently it is offensive to you that you have to do the same. Which rich person should let you move into their house, buy you a car and pay for your college?

Everyone gets poorer in a recession. How about looking at the data for the past thirty years instead of the past two. Apparently you don't have a single class in your major that requires any critical thinking. Who do you think creates jobs, the job fairy?

To clarify, you are ill-informed, do not believe you should have to work for success, and believe that all wealthy people are evil and greedy. My type of pathetic creates jobs and pays taxes and gives to charity. Your type of pathetic thinks that everything that happens to you is someone else's fault, and that you are entitled to other people's labor. I will take my type of pathetic over yours any day.

Spot on dmerrin10000

Nicely said, +1.

It would be great to see Dim unemployed so he can eat some of his own medicine. Or worse.

How's a redistribution of wealth sound to you, Richie Rich??? Revolution Calling/Queensryche ( I used to think America's way, way was right. But now the holy dollar rules everybody's lives. Got make a million, doesn't matter who dies, Revolution Calling) If it get's any worse, we are coming for you and your cash.

dmerrinn10000,

What a load of steaming crap. Read the damn posts. I did not grow up rich. I worked my way through college. I believe that the 26 week unemployment program is good. I feel badly for the people suffering, as I know many of them. I believe that extending unemployment to 99 weeks does much more harm than good. I have been poor and hungry. I have been unemployed. Why are you so damn special to lecture me. Why don't you get off your idiotic soap box and go do something productive and create some jobs?

The completion of your morality tale is that someone should physically harm me and keep me from providing my side of the argument.

You are a piece of @!$%#!

YashBudini,

It is nice that you can be convinced of an argument when you only have half of the facts. I am not a shill for ExxonMobil. I am not arguing for them to go tax free. I am opposed to subsidies in general, and for oil companies in particular. Even with that, the information is available for what they paid in the US and abroad. I said sales tax not corporate tax. Seriously, how many things can you get wrong?

Do you have a job to offer? If not, STFU.

YashBudini,

You are quite literally the world's biggest moron. I have been unemployed. I have been poor. I have worked all the way through college. Are you illiterate, and someone is typing your drivel in for you?

Don't wait, get some professional help before you pop a vessel or hurt someone.

Hey dim witted one , you poor little rich bas&*rd just who the hell do you think you are condemning someone for doing what it takes to survive . I detest people like you who was born with a silver spoon in there mouths .

Wasn't Microsoft just charged with monopolization a few years back? It seems like Gates is preventing job creation outside of his company and direct competition with his company. Please inform all of us again how your hero creates jobs or promotes a competitive economy.

YashBudini,

You leave a wake of ignorance in your passing.

In 2009 Exxon paid $15 billion in income taxes representing 47% of pre-tax earnings. In 2008 Exxon paid $36 billion in income taxes. They just didn't pay that money to the US. With our ridiculous corporate tax levels, multi-nationals like Exxon put as many assets in other countries as possible.

Now you the insane person, would say lets tax Exxon more or even better just nationalize the company. A sane person would say lets take out all of the loopholes and charge corporations a competitive tax rate to the rest of the world.

If I was angry, which I'm not, I would get over it. Unfortunately for you, you can't fix stupid.

Dimwitted must work for one of the big banks that the taxpayers, all of them, bailed out. I wonder how much his bonus was.

Bob,

Read the posts, and then come back and apologize.

Beekay,

Read the posts and then come back and apologize. I did not say Bill Gates is my hero. I pointed out that he has created 100,000 jobs. That is far more benefit to the country than you or I will ever provide. Many companies do grow to the size where they collude with the government and cause damage from it.

Phyllis11,

You are wrong, I am a small business owner, that works 80 hours a week and is effectively underemployed by the recession. No bonuses from our glorious leader for us insignificant business owners. You have to lose your job before you can get any Obama money.

"jf-2211853 - For the most part, state unemployment taxes are imposed directly on employers and you don't withhold these taxes from your employees' wages. Currently only three states, Alaska, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania also assess unemployment taxes on employees."


To be fair, I am honestly surprised that only three states make employees contribute towards their own unemployment benefits. I thought the number of states which require this was much higher. HOWEVER, the fact still remains that every single person working in NJ, PA, and AK does, in fact, see UI deductions taken out of their paychecks. As I said previously, I worked for 15 years straight and was never without a job until now. During those 15 years I paid into the UI system, so I do not feel guilty collecting upon it, even though living on half of my old income is no "cake-walk". I used to work for Wal-Mart as a store associate, then I decided to go back to college for another 5 years while I worked there so that I could transition to the IT job I recently lost which paid $40K/year... not a whole lot, but much better than the $10/hour Wal-Mart was paying me at the end of my 5 years service to them.

Are some people lazy and abusing the system? Certainly. I've actually known a few myself. But, there are others who took it upon themselves to work towards and to achieve multiple college degrees while in the midst of working their old jobs (and I'm not talking about degrees in relatively useless fields, like Theater and Art), but "real" fields. The simple fact is that there aren't enough jobs to go around. Even if every "menial" job was suddenly filled by workers coming off of unemployment, that still leaves something like 10 million + workers who also want to work but cannot find employment, especially in fields that they spent a great deal of time and money training for. And with the recent RECORD profits posted by corporations that only serves to show them that their remaining employees are all so scared of joining the ranks of the unemployed that they'll do the work of 3 people and removing any desire to begin increasing staff levels again. Unfortunately, these profits were due largely to cost-cutting, not increased revenue... and once you hit "skeleton crew" status and remaining workers start to burn out there is only one direction any company can head... which is down.

Dim's insults and rhetoric don't matter. We've all read that stuff before. It's counterproductive and just wastes energy and time. Better to ignore and dismiss that kind of stuff and focus on positive things. People who moved American jobs overseas have absolutely no right to criticize or complain when social programs and UI are necessary to keep those they dumped on the sidewalk from falling completely over the edge. Their moral outrage at social spending is unconscionable.

What matters is that millions of Americans are suffering, the UI extension was passed, and some will be able to continue to hang on by a thread until things get better. Hopefully for them, it will be sooner than later.

We had to buy off the rich to get the UI benefits for the unemployed, who are fast approaching the status of being really poor, and to preserve the tax breaks for the middle class, which still drives some of the consumption in this economy. It sucks, but that's what had to be done to take care of the majority of Americans. The fact is, after 10 years of tax breaks for the wealthiest, the deficit burgeoned $1.3 TRILLION (coinciding with the amount corporations are hoarding, according to Moody's) from those two breaks alone and job growth was virtually non-existent. Tax breaks for the wealthy did not result in job creation then and they probably won't in the future.

My links were provided to clarify some of the figures others put out there and to make the point that it was never "trickle down" economics, but "trickle UP". American wages took an overall 5% hit from 2001-2009, while the wealthiest saw a little over a 6% increase.

Corporations are hoarding $1-2 trillion and refusing to hire. Even $1 trillion would create nearly 24 million jobs paying $42,000/year - very near the average income.

People who complain about those who need UI or social program help should be on their knees thanking God they aren't where the others are and realize that many of those others on UI now used to earn very nice incomes, most had worked decades, and many are actually highly educated. In other words, it can happen to anyone at any time. More of us know this than did before. More of us are vocal about it. More of us want something concrete and tangible done about the problem.

I don't care if someone like Dim has something nasty to say to me. He's putting a level of negativity out there that will eventually come back around. I just don't want to be anywhere near him or others like him when it hits.

It's easy to tell someone to go get a job or call them names, but until an interview is even granted, and until the guy on the other side of the interview table extends a job offer, an interview is just talk and it doesn't pay the bills. The attitude in this society that someone is worthless if they don't have a job is turning out to be a false premise; there aren't enough jobs for those millions who are looking for work. It's simple math.

Dim-witted, I had a boss like you once. I didn't like him either and I was not able to give him 100% because of his elietist attitude. I left him as soon as I could and I didn't feel bad about taking his money for the less than 100% because my less than 100% is a lot more than he ever got from anyone else, and the stress of working for him was worth a lot more than he paid.
You go ahead and have a good life.

Can anyone seriously think that we have almost 10% unemployment because people would rather sit at home collecting meager unemployment checks (which pay on average 36% of the average weekly wage) than get a paying job? Is this the bizarre level to which political debate has sunk in this country? This is an insult to millions of Americans who desperately want to work and can’t find a job.

Of course, we don't want the sob stories of the jobless - stuck at an official 9.8% or higher - raining down on our mass consumerism parade before the holidays. Hence, We say we care, but - seriously, we don't. Glad it's not me, you say. Those lazy people love living on about 240. per week.

Finally all this talk of who pays more taxes has nothing to do with other reports i.e. JOLTS report which would tell you there are about 6-7 people for each available job. The rate in my State is almost 12% and it is not a pretty picture here. Bottom line is there will always be people who game the system but that is more the exception than the rule.

I would venture to say that many are of an age where they are not who people want to hire no matter the position/I would also guess that many have worked many years and paid their own fair shares of many different types of taxes over the years.

DUMB......The rich dont pay for anything...that is how they get rich

The unemployment ins they send to the state is just part of the working mans salary, just like the parking spot in the parking lot....

The rich aren't paying for anyones unemployment benefits, and the fact that you say that shows your ignorance and lack of knowledge on this subject! People that work actually acrue money paying into unemployment every pay check. The extensions are made by the government, paid for by taxes, which we ALL pay!

Federal unemployment insurance is 100% employer paid. State unemployment insurance is 100% employer paid in 47 states. It is split between employer and employee in the other 3 states. So, no, most of you did NOT pay into the system--your employer did.

And all employers are facing huge increases in their federal and state unemployment insurance costs next year even if they didn't lay people off. Think that makes them eager to increase their head count?

I ran estimates for my company last week and we are predicting a $30 million dollar increase in our UI contributions over the $120 million we paid last year. And we did not have mass layoffs or a large staff turnover. Companies with lots of unemployment claims will be hit with even higher rates. These rates are expected to remain high for several years to replenish the insolvent state funds which hampers job creation and hiring.

I will apologize to no one who thinks unemployment benefits are paid by rich people. Do you really think corporations don't take into account an average amount of unemployment benefits they regularly pay out when they hire their staff and set salary projections? In other words, unemployment benefits are front-loaded into the company's payroll in the first place. Salaries, yours and mine and everybody else's, are all less because of it. Meaning, in the end, you and I all pay for each other's unemployment. Not rich people, not business owners. If benefits were such a detriment to a company, they wouldn't be firing employees left and right as they have the past few, oh... DECADES. If businesses didn't want to provide these funds for unemployment insurance, they would be admitting they don't need loyal employees, everyone would be a contractor. Obviously this is not the case. Unemployment is insurance functioning similarly to health, home, car or any other type of insurance. It is a security system required of any civil, functioning society, much like taxes, which I will tell you to your face you are an anti-patriotic to even attempt to justify your need not to pay into while simultaneously mooching off its infrastructure. So get off your high horse preaching for the rich. You're completely off-base.

If you're a business owner and think you actually pay for people's unemployment benefits it just goes to show what a pompous self-entitled human being you really are.

YashBudini,

You leave a wake of ignorance in your passing.

Doesn't amount to much compared to your tidal wave. Some people are building arks because of you.

Dimwit,

Never underestimate the power of instant karma.

After 99 weeks of unemployment and benefits exhausted I finally have an interview. Mind you it is $11 hr 1/3 of past pay requires a degree and 3 years experience with absolutely no bennies and more than an hour away. Not that I am ungrateful but I worked so hard for this?

We will now have to find child care at the rate of IDK yet $600+ per month so after gas and child care I will make a few hundred a month. YEAH!

I never never stopped looking for work. Unemployment is torcherous to my mentality.

I will never again go above and beyond at any job. It truly doesn't pay to excell cut throats are the ones who excell. Watch your neck. I am out to destroy you so I can make money. Sad isn't it.

I will be like Sarah Palin when your looking the mask will be on. Fake is the new Real.

I was a dedicated and loyal employee for more than 25 years. Unfortunately, we were bought out and as a result, I and the other person with more than 25 years were laid off and the two with less than 5 were kept. Obviously, we cost more to keep. We certainly didn't make a choice. We weren't given one. You obviously haven't had something awful like that happen to you or you might possibly have some grasp of how devastating it can be and maybe be less ignorant. I am so sorry for the all people who have had to endure that ignorance when they are just doing the best they can for their families.

I have a great idea. Let's cut unemployment benefits and welfare for all. Let's cut ALL taxes for everyone. So no more taxes therefore no income to our government at all. Why? If we don't help those that are vulnerable then they die off therefore getting rid of the excess population. Then we have all of our products made in some country where they are paid 15 cents per hour and then ship them over here for those that are still alive. In the mean time by cutting ALL of our taxes, even taxes for schools, fire, police, roads etc. That is government run and therefore we pay as we go. My point? You complain about government having their hands in everything but you turn around and don't want to pay for it. If not for the government stepping in during the Great Depression we would not have been as successful nation as we have become. We all need to come together in order to get through this hardest of economic times since the Great Depression and WWII.

AnotherCasualty2India,

Fair enough; and I hear you.

And as you said - and the crux of the discussion - the increase in benefits to 99 weeks, with no jobs, is a poor attempt at putting a bandaid on an gushing artery. So, where are the needed new jobs going to come from...?

I'm not rich, but I am sick and tired of people blaming the rich for whatever ther problems may be. The rich don't owe you or me a damn thing, they are not responsible for you situation, so stop your whining and get on with your life.

beekay,

You didn't go read any of the posts, and then you call me anti-patriotic. The article and the entire conversation is on the extension of unemployment benefits from 26 to 99 weeks, which is not paid by you, your employer, or the state. It is new funding from the federal government paid for by either taxes or debt that is either paid for or will be paid for by the wealthy.

Why get in on the conversation without reading any of the posts?

You want a real, no-nonsense solution? Want to find out once and for all if these tax cut giveaways for incomes ABOVE $250K actually create jobs - good jobs - as its proponents claim?

Let's do it, then. Let's tie the length of the tax cut extension to the jobs it creates, while tying the length of unemployment extensions to job growth.

Here's the mandate, O Wealthy Benefactors Who WIll Rescue Our Economy By Creating Jobs With Their Tax Cut Money: Do it. Create jobs. Lots and lots of jobs. Good, decent-paying jobs that are productive, full-time, and long-term. Enough jobs to satisfy demand.

Currently, there are just under five qualified applicants for every job opening. That's not disputed by either party. It's not a photoshopped statistic. People desperately need UI, and it's obvious that there aren't enough jobs to go around. Therefore, we will continue unemployment extensions until that number drops to below 1.5 qualified applicants per job opening, and we will extend those benefits past the current 99 weeks. At this time, there is no reason benefits should end for anyone who is actively searching for work, able to work, and following the rules that their state mandates, as long as jobs are this scarce.

"But we can't keep extending benefits forever!"

Correct. We can't. People need to work, and that means they need jobs to be available. So, over the next two years, while the tax cuts are in effect, UI extensions continue the entire time unless the worker:job ratio is less than 1.5:1. If you're making progress (halfway there?) after two years, but aren't quite there yet, we keep the tax cuts AND the extensions going (still not enough jobs!) and give you two more years to get there. If you do, we phase out UI extensions, keep the cuts in place, and congratulate the wealthy for a job well done. I'll even do that right here.

But, if after two years of no or minimal progress, or four years without reaching that goal, the tax cuts end, and the rates increase to 3% higher than pre-original-Bush-cut levels on incomes over $250K for four years before reverting to the pre-cut rate. The unemployed continue to get additional help until that ratio sinks to 1.5:1, small business (that's actual small businesses, not the mega-corp "small businesses") and middle-and lower-income individuals and families get additional reductions in their tax rates.

Bottom line is that as long as there aren't enough jobs to go around, and the top-tier tax cuts continue, so do the unemployment extensions.

You can't pull the safety net out from under people who have no control over the job market, and you can't give the wealthiest huge tax breaks while ignoring those who really need help!

Joe,

Sorry to disappoint you but government intervention prolonged the Great Depression almost ten years. WWII got us out.

I hope Ms. Smith is a democrat.

I have tried in vain to explain to the repugs that we are not anti-rich. I have tried to explain that when the country is in a @!$%# storm we all need to come together. I have tried to explain that when it comes to contributing to the rescue of the country, it is reasonable to ask a person who is living on pay check to paycheck to contribute a little less and a person who goes to monte carlo for vacation every year to pay a little more.

But they just don't want to understand it.

I don't think there is anyone who can make the repugs see it.

That is why i hope Ms Smith is a democrat. I hope all the Ms Smiths in the US are noticing what just transpired with the tax bill and unemployment extension and are either already democrats or have turned into democrat.

I voted for McCain and I am among the top 5 % salaried people in the US. But I am a democrat now because i know that the repugs will throw me under the train if my fortunes were to change.

You know it used TO NOT be a crime to work hard and become rich, by the way the as---- libs consider anyone making over some taudry amout to be rich. And with out poeple, small businesses and corporations creating jobs, having REVENUE to do so, if it all goes to taxes, all of them, then there will be less and less jobs in the private and govt sectors. Ive been unemoployed but I also know that this is the only Country you can come to and use your innovation and become what haters call rich, not realizing your innovation may employ them. peace out

beekay,

You didn't go read any of the posts, and then you call me anti-patriotic. The article and the entire conversation is on the extension of unemployment benefits from 26 to 99 weeks, which is not paid by you, your employer, or the state. It is new funding from the federal government paid for by either taxes or debt that is either paid for or will be paid for by the wealthy.

Why get in on the conversation without reading any of the posts?

---

Wrong. I've read nearly all the posts. Funding extended benefits doesn't change the game at all. In the end, just like unextended benefits, it will all come out of employees' salaries in the long run in order to maintain profit margin. It sounds like you've been letting some woe-is-me rich guy pull the wool over your eyes.

I think dimwit is on to something here. Perhaps what is needed for the poor and middle class is a so-called final solution.

Just hear me out:

Maybe we can round-up everyone that is on "welfare" and place them in camps where they can mine for natural resources. Of course those that are not capable of doing so (age, health, baby, etc.) will be ground into a fine paste and gruel for those that do contribute to the camp, therefore increasing work productivity and the well-being of those in the camp.

And just so it doesn't seem like we're leaving the rich out of the fun, they can place bets on the "happy campers" (i.e. Who will die next; will group A steal group B's children and breed/eat them). This will of course be legal as the camps will be zoned as casino sites.

I hope no one took this as a serious post. If you did, I offer my condolences to your brain functions (Though I'm not sure they'll get through to you).

Dim Witt,

I bet your one of those who gets a cushy job and then your bottom side grows exponentially never looking for better of different jobs. Some of us seek growth no matter our current stance. Your views are diluted.

The only jobs I found over two years where either in the medical field or I was over qualified. You like to stereo type probably got a white cap in the closet and kill little animals for fun.

I think society should push ultra conservative values to the extreme and see how that affects the kings of industry and our stance in the global economy. Be careful for what you ask for. No demand no industry. Dim Witt

Peter17

"MG - we do not tax wealth, we tax income, and the two are not the same."

Wealth is taxed big time when a person who has already paid his income taxes dies.

skeptic,

You should go back and read the posts. I never wrote that the unemployed were worthless. What I have written over and over is that extending unemployment to 99 weeks exacerbates the problem. We are creating endemic unemployment just like our clever friends the Europeans. What is ironic, is that the Europeans are fixing their problems and we are making ours worse. Obama gets lectured everytime he visits now.

I just can't believe that there are so many of you who believe that there is no downside to spending the billions on extended unemployment.

Regarding the Bush tax cuts and the Obama two year extensions, you do realize the largest portion of both of them were not for the wealthy, right? You right that the tax cuts were for the wealthiest when that is flat out false. The extensions were passed for two years. Projections show if they were made permanent, the cost over the next ten years would be $3.5 trillion with only $700 billion of that from the top tax bracket. Currently the top 5% pay almost 60% of the taxes, what do you think would happen if the middle class tax cuts are made permanent and the top rate is increased? Do you really want 5% of the taxpayers paying all of the taxes?

Companies have been hoarding cash because Obama is driving the country into a ditch. The idea that we can print money forever is nuts, and will eventually lead to hyper inflation. Now that the election is over, things have already started to get better, and the latest CFO report shows a substantial increase in plans to hire. The government is currently sucking all of the money out of the system.

to dimwitted-

you are a flaming @!$%# who has no clue, none whatsoever. i have been unemployed since feb '08 and am still trying to find work. i have been in the aerospace industry and cuts in the industry make it pretty damn hard to find work. like the other person said, that spent 26 years defending our country for nitwits like you, quit your job and try to find another one. of course, you are probably some republican that just is making six figures and probably just doesn't get it - that's quite obvious.

beekay,

They just passed the bill. In this one and the ones before it, the Federal government is paying for the extensions. How much clearer can I make it for you?

rudemeister,

There has been an all time record spending in the military and government contracts. Don't give me bull@!$%# about your sector being hit hard.

What is your answer, unemployment forever? Is there no limit on how much money the government should give you? How much of the rich's labor do you want to steal, forty percent, fifty, seventy, or should we just shackle all of them and make them do our bidding?

MDB,

I am an overworked, under employed small business owner that is just trying to get through the downturn. Your idea to give everyone, unemployment indefinitely, and tax the job creators out of the country, is damaging the recovery.

I don't even know what you mean by the white cap and killing little animals comment. Is that a KKK reference? That would be great, let's bring race into the discussion.

Choke on it, motherf - -ker!

Obviously you've never been unemployed. One of these days you will have to live by your own words.

A reminder to all newsvine posters, dimwit is not in the top 1%. He is in fact in the top 1% of the top 2%. Massive difference. This kid's servants pulled him up by his own bootstraps rather than theirs. And instead of a silver spoon in his mouth was a silver spork. I'm sure the taunts at the Illuminati preschool were unbearable.

dimwitted,

Companies have been hoarding cash because Obama is driving the country into a ditch. The idea that we can print money forever is nuts, and will eventually lead to hyper inflation. Now that the election is over, things have already started to get better, and the latest CFO report shows a substantial increase in plans to hire. The government is currently sucking all of the money out of the system.

---

Then why aren't you on the "Tax Cut Extension adds $300 billion to the deficit" board denouncing its short-sighted merits? It must be because you're really not concerned about the deficit at all, only blindly supporting right-wing talking points. It seems you need some consistency in the issues you support.

I agree Alot of American's are "dim-witted" This adminisration has done a great job convincing these people they are just "victims". I wish they would convince them that it is far less stressful to take care of yourself than sit around waiting for some one else to change your diaper. Rich people didnt cause you to not be prepared for life. If you are blaming rich people or politicians for your lot in life get used to be broke. That is what living on welfare, unemployment, SS is. Blaming others won't help you.........

I, myself, have drawn unemployment. It was never meant to be a long term solution. It's a direct result of the Depression and at some point in time---folks are going to have to go on welfare. 3 years unemployment is virtually unheard of. Also, the top 3% of taxpayers, the rich, control 97% of the nations wealth, better than 10 trillion. They do pay taxes. Fact is, they pay the majority of them. I don't like class warfare and that's all it is. In every country, Russia, China, the middle east, there are the haves and the have nots. There was, is, and will be. BO is not going to change that. Oprah, Crow, Springsteen, Streisand, to name a few are Dems and they're not po folks. Most of Hollywood are Dems. If all Repubs were rich, I'd be, and I'm surely not. Some wealth is born into. Other is earned. I don't envy the rich. I'd kind of like to be one and I am working on it.

I am not anti capitalism. Lets look at capitalism in pure form. Wait when has it ever existed in pure form? It cannot exist in pure form.

You guys and your lies.

I suppose the only way for US to grow is another world war where their factories are destroyed and must rely on American goods.

Going waaaaaaay back up the line to Problem solver.

So you think that a person with your over qualified,massively educated brain pan shouldn't have to work at menial jobs even if they would hire you? Do you want to work or not? An educated brain can still shovel asphalt, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to do that. But then, your back probably couldn't take the strain anyway. You sound like the kind of person who would easily hire an illegal immigrant to pave your driveway, but turn up your nose at the thought of doing it for a living because your hands aren't calloused enough to wield a shovel. At least you have some distance to fall. Most real working Americans don't!

By the way, I have a Class A CDL and am qualified to drive any thing on the highway. I could get a new job anytime I wished as long as it involved driving a truck. You should look into it!

Americans are dim witted

beekay,

They just passed the bill. In this one and the ones before it, the Federal government is paying for the extensions. How much clearer can I make it for you?

----

What can I possibly say that will make you understand these costs all get passed down to either the employee or the consumer or both? The employer pays the up front cost and gets reimbursed later by preadjusted lower payroll or increased profit margin. It is very simple. Again, businesses lay off people all the time. If there were significant inherited cost to this, they would think twice about doing it. There isn't and they don't. If you can't understand this, I can't help you. Conversation over.

to big guns:

It's not necessarily the fact that he believes he's over-educated for a menial job, it's that the hiring company believes it. They will turn down a college graduate with a master's in biology instead for a high school drop out, they simply do not have to pay the drop out as much. Thus McDonalds will say "We're sorry, but you're overqualified for the position of chief fry maker".

Dim witt,

if you didn't have to pay taxes would you see customer growth? Would consumers have more money to buy your goods or services? Are you in business because people need your products or services or because your a mover and shaker?

therefore my conclusion is your a stereotyping fool.

AADW - You definately know how to stir the pot... that last comment is hysterical; oh my goodness, someone is going to pick up that challenge...

beekay31,

"What can I possibly say that will make you understand these costs all get passed down to either the employee or the consumer or both? The employer pays the up front cost and gets reimbursed later by preadjusted lower payroll or increased profit margin. It is very simple. Again, businesses lay off people all the time. If there were significant inherited cost to this, they would think twice about doing it. There isn't and they don't. If you can't understand this, I can't help you. Conversation over."

What? Is this some kind of new accounting or new math? How would any public or private business get through an audit with this type of accounting, please explain?

the rich don't pay taxes?? ignorance is bliss. where do people get thier facts from. I make $200000 and pay $70k a year. are you mad? the rich pay 95% of the tax bill. ACTUALLY PROVE me wrong instead of mimicking tree hugger jargon

Big Guns

Going waaaaaaay back up the line to Problem solver.

So you think that a person with your over qualified,massively educated brain pan shouldn't have to work at menial jobs even if they would hire you? Do you want to work or not? An educated brain can still shovel asphalt, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to do that. But then, your back probably couldn't take the strain anyway. You sound like the kind of person who would easily hire an illegal immigrant to pave your driveway, but turn up your nose at the thought of doing it for a living because your hands aren't calloused enough to wield a shovel.

Where to start...

Like you said, and apparently understand (and as was nicely stated by Chip Clip), they wouldn't hire me anyway, so it's moot.

If I had a driveway (I do NOT own a home or any tangible assets or investments or anything of value - I've lived in the same apartment for 25 years!), I'd hire a reputable, licensed contractor who had the skill set to do the job properly at a a fair price. I'm not an illegal alien sympathizer. But thanks for assuming.

But you're missing the point(s).

First, if the tax cuts work as the rich say they will, there will be plenty of shiny new jobs that take advantage of the collective brainpower of the unemployed, rather than the "brawn" that us geeks/nerds, etc. are so renowned for. That, my fellow opiner, is what will move us forward and out of the recession.

Yeah, I'm physically unsuited for manual labor. And lots of people are unsuited for thinking jobs, too. I'm not a trucker, and I don't have the money or desire (or temperment) to become one. Sorry, we can't all be muscle-bound "He-Men."

Second, if that brainpower is unused, isn't that a tremendous waste of talent that is so badly needed in our society? How can you justify spending ten cents on education if there are only going to be menial, manual labor jobs available? Let's close all the schools; they're just wasting space and money. "Sorry, kid, you can't be a doctor. Here's how you lift a garbage can." When a smart person dies, then and only then someone can move up and fill the spot? No new ideas, no advances, no fresh thinking? Great idea.

I'll say it again - manual labor isn't and shouldn't be the only option for work!

Why is that so hard to understand, and how can that even be a consideration in fixing the economy?

Man are really that stupid? Do you not understand the tax system and why people are mad about how much the rich do or don't pay in taxes? Or are you to young yet to understand. We do not all hold the same chances to find jobs either. Age, race, and gender are factors.

Big Gun, I'm a retired B CDL, stayed local. If you're a driver, you can always find work. Even in hard times, the stuff has to get there. Nurses, no problem. Most medical professions are looking for help. I did mostly buses. I will say one thing. In the '82 recession, there were PhD's bagging groceries. That's what it came to and that's what they did.

Dim witted,

I concur with all your posts, well written and well informed. It is sad the mentality that has been adopted by many within this country, it will be our downfall. Keep fighting the good fight I just dont have the patience to post much here as it is similar to beatings ones head against the wall.

To Americans are dim-witted:

Who are you, anyway? Rush? Newt? Sarah? Or maybe you're Mitch O'Connell!

The republicans in the last 10 or so years have simply sent this country right into the toilet and idiots with your rotten attitude have too! Go do a physical impossibility to yourself!! We are on the way to becoming a third-world country, thanks to the likes of you! I hope you get fired and become one of those "who will never work again." And not because you won the lottery, either. Good riddance! Get real.

Heather,

Somebody thats educated enough to make that kind of money would have the common sense to know that the consumer pays taxes as product pricing includes taxes. (corporations)

Now as for an employee if pure capitalism was applied the well would run dry and your job would no longer exist.

All I am saying is keep it in perspective. It is a capitalism conundrum. Not people are lazy and don't want to work. There are some extremely greedy rich and there are some extremely lazy poor but I do believe the majority of people here in america are in the middle subjected to punishment of the extremes.

In the immortal words of Leona Helmsley (a.k.a. Queen of Mean) "only little people pay taxes"!

Americans are dimwitted,

What is wrong with you. Why do people like you vote against their own self interests every time and cheer on the other team. Are you one those people living in a house on wheels who votes as if already rich believing someday you will own your own corporation so you can send jobs overseas (job creation for the Chinese) and enlarge your six car garage to twelve while people can't find work and children are writing Santa Claus not for toys but clothes! The power, the might, the manifest destiny of this country has been for most of its history created by working Americans, the Middle Class, common sense governance and people with heart! Honestly, the Rich don't need your help because in the end your just one of us - a working Joe or Sally. The RICH DON"T MAKE JOBS THEY DOWNSIZE!

Chip Clip...I understood that point from the start.

Problem solver...If your brain power goes to waste, there'll be another brain to take it's place...and if you don't think it takes brain power to steer 40 tons down a slick mountain safely then, yes, you're best off in your office chair. At least I can claim a strong back and a strong mind!

yellow brick road...from one driver to another, you got it!

''President Barack Obama extended unemployment benefits'' WRONG! The 47% of taxpayers who actually pay income taxes extended unemployment benefitssof which a huge percentage of the $$$$$ comes from those EVIL RICH people!

You are a DORK !!!!!

I have an intuitive feeling that I could try to teach you who is really paying for unemployment and you would continue on in your self assured, superior, and insensitive ignorance. You sir, are an idiot in every sense of the word.

Manufacturing gone, customer service gone. Automobile industry tanked. The jobs are not there. Hospitals are hurting, and we have been robbing Peter to pay Paul for years now. America was better prepared for the Great Depression, poor people only became poorer and the rich people either comitted suicide, adjusted their life style, or closed their eyes and pretended nothing had changed and the middle class just did not exist. I'm employed but I am quite aware that could change with a moments notice. I printed out a list of all the current and former socialist countires, call it what you want I call it scary.

There is another accounting, or are blind to the obvious? That of household accounting. If you can't make the house payment or rent you lose your place to live, if you can't make your heat and power bills they turn these off and you live in the dark and the cold, if you can't buy you medicine you may die, and if you cant beg or buy food you are reduced to stealing. You seem to understand accounting at the business level but failed personal accounting 101. Since when is it always, or in this economy ever the unemployed fault. You are not facing reality of what faces the unemployed who are seeking work.

Big Guns,

I drove truck, the absoulutely most brainless job ever. Hated it. Money was good but not for everyone. I have burried people drove vacume trucks traveled the country ensuring everone's vote counts Hotel management Insurance salesman and hold an IT degree. Not to mention the 10 other jobs i have held since I was 12.

When you cut the ones whose shoes are not far from yours your cutting yours as well. Anyone can drive a truck. Less consumer money less need for product less need for drivers. What do you really stand for?

Most of my truck driving days where as a bed bugger, yes I moved people for a living. Want to talk about hard work?

They want jobs ....not hand outs....you moron.

You're wrong. China is paying for those unemployment benefits. We borrow from China so those rich people you love so much can keep their tax rates low while the middle class in this country is dying on the vine. The rich take care of the rich, not the unemployed.

You can do anything you set your mind to when you have vision, determination, and an endless supply of expendable labor.

To Americans are dimwitted, I read your post were you stated you create jobs. Then I read your post were you stated after 26 weeks people do not pay for their unemployment benefits. I now do not believe you create jobs. I owned a business and had employees, and we paid state employment insurance AND federal employment insurance, it is called fica. You my friend are saying things that are not true, and your insults by name calling also tells me you are not a owner of a company or you would know c. r. s. and use them.

Yes, well.. Yet another ignorant right-wing extremist brainwashed by FOX upchucks.

the middle class pays for everything and that class is dwindling fast----if you are getting unemployment you deserve it--hope it turns around soon-----if you need help from government take what you can get--the programs such as food stamps and energy assistance were designed to aid people in this kind of situation and i'm happy to contribute to your support---merry happy to all---

Hay dimwit the rich are investing their money in industries in china.

I truly hope you find yourself unemployed and hungry. Can you say Karma!!!!

I'm sure it's easy to find lots of people that are suffering, and slant the story to make it sound like the 'rich' are somehow at fault, but here are some interesting figures;

For a married person with taxable income of $1,000,000 per year for 50 years (total earned income of $50 Million), who saved 50% of their income and invests it at 5% per year, they will have paid a total of over $62 million in income and estate taxes when they die.

It would seem to be a bit disengenuous to say they don't pay their fair share in taxes, especially when almost 50% of the families in this country pay absolutely NO income taxes. Who do you think pays for all of those government 'benefits' that people collect? The top 10% of income earners create the jobs and pay over 70% of all income taxes collected by the government, so before we start condemning the so-called 'rich', let's keep things in perspective.

PS - I am not considered 'rich', but I think part of the American dream is the hope that, if you work hard and smart, you can succeed despite a poor background. Do we really want to take that dream away?

First of all num nuts, the rich are not the only ones paying for unemployment. Goes to show how ignorant you are. Check out your paycheck for a change and take a look that we all contribute into the unemployment fund. Quit writing what you do not know about. Its ignoramouses like yourself that actually bring this country down. Do some fact checking first. I represent people who owe the IRS taxes and am able to see the hardships people are living today. I wish we had a way to protests and punish morons like yourself because unfortunately you are not alone in such an ignorant, dispicable way of thinking. That ignorance is truly the reason this country has fallen thru the cracks as one of the most appealing to live in.

Roy,

I think they would rather pay than watch capitalism collapse and have nothing.

Roy,

When new money is printed how exactly is it entered into the economy? I know your old and all but come on.

Dear. Dumb Ass,

the rich don't pay for people's unemployment benefits., employers do and so do the people who receive their benefits when they paid their taxes although some states like NY do not take taxes out of our pay to contribute to U.I.

MDB123

Soooo...you never had to think when driving your truck, about weather...road conditions....mountain passes...morons in four wheelers cutting in front of you then slamming on their brakes so they can make their exit. Who did you drive for? I'd go to work for them. Sounds like they ran in a land called Utopia!:-)

If the Rich don't like the taxes then pay your employees more and we would be more than willing to pay our share. Are they going to do that No why because we are replaceable peons.

This is more about the Rich trying to control the Government of the People for the People. They are America we are simpletons.

dim witted that post about Obama and the ditch where were you during the Bush years I think it was Bush that drove the bus into the ravine Dimwitt fits you nicely.

Peter17 "MG - we do not tax wealth, we tax income, and the two are not the same."

Read up on the "Estate Tax" before making silly statements.

dimwitted: i believe shakespeare must have known your type well. after you have suffered all the slings and arrows of outrageous comments of your fellow countrymen, you stand tall and proud in your super-inflated ego and dilletantism with regards to economics, morality, the american ethic, etc.

and shakespeare succintly summed up your "wisdom" as "a tale told by an

idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing". and good night to you, sir.

@dimwitted

I feel there is one very important point you have not addressed. To all the people who complain about Wall Street profit. No one was complaining when their 401k's were going up. No one was complaining when the stock market was going up. The monies made by all these people you complain about was putting money into your pocket, creating jobs for you. If you wasn't directly involved in the market your neighbor or a friend was getting dividends. You somehow made money off of the surge on WS and also didn't mind people being out of work until it was you. But there are jobs out there but you feel they are beneath you. Maybe instead of that vacation every year when things were good you should have been planning for the bad times.

When I started my business I put in 14 hour days seven days a week while the employees went home I think I deserve the spoils after that.

This economy tanked because of all the people who took mortgages that they couln't afford. The Bank's offered them to make a profit but why did all the people who couldn't aford them take them. When your Attorney showed up at the closing maybe he should have told you you were in over your head. Or the Broker you hired to represent you. Or maybe you should have just realized that you were in over your head.

I am not here to support all the people I don't know or to make sure their standard of living means they get to keep their house. Since when does the Gov. owe anyone a living. The only people who should get any benefit is the Soldiers who are returning to an empty job market as their life was interupted for their Country.

I'm stunned that no one's commented on 1.134, an actual solution!

http://business.newsvine.com/_news/2010/12/19/5678693-jobless-feel-relief-anger-for-benefits-extension?threadId=3008828&commentId=50210679#c50209833

Is is too complicated, Mr. Dim-Witted? Or were you folks just pulling our legs when you said you'd use the tax cuts for job creation?

I have to know; will you accept the challenge?

Didn't think so.

Big guns,

Nothing compared to the test I had to take for Insurance license in PA or traveling the country ensuring your vote counts. Or problem solving complicated software as a software specialist.

But I can't drive truck no more. I don't drink but had three beers and a bad reaction to find out the hard way I am a celiac aka allergic to wheat. Cop didn't believe me as he held a highschool grudge ( I kicked his ass in wrestling). License revoked for life. 1st and only offense. Truck driving was the best paying job I ever had, not that I would do it again. (I can only blame myself). (no breathalizer, said no to hospital test)(hate or scared of hospitals that is where you go to die) I am not perfect neither are any of us.

As Americans continue to suffer, the rich might find themselves in serious danger with time. There is only so much people will tolerate from those who screwed the economy and defrauded Americans, while sending their jobs overseas. History shows this to be the case every time.

With all respect bklynj, I also owned my own company and the economy was starting to "tank" in 2005. The housing construction industry collapsed when people lost their jobs and then their ability to make their payments to the bank. People did not just decide to not make house payments a small percentage of the banks did give out loans (arms) that when adjusted the people could not make payment but the banks were supposed to and most did adjust the loans. You do not support people on unemployment. My company paid state and federal employment insurance payments and that is where this money comes from. The federal goes into general fund so has to be appropriated by a passing of a law. I hope this clarifies your concerns.

Dim-wit is suspiciously sounding like Billo'reilly or his fat half-brother, Rush the Limburger. Or his other half brother Loon Beck, or half cousine Rove. Then again, Carl Paladino, is that you?

yo dim-wit - you come into this blog with a super hoity-toity attitude and calling everyone who disagrees with you god-awful names! Well, if you ARE an American, and calling your fellow Americans dim-wits, then that makes you the mother of all dim-wits!

Americans are dim witted you opened up pandoras box with what you said. Do you really know what the rich have obtained, they get to keep just a tad more than they already need, and do you honestly think 38 % out of say 5 million is alot, they may not even pay a few hundred thousand with all the write offs and tax avenues they have to use, besides all the tax loopholes, overseas transfers, many other ways they can keep there money. Have you ever seen what a CEO of a company in the United States makes, they have a site that monitors them, it's called CEO watch.

Did you know that the average compensation bonus was 9.25 million , thats million folks for Fortune 500 CEO's, heres one that will anger you the CEO of BoA made 29 million and chg. and it goes on and on, the problem is that you see that oh those poor rich people, so sad for them having to pay 38% taxes that is just not right.

Well folks let's look at something, jobs could be made by every company, look at BoA's Ceos compensation 29 million, how many jobs could be made with that: at 50,000 thats 580 jobs, or 1060 at 25,000 now if every fortune 500 or company in the United States gave a damn about his fellow man there would be plenty of jobs out there for people to do, but you fail to see the one little thing in the how scheme of it all.

Here( Americans are dim witted), it is, that they do not give a sh*t, the CEO's want a positive money trend, and adding people to a business makes that a negative, so until there is a force to make bonus's for CEO's a little more in the land of reality, they the company's will be just like ENRON, they will suck the life from there current workers, and will make evey effort to get that CEO's large bonus check for doing absolutely nothing.

The Government works for us, we do not work for them, they should take care of the American people that are less fortunate until they get on there feet, NO MATTER WHAT, because we the people do not dictate who will give us a job, the people that have companies do that. The government needs to stop taking care of foreign countries that don't do us any good, if they don't help us when we need help, then why spend billions of our money for them.

We are in DIRE straights, the United States govenment should take care of there own, and rich people that live off the backs of others should feel ashamed,while they lay warm in there beds, and there children get more spoiled at Christmas this year. OH WHOA IS ME FOR THE RICH MAN, Think before you open a pandoras box.

Remember there are serviceman that have returned that have lost there jobs, and families that fathers and mothers have been trying to find jobs , and still are trying to keep there family warm, and fed. SO when you open your mouth, just keep your ideas to yourself. Oh and don't worry about the rich man, because I am sure they are not one bit concerned with you.

Unless you are with money, and are the one hating that your taxes could have went up, and don't like people saying rich people should pay more, well you know what they should if they don't hire, it should be a penalty, if you don't hire , you pay higher taxes, if you hire the opposite. Either way people that make money should pay more or give to charities more that help there fellow man.

The reason they should is that they once were where we were at one time, and should remind them that they could be there again if they get stupid.

Anb BTW, the trickle down economics that DUH-bya embraced for 8 years, did not work!! The rich/mega corps just got greedier and ship the jobs overseas. For the last 2 large corps. I work for, we even have IT personnels from India on working visas. I can only think it's because they will take a lower or some set wage. And what have we really produce and exported out of this country??? There was a segment in 60 Minutes that shows Brazil is becoming a super power. They are independent of foreign oil, and they are now the leading exporter of oil, grains, beef, etc, etc to China! Not us!!

Bottom line, is that here should have been some kind of contingency that corporations getting these tax breaks invest and create jobs right here.

I have worked forty one years at three jobs. And at every one of those jobs I paid into my unemployment insurencs benifence. Now I'm reciving thoes benifits that I paid into not the rich. The rich wouldn't give a damm about me to help me out because thats not there way. I've going from making fifty eight thousand dollars a year to making eightteen thoussand a year because the Bush adminastration raped the middle class people to make wall street rich.I hope you never have to go through what I have to survive. Because brother I think you could make it !

So now you are asking a person who runs BofA to give up his compensation to employ 500 people that the Bank doesn't need. So why don't you give up half your salary to employ someone else? There are those less fortunate than you. And by the way I am in the construction industry.

@vietnam

It was Clinton who sent the jobs overseas with the trade agreements he signed that were not as beneficial to the US economy as it was to foreigners.

@davidenglish

What concerns have you clarified. As I posted and you confirmed my benefit payments go to pay the UI. After 26 weeks though the Fed pays out of the general fund. So your point is??

Saying that all Americans have the same opportunities is absurd. Some people are born extremely wealthy, given a first class education and pampered. These people, like our former president GW have no perspective and no idea what it's really like grinding it out in low paying jobs for decades. You need a reality check

I don't care who sent the jobs overseas, your GOP was happily taking the money from the corporations and approved the shipment. You people love those party politics and it will be your undoing.

You idiot! The reason they're rich is because the poor workers made them that way. Get the picture? Being a wingnut, I seriously doubt if you do.

Like the Dems don't play the same game, please! Now you don't care who it was but if it was Bush you would be shouting it from the top of the mountain. How much money did BP give to Obama's campaign. And how quick is the oil spill being swept under the rug.

And when your 401k was going up and the World was good you had no problem with Wall Street. You and people you know heard of no doc loans and might have even pointed it out to someone you know. People just took as much advantage as the Banks and WS otherwise there would have been no one to lend to. No one on WS forced anyone to take a loan. And this all started under Carter. So you can blame the GOP all you want but history proves itself.

And your poor choice is opening your repugnant mouth without the intelligence or compassion that once made America a great country.

Mr "Dim-witted"...you need to get your head out of your past...the reason the un-employed are frustrated with the financial class is that they are making selfish, short-sighted employment decisions...(pure greed)...

We are headed back to the social divide present about 100 years ago...workers are to be used up and cast aside when their usefullness ebbs.

If the current trend continues, America's "dim wits" will be on the streets...next will be torches and pitchforks...if the financial class doeasn't want to pay taxes for additional unemployment-then employ them themselves.

The reason you can't understand is because you're a senseless son of a bicth, yes you heard me right , you are one of the idiots that help to put the bast majority of our great nation in the crapy situation that were in right now! keep you're comments to your self witless moron!!!

What kind of fairly land do you live, dumbo. What you need is a good dose of reality- lose YOUR job and go on unemployment and see how tough you talk then.All these tough talkin swingin you-know- whats would whine like babies if their jobs were lost. They would be grumbling like crazy if they couldn't pay for their online porn and Keystone Lager!

These folks are not freeloaders and I can only pray that you morons wake up tomorrow in their shoes. It's what you deserve, you selfish pricks!! This kind of behavior is not what America is about. Go find a country that caters to your bigotry-you're not welcome here anymore. Maybe Nigeria or Somalia. They don't have any unemployed " freeloaders" . Just very rich and grindingly poor.Your kind of place for sure.

@piglizard and @jhonsmith

Once again two posters with nothing to say so they just attack someone who doesn't share their opinion. This makes the two of you the dumbwitted mindless sheep that bends over for the Gov.. If you really have nothing but stupid attack remarks to contribute then you should go back to watching cartoons as the adults are speaking now.

And smith what is a "bast majority"? Maybe that's why you can't find a job because people see you either don't know how to spell or are careless.

And to my intelligence and compassion. I was smart enough to plan for a rainy day and didn't live beyond my means. So while I was not getting a no money down mortgage or leasing a car I couldn't afford and people told me you could buy a bigger house I didn't. So now I should feel bad for all you people who did.

You are truly the witless morons. And as I stated the only people I feel who deserve any benefits are the soldiers coming home as their lives were interrupted for the Country.

So grow up and get a brain and maybe next time you will be able to post an intelligent comment that has some meat in it's content.

Excuse me, but at least in some states if not all, unemployment insurance is deducted from employees' paychecks - so employees DO contribute in the eventuality they may need to ever draw unemployment benefits - and in some cases if not all, employers may be or are required to contribute to that also. Sorry, but the argument that it's the wealthy who are picking up the entire tab for unemployment, is simply NOT a true statement.

There is no doubt that some people misuse the system, but that is not the majority. In this economy when jobs are indeed difficult to come by (not to mention businesses that have outsourced their jobs to foreign countries and contributed to this mess), and not everyone can afford to run out and start up their own business as it normally takes SOME capital to do so, unemployment benefits should be extended. That money goes back into our economy as well.

It is difficult to take a job for minimum wage when someone has been earning much more than that and still continue to be able to responsibly pay all the bills, and if you think people can just put their homes on the market and sell them to try and downsize so they can continue to try and responsibly pay the bills, good luck with that in this housing market. I guess they could just walk away and let yet another home go into foreclosure....

There are no easy answers here. Millions of people are doing all they can including career changes, retraining, tightening their belts, trying to downsize and be responsible, etc., etc., - and yes, some aren't.

And no, I'm not on unemployment. But there should be some compassion in this country for those who have worked hard for many years of their lives and been responsible contributing members of society,have lost their jobs thru no fault of their own, and are working hard to find employment to support their families and continue to meet their financial responsibilities.

It is not right to lump everyone who is drawing unemployment benefits into the category of abusers or the "professional" unemployed.

JMHO.

I've had to post this Over and Over, for those of you who don't know it. Companies nowdays in most cases won't interview unemployed people.

Ask someone who knows, instead of just saying 'just go get a job'.

I think you just like the politicians that run this country, out of touch its not only the rich that pay for benefits for the unemployed all working people do , no matter what benefits anyone receives they pay taxes on that money too .

@bucky

First I don't watch porn I believe in real women. Second, I don't drink so take your keystone lager as that what your UE benefits are probably paying for. When these checks come that seems to be the liquor store's best days.

First Bucky, did your Company go bankrupt or just get rid of you. If you were any good they would have kept you and gotten rid of someone else. I work for myself so I can't lose my job. But I know when it gets slow and I downsize I always get rid of the worst first. The good employees I even carry so I don't lose them. So obviously you were not to good.

I remember growing up and hearing you can do anything you want in life. Just be the best at it and you will never go without work. Maybe bucky if you layed off the porn and the lager you would still have a job. Now let me hear you say it-yehooo!

Our CEO Business tycoons are using short-term gain to move our jobs overseas. The sad thing is that the money saved over a 30 year career in technology now has to be used to live. Those of us close to the Social Security age are seeing our politicians move the age to tap this resource (to 69) which makes it even worse in this 21st century. If they want to do that then do that for the 45 or younger generation.

Most of us, unemployed, are educated hard-working Americans. All we want to do is do a good job and take care of our families. We have had good jobs and been able to buy a home. Now our good job has been sent offshore and the jobs available are minimum wage. How would you feel after spending money to go to college, get a good job and then be dumped just so they can move what you do offshore? Minimum wage won't pay the bills. Do you want us to sell everything we have worked for and live in our cars?

Let's keep jobs in the US. The Cloud technology... let's build the repositories in the US not overseas. Keep our software knowledge here and protect our resources (military, finances and technology). The more jobs overseas the more our resources city & federal governments are stretched beyond their budgets.

Unemployment taxes are deferred wages paid by employers for workers while they work. The rich do not pay them. The employees earn them, otherwise they should be able to get a higher pay check. And note, if a person never worked they would not be eligible to collect unemployment benefits. The working came first. They are not lazy!

When we go through jobless cycles some employees, unfortunately, have to tap into their earned benefits. The notion that rich people are willing to do anything for the poor is a huge error. Very few give a care.

I have been unemployed twice in my life cycle, once in 1983 and once in 1990 - 93. At both times I had to collect unemployment even though I was able to find some part-time work, some consulting work, and some teaching work in the period. Though now retired I still need to work and I feel relief that an employer has found it fit to hire me on a part-time basis.

My sympathy is with the unemployed, I know just how hard it is to find work when there is very little work out there and when employers seem to only want to hire young whipper snappers. That is not an easy wall to scale.

My advice to the unemployed - cut back, be willing to work for less, and yes, upgrade your skills. Life is not over!

We should thank our corporate masters for this.

@keran

FYI-There is a grace period for people born before certain years to be excluded from the advance in age for benefits. It only affects younger people still in the work force not those close to retirement.

As for the payment of unemployed workers the statement was made that the rich own the businesses so therefore they pay into the system also. Somehow this has gotten twisted that they pay all the taxes this was never said except by the people saying no they don't.

And the deductions only cover the first 26 weeks of UE after that it is paid out of the general fund. This is borrowed money that we as a Nation pay interest on.

we do not tax wealth, we tax income, and the two are not the same.

The notion that we do not tax wealth is patently false.

I'm not sure what the current 'death tax' laws are, as I do know they have been suspended through December 31 2010 - but if George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees, had died when this hideous rape-of-the- taxpayer law had been in force, the estate and his heirs would have, in effect, been forced to surrender roughly 50%, over 600 million dollars, of that estate to the federal government.

These were monies which had already been taxed - and the government would simply lay claim to it .... and take it.... for no other reason than "They Could".

This country has a very consistent track record when it comes to taxing both Income And Wealth.

LOL. Dim Wit there are taxes on unemployment benefits. LOL I love your name, priceless because you're right Americans are! LOL

1) employees pay into their own unemployment and the portion paid by the employer is passed on to the consumer, most likely an employee.

2) wonder if you work and where. how secure are you that you can put your nose up so high? if it rains you might drown. try a little humility. it goes a long way.

3) Admiring the warren buffets and the bill gates doesn't negate the fact that it was congress, the banks, wall street, and the real estate bubble they helped develop along with greedy people over-extending on mortgages that inflated this bubble, ignored it and then popped it. The anger is in the disparity of punishment. people are displaced, homeless. they are destitute. the rich (some builders aside) have not even had a slap on the wrist for their part in this. it is callous of you not to understand, and naive of the newly minted poor.

The wealthiest 1 percent earn 19 percent of US income and pay 37 percent of the taxes

Bull A little over 1600 people in the US earn close to 25% of the pay in america. You got your phony numbers out of a cracker jacks box.

I have a very good insight into the industry...I'm an firmware engineer! I have been laid off six months ago from a jewish company serving the US Military, particularly in the fighter jets arena...Those were actually govt contracts offered up the civilian sector and these private companies bid on them for huge profits! Now, I have to tell you this, I have never had a harder time finding a job! It's not because I'm unskilled, undeducated or slow. I have worked for giants in the industry including homeland security. I have 20 years experience. I go to the gym 3-4 days a week. I'm not fat, ugly and I work day and night on my engineering designs! Why? Because I have realized that it is the corporate culture that is keeping people out of the work place! In the corporate world they bank on just a couple criterias! Criteria #1 - How you look! Corporate has turned Hollywood. If you are middle aged and overweight and you don't have a PHD, forget meeting their standards! They won't let you in unless you are a totally sexy generation Y babe! I have visited a few monsters out there such as Time Warner and this is what I found after I turned down the interview. 10% of the corporation are fresh college grads, mostly attractive female probably, sales, marketing and administrative. The rest of their workforce to my surprise was comprised of foreign scabbs! 80% Indians on H1 visas and the rest foreigners such as Chinese, South Americans??? I was so surprised, but not surprised enough! Criteria#2 - They'll pick the best they can get at the lowest price they can get. That means PHD, Masters Degree...Experience only counts if you are still with the company. Companies try to hold on to their braintrust by overworking, intimidation and all sorts of crooked politics! Just ask anyone who holds a job now a days and they'll give you the rundown! So, what is wrong with you? Absolutely nothing! They've closed the gate to middle classers in the workforce. They are not driven by inovation and what they could gain from hiring experienced workers who know their stuff! Who do you think built these corps? The backs of the middle class did! They just squeezed us out, so that fresh faces can catch up with their Hollywood loving mentalities. These people have no skill or experience! They could not survive competing against experience. They would have no chance competing against the real world! So in a nutshell that is why they only aspire for Business Administration and marketing degrees! The rest they outsource out of the country! One of the engineers at Time Warner told me recently...It's all getting outsourced to India! Hope you don't mind! I similed, I know...They've sold our jobs out of the country...To say the least I was disgusted...I'm working to start my own business now...I'm trying to figure out how to make sense of the mess that the elitist keep creating everyday! They run a small but efficient overworked machine that one day will probably break down. The industry requires so much more...But the elitist don't care because to them we are now all replaceable and one step closer to obsoletion!

Hey moron,

it's not the rich that are paying my unemployment insurance. It is my having worked for 54 years, and having my OWN money with held for Unemployment Insurance as is this case. Dope.

Perhaps you have been living in a cave or haven't had the opportunity of a university education. You surely weren't paying close attention in high school civics class. In order to elevate your intellect, I shall inform you the rich alone do not pay for unemployment insurance. It came out of taxpayers paychecks when they were working! Just like Social Security! Many people have suffered the loss of their position as a result of outsourcing. The only reason companies outsource is because they are greedy. Greed motivates corporations to cut American employees (many who had long years with the company) in favor of outsourced employees who will work for as little as $3/HR with no overtime pay or benefits. If these corporations cared about their American employees, we wouldn't have such a high unemployment rate. So get off your judgmental high horse; the next person RIFed may be you.

uh, no the rich aren't paying the unemployment. The employer that just laid you off pays your unemployment.

The Revolution will not be televised, but it really is inevitable at this point.

It is only a matter of time before the final stage of the Great Collapse is in progress.

Dim-witted, in 2007, Warren Buffett -- you know who Warren Buffett is, right? Warren Buffett said that in his opinion, there is something seriously wrong with a system that allows him, at that time the 3rd weathies person in the world, to pay 17.7% in taxes on his $46 million income, while his receptionist paid 30% on her $65,000 (for 2006) And, he added, he doesn't even have a tax shelter, because if he did, he'd be paying even less. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/27/AR2007062700097.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/money/tax/article1996735.ece

Still think they're paying their share?

How sad that people have this much jealousy and envy for people that have earned more. I think we all need to remember that the vast majority of the workforce is working. And the people that employ workers are the rich

You never would have heard this entitlement mentality during the depression. People had dignity and honor then. Now its just poor pitiful me. Now its "someone owes me money and a job". Nobody owes you anything in life.

Let me guess.....you went to college and either your parents supplied you with a place to live, or tuition, or both. And I suppose you think you were entitled to that.

Aileen-2817157

I live in Alaska, at the end of the grid. My parents did not pay for anything in my world, I rejected the system, your value system and, I am here in Alaska by choice.

Most of us in my area of Alaska are capable of living a subsistence exsistence from nature.

America is in dire straights, keep your blinders on, follow your crooked leaders, as they are not helping, but burying America farther in debt.

Not one "leader" is addressing the unfair trade agreements with the US, immigration, unfair Union Benefits, Government Entitlement Programs, that private enterprise can no longer support.

Keep an eye on Californicate, as that is what will happen next in the US - broke, either cut services or raise taxes (so says Jerry Brown, governor elect - the people can choose)

The bought and paid for "crooks in government" are the problem, not the solution! Both parties!

Fact - when ones pays into SS in thier paychecks, they too are paying into UI, however the extended tiers are from the Government. No, the RICH are not paying for it, we are putting that along with everything else on our CC. We all are paying for it.

Fact - just released today in the paper it shows that even if every unemployed person was to fill the jobs available we would still have over 12 MILLION left with no job and many, many MILLIONS under employed.

Fact - the politicians and public, except for the ASSH@LES know that there are not nearly enough jobs out there, nobody denies it but those that care not for anyone but themselves. We are not in a economy with normal unemployment %, if it was then i too would be pissed and say WTF.

Fact - those that are very wealthy and insanely wealthy do not pay the tax rates we have in place anyhow. With loopholes and deductions and transfers of funds into hiding, it is way less. This has been proven as fact. Anyone out there claiming otherwise is either misinformed or a liar. It has been said that the norm is around 28% - so all you well off people STFU and pay your taxes. We all have taxes taken out of our paychecks so stop whining.

I have never ever heard anyone bitch about paying taxes , yet alone bitch about what its used for. Go live your 60-100 year lifespan in happiness and hope and pray you and your family are healthy and as kind and loving as possible as human beings.

Stop whining and bitching about the 1/2 of 1% our government spends to help the needy and UI benefits

Who knows, but if his parents could afford it, they were certainly entitled to provide it. You think otherwise?

So...you graduated from high school and with no family support you somehow traveled to Alaska and set up housekeeping at the end of the grid? Job? Income? Never been laid off?

@MTMIKE - actually you are wrong, the US and other Euro nations have met and also in the G20 summits to address what needs to be done with the Global balance. You need to read up or watch some more news my friend.

They are trying to get China to bring up their currency to the correct price and stop cheating the system.

They are trying to get China & japan & India to consume more goods and have the US and UK & Europe be given more Production and exportation possibilities to balance it out. Those nations are exporting more and importing less throwing it all out of whack. We need to either consume less and make our own or have them take in more. The key is balance, and we all know how unfair it has become over the last 15-20 years it has become.

Also MTMIKE - just released today it is shown that even if all the unemployed filled all the jobs available more than 12 MILLION would still be without a job and many, many more millions would be under employed.

I do agree it is both parties at fault, they seem to be on different paths but the outcome leads to the same conclusion.

I see yuo live in Alaska huh, just like S. Palin who claims to also be this so called self reliant, however when you see her actions on Tv and her stupid Show, she is so fake and obviously never having done anything self reliant at all.

Trying to get a COMMUNIST NATION to play by CAPITALIST RULES, now, that is funny, Why do you think China does not want to "play" our capitalist game, yet contributes to the game?

Did it ever occur to you, the Communist KNOW, America and Capitalism can not sustain itself without debt, and by contributing to funding the debt, help speed the demise of America and Capitalism. Capitalism is flawed and the flaw is now exposed. Borrowing against the future, to pay for the here and now (debt and deficit) is the flaw! (the US has been functioning as a GIANT PONZI SCHEME)

The Fed needs to be ended.

The idea of one world, one currency, raising the standards of "poor" nations, is idealism, not reality.

Personally, I believe in survival of the fittest. Laws of nature. I am NOT my BROTHERS KEEPER! Starve, if you don't know how to survive!

Regarding Sarah: Sarah is a "rock star" cashing in on the mentality of the "lost". Sarah is just another pawn being used by the power brokers to keep their wealth. Sarahs immediate family in Alaska probably has some survival skills - in case it comes to that!

MtMike...

There are people who live an entire existence of the govt entitlement system however, there are MILLIONS of recently enemployed fellow Americans who have NEVER been jobless until this deep recession. They are frustrated just as much as you and certainly NOT taking advantage of the entitlement programs...problem is there JUST AREN'T ANY JOBS FOR THEM! The private sector is NOT growing or hiring...NO one is! And sorry, not everyone can go live in woods and hunt off the land like a cave man such yourself. Some people are civilized socially and morally. Some people are NOT judgemental. So live the way you want...NO one cares but don't expect all the unemployed in the US to go live in a tent and shoot squirrels for food....c'mon! Hopefully, you will never need assistance physically or financially in your lifetime...consider yourself lucky however, stop judging those that need help you scrooge. It's very unpatriotic to be so self-centered as well as accuse those educated, unemployed individuals for keeping the economy in ruins. I do believe the tax breaks for the wealthy just cost all of us and the deficit $700 billion...

Whether you like it or not, we ALL have a stake in this country's successes and failures...quit blaming.

Aileen-2817157

I have never been laid off. I have ALWAYS worked for myself. I have never drawn any kind of government benefits, none, although I do pay in to them, reluctantly.

From my youth, I never wanted to be some one else's "slave", I do the labor and they get the rewards of my effort.

That, is why I chose Alaska, and I did look elsewhere. Keep the blinders on, your government wouldn't lie to you (again!)

Did it ever occur to you, everything you were ever taught (brainwashed), was incorrect?!

Alaska was an interesting choice for free and independent living, given that for every $1 in federal taxes Alaska pays, it gets $1.84 back; in other words Alaska is a net drag on US taxpayers...

Hey dim wit, I think I get it. "Work will set you free"

Someone lacking in basic education claims that the rich are not paying for the extended unemployment benefits, that it is all going on the nations credit card? Exactly who do you think makes the largest contribution to paying this ever increasing criminal debt? It's the rich people.

Ever more proof how insane liberal thought is. They add $3 trillion in new debt in less time than any group in history, blame it on the other guys, then call debt bad, want rich people to pay for this lunacy - it feels like I am talking to some stupid teenager with no sense, no experience, and no responsibility.

Both parties have figured out how to make their own lives very good. Both parties have robbed the treasury. The ONLY protection we have is to look at the founding fathers intent - small government with limited power, not mob rule. Term limits, balanced budget amendment, no spending without funding.

And no, a tax cut is not spending - and any dimwit committed to that is proof positive of both the laziness of liberals but also the lack of understanding of human behavior, and economic growth.

If the economy grows (lower taxes encourage this as it puts more money back in OUR pockets) tax revenues grow. When you tax at higher rates, people change their behavior. A simple correlation that some like to draw during the Clinton years is a complete misreading of ALL of the information required to understand growth and contraction.

Americans are dimwitted,

What is wrong with you. Why do people like you vote against their own self interests every time and cheer on the other team. Are you one those people living in a house on wheels who votes as if already rich believing someday you will own your own corporation so you can send jobs overseas (job creation for the Chinese) and enlarge your six car garage to twelve while people can't find work and children are writing Santa Claus not for toys but clothes! The power, the might, the manifest destiny of this country has been for most of its history created by working Americans, the Middle Class, common sense governance and people with heart! Honestly, the Rich don't need your help because in the end your just one of us - a working Joe or Sally. The RICH DON"T MAKE JOBS THEY DOWNSIZE!

DRK-1183578

There are many of us in Alaska who do not draw on government, want the Feds out of our state, did not like Ted Stevens, or Murkowski, or how they operate with "earmarks" - as stated, most of the Fed money goes to "carpet baggers".

The Feds (and carpet baggers) are here in Alaska because of the oil - Anchorage, Fairbanks are "carpet baggers" cities, with military bases.

Do you understand "combat fishing"? That, is what the Federal Government has done for Alaska.

The sooner the collapse of America happens, the better off Alaska will be!

Fact - when ones pays into SS in thier paychecks, they too are paying into UI

Not fact. Unemployment insurance (a state tax not a federal tax) is paid solely by employers. You remember employers, don't you? Those rich people you so despise.

Fact - just released today in the paper it shows that even if every unemployed person was to fill the jobs available we would still have over 12 MILLION left with no job and many

No coincidence, there are 12 million illegal aliens working in this country right now.

I do believe the tax breaks for the wealthy just cost all of us and the deficit $700 billion...

I'm sure you do believe that. Doesn't make it true, of course. The bill that just passed did not cut taxes at all. It merely maintained the status quo. In other words, everyone will pay the same tax rates next year as they have paid for the last 8 years. The deficit will not increase by $700 billion unless Congress decides to spend $700 billion more than is taken in by taxes. Recall that the entire federal budget was only $100 billion in 1960. There is no good reason why it should be a dollar higher today. A spendthrift federal government is to blame for deficits.

I hope you set aside time to thank the Federal government for purchasing Alaska so you can have a place to live as you describe.

There is a difference between downsizing and degradation. Losing a home to live in your car doesn't equal "downsizing." Moreover, you apparently aren't doing your homework. I'm not even unemployed but I'm suffering because I can't make it on this low-pay position that doesn't cover my bills much less the car that just broke down on me or the dental work I need done. I'm grateful for it but it's not what I went to school for the first time and it's not what I went back for either.

Employers are only protecting their own rear ends these days and your suggestion to learn new skills is laughable at best when you know people already being told "overqualified" everywhere they go. Seriously, in such an employers' market, do you REALLY think that the most qualified individuals are being hired?? The answer, in case you were confused, is no. Time after time, I have seen under-qualified individuals hired in place of respectable certified applicants because they can justifiably be paid less. Employers don't even consider the "overqualified" candidate because they know they'd be screwing them in the pay scale and are afraid they won't stick around. For people like my father, out of work for nearly three years with a 3rd degree under his belt, I can guarantee you that learning new trades is no guarantee of employment.

Even McDonald's is saturated, receiving hundreds more applications each year than we can even consider and you can look up the high turnover there if you want to get a good idea of the sheer volume of apps we receive each week.

In final response to your post, no I don't think we are entitled to a standard of living. However, try saying that to the wealthy who think they need three homes and silver rims on their Cadillacs. Besides, the tax cuts to them are robbing the future just as much as the benefit extensions to the poor so who are you to decide that they are more deserving. Just as I told dim-wit up there, give up your job to someone qualified and jobless and go live among the needy before you run your mouth.

Nikki:

As a person who was born in poverty, and knows what it is like to be hungry, your post is a comment on most Americans. As I read these posts, I see there are those who are suffering; those that are afraid; or both. And then there are those, who want to take glee in the suffering of others. They give their half-facts, to support their baseless arguments. I wish you a better 2011. I started out poor but currently I am a very "rich" woman. Not with money or financial success but with family and friends.

So MtMike, are you saying you do not take the state refund every Alaskan gets by taxing the oil industry that everyone in the U.S. pays in higher oil costs?

All available jobs filled leaves 12 million Americans unemployed, equals about a 3.84% unemployment rate. Is this good or bad?

"I live in Alaska, at the end of the grid."

You mean with that other social retard, Sarah Palin?

What if, everything you were taught (brainwashed) were wrong!

Keep following the system that failed you, leaders that lied to you, and you are dependent on!

To all those complaining about jobs you have to wonder where the manufacturing base in our Country went. For that you will have to thank Clinton and his agrements with other Nations. He sold it to them. Right after he balanced the budget, falsely, by cutting all military spending.

Times are tough. So, just how many weeks should the government pay unemployed workers for no work? 99 (two years) ? 198 (four years) ? At some point, these people should realize that they are unable to afford to maintain their current lifestyle and reduce it with drastic changes, such as moving out of a city to a state in which the costs are lower. Otherwise, Americans should learn to emigrate. Why is it that citizens from every other country of the world can travel up to 13,000 miles to get to the US but American citizens are unable to do the same.

Good point. Maybe some should walk away from their houses and go back to an apartment until they can afford another house. Look how many peole move out of NYC or Chicago because they can't afford it and commute from the suburbs. Where I live now it is a little cheaper and people ride the bus for an hour to get to their jobs in NYC. Make the sacrifice before it is made for you.

Are you willing to "downsize" your lifestyle? How Damned easy it is for those that think they are sitting pretty to criticize those who are not. You're one of those that will suffer the most from the coming change. Make no mistake about it, it is going to happen. Laissez faire is last step before sanity seizes a country from the hands of the greedsters, drunken with the success of economic injustice. Better decide which side you're on, because it won't be pretty.

Interesting discussion in the most part if one excuses the rantings and raving of the lunatic fringe.

Bottom line: Americans are Dim Witted has stated his position with facts, has articulated his case intelligently and most importantly has a firm grasp on the true state of this Country and the problems with our economy. He has educated many of you, unfortunately most did not like the lesson. Well he has been successful if even one of you took the time to go back and research his data and come to a better understanding of our economy and what makes it work or not work.

You dick head are one of the many asssholes paid by the extreme right idiot that help dumb asses like George W. Bush to bankrupt our country deregulating the banking industry and supporting the genocide of innocent people and the destrucction of free independent nations, shut the Fu&8 Up and and grow a conscience.

@awfton

Go drink some Jim Jones Kool-Aid. We know you are going to get your gun and start a rising from the dust turnaround for the Country. Every thread I've ever seen you on is nothing but immature comments not based in reality.

@jhonsmith

Amazing how all the Dems forgot how bad they wanted to go into Iraq after the Trade Center bombings. Now it is a trajedy that only Bush created. And to tell people to STFU you need to go talk to your family like that not people you don't know. It really does show a lack of class, intelligence and maturity. Maybe your genes need to be cleansed from the overall genepool.

I just find it amazing the level people have to stoop to when they cannot defend their point with logic and fact.

@ johncarter. i never said anything about companies or the rich.

Yes it is fact - go look it up! When you pay into SS in your check some of it is for UI. Not the Extended portion but the UI. I looked it up, maybe you should too.

I'm sure there are way more than 12 Million Illegal's.....Wow, that's a sad thought!

By me they have fake DL's not the day labor kind....those are worse than the day laborers, they take middle class blue collar manufacturing/factory jobs.

Frank,

I agree with you. Hopefully the adults will be back in charge, unlike the Republicans during the Bush era.

There is a saying "Both Democrats and Republicans want everyone to be equal, the Republicans want everyone to be equally rich, and the Democrats want everyone to be equally poor."

Interesting quote. But wealth is relative. It is impossible for everybody to be equally rich. If everyone has the same resources, no one is wealthy.

Seems more possible for everybody to be equally poor...

lorent,

It is more an amusing quote than a practical one.

Small l liberals and conservative Republicans believe in equality of opportunity, not equality of outcome. Anytime you live in a meritocracy there will be a disparity in wealth. All we are talking about in this conversation is what incentives do we provide to work or not to work.

"I don't understand how the unemployed are angry at the government and the rich. Those "rich" are the only ones paying for your unemployment."

Americans are dim witted,

Jobs are created by demand, the freeing up of lending by the banks and new company creation. The Middle Class for all intents and purposes created itself in a climate driven by common sense regulation (FDR at the end of the Depression) and with the help of the government elect directing tax dollars towards synergistic programs, i.e the Interstate Highway System, the G.I. Bill and the Apollo program which without you would not be posting your comments today on your PC. Ten years of Bush tax breaks created only 1.1 million jobs (this is beyond sad) in his two terms and the Great Recession we are now in the throws of. Supply Side (trickle down) Economics has been irrefutably disproven - it doesn't work! Under Clinton and at much higher levels of taxation 23 million jobs were created. Making the rich richer will not make you less poor. Great economies trickle up not the other way around! By the way your MO no doubt best describes a group to which you so obviously belong!

One of the largest problems with the American economy is that no one is producing anything. The very wealthiest of people make money from moving it around and "investing" it.

Its rare for SKILLED people such as engineers, scientists, farmers, and health-care professionals to pull in over $250 thousand a year. Yet education, manufacturing, research, technology etc. (art and entertainment too) are what actually contribute to society and move it forward.

Exactly Endocrine!

This type of truly wealthy gamble in stock and currency manipulations, and have the ability to take the economies of the world down with them. They do not produce anything, or create other than additional derivatives to "invest" in.

Never argue with a fool.. From a distance, onlookers cannot tell who is who.. Leave the dimwit alone so he can go back to online porn and an empty home with no companionship.. Who could put up with such a boob. He's funny.. LOL And definitely lonely..

Endocrine,

Nope, truck drivers move it forward...and backward...into loading docks.....

@ifyouarenotrich...

Once again a poster with nothing to say so he attacks someone with a different opinion than his.

Or, perhaps you better get ready for the soical upheavels that will erupt. People can not find jobs where there are none. It's like Junior demanding Saddam Hussein to give up the WMD he did not have.

If you think this class war is going to end the way conservsatives want, better think again. We have guns too.

awfton - your just stupid so go find a porn site and find something you might actually have some success at - you do a miserable blog - fool

There's so much being said on this blog it's wild. First, the "loop holes" that the rich use are available to all of us. They do the same tax forms that we do and deduct the same things. Obviously, they start with more on the top line than we do. Business people, it's a different game. They have different forms, different deductions. Your wages are a deduction for them. The cost of your benefits are a deduction for them. They get depreciation on almost all buildings, equipment, etc. Still, they pay tax on their bottom line. We all can have IRA's. Some businesses have 401K's. Those are huge tax deductions available to us. Given a choice between doing something for yourself or paying the tax, what would you prefer? If you have to pay it, I'd rather it be me. The rich are the ones that do these things. You make your money work for you. If you have your money in a bank at 1/2% interest, you can get as high as 8% on a AAA bond. Treasuries will pay you more than a bank. Last year, my bank interest was $14.00. 20K at 8% will get you $1,600 a year with that bond. It's a no brainer.

@awfton

You sir are a moron. Go get your gun and start this upheavel. They have prisons or maybe mental wards for people who make comments like you. You can be known as awfton in the coffin. While we are all thinking again. LMAO

@brick road

They just don't understand that what's available to the wealthy is available to them. And if they would have been a bit more conservative and invested instead of spending they would have not been in this situation now.

Where would you suggest they look for a job in China India or Malaysia? Commuting will be a bitch.

We are in this because we were stupid enough to elect Republicans.

How would you like to be making $200,000 a year today after 25 years on the job? Well, if you started with the pay of an average worker 25 years ago that's what you'd be making today---if you got the same kind of raises that CEOs of American companies got for the past 25 years! The average compensation of a CEO in 1980 was about 40 times that of the average worker in his company. Today it is more than 500 times! If your pay had kept up with his, you would be making more than $200,000 this year. Of course, that didn't happen, did it? So let's see what actually did happen to the average American worker's pay over the past 25 years of the Reagan-Bush economic regime..
Stagnating Workers' Wages

In 1979 the American worker's average hourly wage was equal to $15.91 (adjusted for inflation in 2001 dollars). By 1989 it had reached only $16.63/hour. That's a gain of only 7 cents a year for the entire Reagan decade.

But wait. Things get worse! By 1995 it had risen to only $16.71, or virtually no gain whatsoever over the 6 years between 1989 and 1995. During the great 'boom years' between 1995 and 2000 it rose briefly to $18.33 per hour. In other words, from 1979 to 2000, even before the most recent Bush recession, after more than two decades the American worker's average wages increased on average only 11.5 cents per hour per year! With nearly all of that coming in the five so-called 'boom' years of 1995-2000, and most of that lost once again in the last three years. And that includes for all workers, even those with college degrees.

The picture is worse for workers who had no college degree. That's more than 100 million workers, or 72.1% of the workforce. For them there was no 'boom of 1995-2000' whatsoever. Their average real hourly wages were less at the end of 2000 than they were in 1979! And since 2000 their wages have continued to slide furthe

Well-stated, Wolf; moreover, thank you for your two-plus decades of service.

imwhitewolf,

Thank you for proving the point of my name. We all pay into unemployment, which is insurance, to receive 26 weeks of unemployment payments.

Let's see 99 - 26 = 73 weeks. Let me know if I am going to fast for you. Those extensions are being paid out of the general budget not state unemployment.

Next you confuse compassion with solutions. There are many studies that demonstrate that extending unemployment extends the downturn. I want to give everyone a pony but that will not make our economy recover. You, in your ignorance, extend the misery for the entire nation. Just because you want to make everyone feel better.

dimly lit,

No, I sincerely believe YOU don't understand it. The vast majority of those unemployed don't want to be nor did they do anything to cause them to be unemployed. They run the gauntlet of people in this country. Urban, rural, well educated, under educated, young and old, cons and Libs. There is no single face to those who are unemployed. There are 6 to 7 unemployed people for each job posting. You say oh, go back to school, learn a new profession. Tell me how is a man or woman who is trying to keep their family afloat, who barely can afford to pay the bills, going to come up with the money for school? Another one of your ilks favorite screams is move to where the jobs are. Again, how is a family to afford it?

BTW---there are also studies that show peoople who get an unemploment check spend it NOW, not hoard it like others who have benefitted greatly from bush's tax cuts.You live in a surreal world where your ignorance knows no bounds. To you every one is a con artist. You and others like you show the downside of the internet. Thanks to the aninimity (sp) of it one can say almost anything one wants or express thoughts they wouldn't express in the company of spouses, parents, their kids, co-workers, etc. When I read some of the more rediculous posts on here and on other sites I really pray that the posters don't really believe the garbage they are spewing forth.

We all do not pay in to unemployment, the EMPLOYER pays.

Entitling people does nothing but make them dependent, no motivation to get off of their "gift". It is a proven fact, when unemployment stops, suddenly, a large percentage of the unemployed find work. Amazing the ignorance in this country.

Hey Wolfie,

You miss my point. I am not saying that bad things don't happen to good people. I am trying to say that extending unemployment to 99 weeks is far worse than the suffereing incurred by the unemployed. If unemployed people are willing to work for less, and the government isn't using dollars like toilet paper, then businesses will hire and people will get jobs.

Yes, the unemployed spend the money they receive. Therefore, we should give everyone an extra $2K/month. Oh yeah, that little problem, of having to either print the money and creating hyper inflation, or borrowing it, and taking that money out of investment or job creation.

You have to understand, being well intentioned, does not make up for making stupid decisions, and continuing our economic downturn. Obama flushed 800 billion dollars down the toilet with the reinvestment act, and how well did that turn out for us?

imwhitewolf

God Bless you. Thank you for clarifying that for him and for a lot of other uneducated people. Also, thank you for serving your country. A lot of us are sick of people who don't know what they are talking about....who are, as you say, uncompassionate. If he has a job..good for him. But, almost, and I hate to say this, I wish everyone with that attitude would suddenly find themselves out of work and desperate, like millions of Americans are right now. Again, Thank you and God Bless you! Janiah

@ imwhitewolf - I also want to thank you for showing compassion and sympathy for those who have hit hard times.

As for those crying/moaning about the un/underemployed being lazy...just remember one thing. Many of these people may have felt the same way you did before life hit them...then they learned compassion for their fellow man. What you and others forget is that life happens and is not fair to everyone. Pray...just pray that you never end up like those you criticize. It can happen in a blink of an eye. When it does happen to you...don't even attempt to apply for any type of public assistance...because we don't need to help those who are unwilling to help those in need of help the worst.

Plus...if those of you which seem so concerned with the safety net and calling your fellow man lazy...you make sure you turn down/repay your Social Security and Medicare. They are as much of this safety net as unemployment and food stamps.

If we judge our society by how much we can help those who need the help the most...those of you with the hardest heart are the worst this society can produce and makes me shameful that you live in the same society I do. It is my duty to help those in need of help...but I hope you would have to experience what your selfishness has wrought. You might understand the darkness of your heart/soul.

Hey all you jackass's, these people are getting 1,700 a month, I was in a car accident and I went from 100,000 to 30,000 so I get rid of my house, cars and other bills, they could do the same. I sold my house and moved into a smaller one, why should everyone else pay for people who do not want to give up their stuff. If that is the case then I want "imwhitewolf" to pay for me to get a bigger house. And "imwhitewolf" how mush does the gov give you and why don't you give it back so other can have some. Since I take it you are better off then me so I want some of yours. Give me Give me Give me.

"I don't understand how the unemployed are angry at the government and the rich. Those "rich" are the only ones paying for your unemployment."

Americans are dim witted,

Jobs are created by demand, the freeing up of lending by the banks and new company creation. The Middle Class for all intents and purposes created itself in a climate driven by common sense regulation (FDR at the end of the Depression) and with the help of the government elect directing tax dollars towards synergistic programs, i.e the Interstate Highway System, the G.I. Bill and the Apollo program which without you would not be posting your comments today on your PC. Ten years of Bush tax breaks created only 1.1 million jobs (this is beyond sad) in his two terms and the Great Recession we are now in the throws of. Supply Side (trickle down) Economics has been irrefutably disproven - it doesn't work! Under Clinton and at much higher levels of taxation 23 million jobs were created. Making the rich richer will not make you less poor. Great economies trickle up not the other way around! By the way your MO no doubt best describes a group to which you so obviously belong!

$290/mo. doesn't add up to $1700/mo. Just remember these people have families and are barely making it. I want to see one of you try to do that.

With all the loopholes and outsourcing and squirreling away of the money they have into offshore accounts, the rich are NOT paying the unemployment insurance rates. Where any of you get this 38% I'll never know. It's been proven they pay around 16%, which is lower than those below the poverty line pay.

Simple question, Americans are dim witted: What's YOUR job? I dare you to truthfully answer my question, if you've got the guts.

Hey Wolf: Brilliant retort, complete with juvenile personal attacks, but short on substance. I've been unemployed for about 1 1/2 years. I was an executive in a now obsolete industry. I do not understand this antipathy toward people with money. It's amazing that some people honestly seem to believe that they should be able to take someone else's money, and that THEY should decide who has enough and who doesn't. I hate being unemployed. It's been more than difficult. But to get angry because the government isn't taking more money away from the wealthier among us is just plain small minded and immature. It was frankly the government that caused most of this mess in the first place. Democrats can be blamed for the real estate bubble (CRA 1977, thanks Jimmy Carter). Socializing private businesses and confiscating people's money out of spite and trying to redistribute it will not solve the problem. I want a chance to really succeed. Not be dependent on government handouts.

Americans are dimwitted,

What is wrong with you. Why do people like you vote against their own self interests every time and cheer on the other team. Are you one those people living in a house on wheels who votes as if already rich believing someday you will own your own corporation so you can send jobs overseas (job creation for the Chinese) and enlarge your six car garage to twelve while people can't find work and children are writing Santa Claus not for toys but clothes! The power, the might, the manifest destiny of this country has been for most of its history created by working Americans, the Middle Class, common sense governance and people with heart! Honestly, the Rich don't need your help because in the end your just one of us - a working Joe or Sally. The RICH DON"T MAKE JOBS THEY DOWNSIZE!

Actually you are both right. Initially, the employer does pay for unemployment benefits. However, the extension that the Federal government keeps passing which extend unemployment benefits out past the date that they would normally expire are not paid for by the employers. The government pays for these extensions. Since the the top 10% of tax payers represent approximately 68% of federal income taxes collected; then it is understandable where someone could think and say that the "rich" are paying for thes extensions. However, the money for these extensions, whether right or wrong, is actually coming from other sources and most of the money is being borrowed to pay for them.

I also want to state that I agree with others who have stated that not all the unemployed like fact that they are having to live on unemployment benefits and the vast majority would rather be working and making a living. Now some are going to say that the unemployed should take any job they can find. Proplem is that if professional, like a business executive or CPA or an engineer, takes a job at Lowe's or McDonald's just to get a job, they run into two issues. First, many times these jobs pay far less then they pay from their old jobs and it is not uncommon that the pay from these type of jobs after taxes is less then what unemployment pays. Second, many employers look badly upon someone who makes such a huge step backwards in their professional carreer and now you have to find ways to defend your decision to work at McDonald's.

So many are sort of stuck between a rock and a hard place. I was unemployed for over 2 years. I sent an average of 100 resumes out each week. There just was not anything out there for someone with my qualifications. So I went back to college to add a few more degrees with the hope that the economy will be back on it's feet when I get out, but others might not have this option.

So it is not a clear cut black and white situation out there like many want to believe.

Thank you imwhitewolf, very well said!

Let's see 99 - 26 = 73 weeks. Let me know if I am going to fast for you. Those extensions are being paid out of the general budget not state unemployment.

Pffft, as if it's not all taxes paid for by the middle class.

Spare us.

imwhitewolf: save your effort. the typing will give you carpal tunnel anyway. after all what you have written has not convinced anyone that you are any less ignorant than the ones you criticize. do some homework.

Those of you blaming the boogyman saying "The DEMS sold us out" or "Tax the rich!" Or "Stop giving breaks to the rich!" or "Give back to those who are actually doing the work this holiday season" are totally clueless and have no idea what is going on.

Neither raising nor lowering taxes, or extending unemployment is going to fix our problems right here in the United States. The problem is that overseas loopholes encourages the outsourcing of jobs and investments to foreign nations that otherwise would be generating growth and tax revenue right here in this country. If you had that opportunity and were interested in bettering yourself, you would be a fool not to take it was well!

At the same time we allow congress to deficit spend money we don't have because these foreign nations buy the debt, and they in turn become the ultimate special interests in our Congress. By that point, both the DEMS and the GOP are scared of them and will not close the loopholes for the foreign countries and multinational corporations.

The DEMS have to get it through their thick heads that the money they love to spend so much must be generated by business and MUST BE THERE before they spend it. The GOP has to get it through their dreamy, idealistic heads that THE MONEY from the companies manipulates our government, and once a company becomes a multinational corporation, they could care less about the workers, the local town, or the Country.

... At that point we'll all be off to a good start and can sit down and propose some real, but painful, solutions that are available at this point to stop the outsourcing and deficit spending.

Whatever we do, we had better do it in the next five to ten years or there will be a point of no return.

Before I opened my own business I worked a full time job during the day, then went to my night job and had a third job on weekends. This was all when times were good. I put away money to start my business. I did not drive expensive cars or live in a house I couldn't afford. One time when I was layed off I got a job crawling into huge oil tanks and scrubbing them out after they were drained. It was hot, smelly, disgusting work but it paid the bills but just barely. This was with an Accounting Degree and a Degree in Real Estate Finance & Investment.

So there are jobs out there and take more then one if you have to to make ends meet. At least maybe you'll meet someone along the way who can be a contact. You definately won't meet them sitting home on your couch.

Glen, very well said, too bad most of the blogs in here are from liberals without a clue or the lunatic fringe of the Democratic party. Neither of our National party's is totally right but the Democrats are wrong more often then not when it comes to the economy or National Defense.

Most of these soulless bastards are products of the Reagan years, the "me first" jerks who think that "personal responsibility" is the 11th Commandment according to their Lord, King Ronald. The present economic problems are a result of policies that the conservatives demanded, from Reagan onward. Yet, the ignorant wingnuts, will not bother to find out the truth, they simply want what they want, and that is to blame the left for the problems they created.

I challenge those that are belittling the unemployed to quit their jobs and try to find another that pays as much as the one they just quit. Fact is, unemployment is not enough to make ends meet if you own a home, car and have kids in school or college. But, don't let that fact keep you AHs from making asinine comments about the unfortunate ones who have lost their livelihoods. Everyone of you deserve the same fate that you are so quick to condemn.

Yes we are the souless bastards that lived within our means. Who worked hard. The people who didn't watch the clock or take every vacation day. The ones who were not just on time but early. The ones who volunteered for special projects and stayed late everytime the Boss asked. The ones who made ourselves invaluble to the Company so that we weren't the ones to be layed off.

We have no reason to quit our jobs as we worked hard to keep them. So the next time you call someone an AH remember you are the unemployed AH while they are the employed AH's.

And if your so compassionate then what do you do to help those even less fortunate then you. Do you feed the hungry? Do you take in a border to help with the mortgage?

What do you do to help that infringes on your lifestyle to help others? You souless bastard.

agreed, the only real issue though is that due to the situation facing the US economy it is in the best interests of the rich to invest their capital overseas, therefore it is in direct conflict with the best interests of the nation to cut their taxes.

I doubt there is a solution at this late date, let the looting of America continue on all sides.

Fair Trade Agreements with America need to be addressed!

Fair Trade agreements my A$$! American needs the tarriff's back on imported goods we had in place in the 50's n 60's. Industry would be here not there. America deregulated the dairy industry and knocked out nearly every farm in America. Deregulated the Rail Roads and knocked ten of thousands of workers out of jobs. Which supported the trucking industry and now fuel prices are unaffordable and our highways are torn to peices. So much belongs back on rails not on our roads. Our Politicians are directly to blame! 100%.

Americans are dimwitted,

What is wrong with you. Why do people like you vote against their own self interests every time and cheer on the other team. Are you one those people living in a house on wheels who votes as if already rich believing someday you will own your own corporation so you can send jobs overseas (job creation for the Chinese) and enlarge your six car garage to twelve while people can't find work and children are writing Santa Claus not for toys but clothes! The power, the might, the manifest destiny of this country has been for most of its history created by working Americans, the Middle Class, common sense governance and people with heart! Honestly, the Rich don't need your help because in the end your just one of us - a working Joe or Sally. The RICH DON"T MAKE JOBS THEY DOWNSIZE!

Tank - you have stated your same opinion in 15 previous blogs - got it you do not like wealthy peopple and dislike corporations more. Well truth to tell you simply have no clue - go find yourself a job that is not created by someone with enough wealth to invest. Those corporations are not owned by the wealthy, they are owned by thousands of stockholders.

Deregulation took place in each of those industries and many more to provide better competition and to keep proces low for the consumer. Worked too well in many cases, the most competitive won out driving less competitive rivals out of business - we the consumer benefitted at least in the short term.

All those jobs left the US because we are competing in a global market and not doing it very well. The US worker is the most prtoductive worker in the world but labor rates, benefits, healthcare etc makes us uncompetitive. Add in the fact we lost our technological edge because our competitors are better educated and more innovative then we are and unfortunately our next generations will do even worse based upon current test scores coming out of our broken education system.

No offense but did anybody you've encountered your whole life ever suggest that you would make more than $10/hr with a BA in American History? I just hope you didn't pay ivy league tuition for it.

WTF

Good for you

You have the work ethic and pride that have made America what it is today

I hope that your situation turns around quickly

Happy Holidays

he said he had that degree and works delivering bread, not he has a job that goes with his degree...

wtf3000

Your family and fiance helped, good for you. What would your attitude would be if your family was barely making it themselves and could not bail you out? I wonder if you would have the same callous attitude if you were supporting your parents (who are disabled and cannot recieve enough ss to support themselves) and a child or two. If I were by myself, I could survive rather nicely on 10$ an hour, but here in the real world, where other people have different situations from you, we need the benefits.

Good work ethic, but bad career planning.

It is hard to imagine that you thought you could land a good paying job with a history degree. That's not a career path, that's a hobby. Nothing wrong with hobbies of course, and knowledge of history can actually be useful by teaching you what has been tried and failed, and what has succeeded. But it isn't something that by itself is going to earn you big bucks in industry.

It's a sad society where someone disparages the study of history: it is not a good "career choice". It is (only) a hobby. Do you think that everyone should be an entrepreneur? How boring. How ridiculous! My grandfather was a historian who earned 7 honorary doctorates and a papal knighthood - and I'm not joking. My father was a professor of history and one of the best teachers many of his students ever knew. Both my grandfather and father pursued what "spoke to them" - and they did well. A society that diminishes the value knowledge, is a sad one indeed. Our society SHOULD provide many jobs to historians, writers, scholars, artists. Everyone CAN'T be a business man, manufacturer, lawyer, doctor. It is not in their nature. You don't even see what is lost without these specialists. Without high level academics and impressive intellect, the culture is trash.

I almost became a history or English major but realized early on it would not pay the bills. Actually, the study of the material and subject itself suggested I could not make that my sole occupation and helped me make the decision. However it has been my passion and hobby and helped me a lot in my career and life and now business. You see, it is not what you know but what you DO with what you know that allows you to get anywhere here in the US. You may know history but make the same mistakes either through action or inaction, so talking is cheap and your degree is basically worthless.

It is also one of the reasons I see clearly and realize what the real problems are. Lack of an understanding of history is what caused George Bush to make such a series of terrible mistakes.

Lack of an understanding of history is what causes a lot of the confusion here on these message boards. For instance:

*The mistake of passing a law for healthcare without first curbing costs due to the real problems. Only then can you find a real way to pay for it after it has been made a commodity, like it should be, like everything else. Study history of Canada and Europe and the Netherlands as a case in point. They've already been through all this and you can see their success and failures.

*Not realizing we have an employment and tax problem because we our outsourcing the revenue and tax generating jobs.

* Believing crazy numbers from the government budget office or other offices, since they were the ones that claimed to be asleep at the wheel and did not realize things were going into the drink in the first place. You have to be active in business yourself and see how crazy they actually are.

It is also one of the reasons I became and independent voter since I have studied both the DEMS and the GOP up to this date and reached the conclusion that the fundamentals of each of the parties are obsolete for this day and age of a technological, global economy.

thanks for all the feedpack positive and negative. It's interesting that a lot of you focus on the "degree in history," you must understand I never expected a great career, just knowledge and a liberal arts degree. Nowhere did I write "I want to make more money," not important to me. My point was that there are people with degrees working for less than others are receiving on unemployment - for over 99 weeks no less! That's one thing, but for them to complain is another. The handing out of free money DOES drive down the incentive to work.

Unemployment money does not fall from the sky. It's printed by the Federal Reserve and is added to the debt my generation (Y) will be paying down in virtual slavery in the years to come. My study of history may be irrelevant for most "careers" but it's invaluable to be able to see the big picture of the sh*t storm our world is entering. Get out of debt ASAP.

Glen, George Bush made no mistakes because of a lack of understanding of history. In fact the colonization of the Middle East has everything to do with the greater arc of history in the region, regarding the economics of oil. Oil is the lifeblood of modern civilization, and acquiring and holding the last remaining fields is vital to our empire.

Iran, here we come.

John Carter, "it's hard to imagine" because it's not true.

WTF, UI benefits are for 99 weeks maximum, not more. They are paid from UI premiums (it's insurance), not from new debt. Future premiums will be increased to repay any shortfall. The handing out of free money, as you put it, does drive down the incentive to work for some people but I bet a small percentage, mainly the younger ones. Those in their 50s have no incentive to delay because every month that goes by without a job greatly increases the odds that no employer will ever hire them, not even McDonalds. At this point millions of people will likely never work again. They'll become homeless and eating out of Dumpsters if they can't get long-term support from friends & family. It's probably not a fun time for them even as they cash those final checks. Nowadays a 50 year-old needs at least $1.5 million to survive to average life expectancy without using Dumpsters; most have only a tiny fraction of that.

WTF: Your blogs are a welcome relief from the rants of the crazies "contributing" to this blog

healthcareforall2010 wrote "It's a sad society where someone disparages the study of history:"

Some historians and history professors are needed. These are the specialists that live for gathering facts, and in your grandfather's case, the fact category was history. All too many college students choose history as a major only because it is less demanding than other fields of study. As it's said, "I've heard of students failing out of engineering and studying history. I've never heard of anyone failing out of history to study engineering."

The number of college degrees awarded has exploded over the last twenty years, largely thanks to the ranks of women causing a four-fold increase in psychology degrees. As other have written, if any student will be borrowing tens of thousands of dollars for school, they will need to be prepared for a job that can not only support themselves but pay that debt.

Jermbbob,

You can't change the fact that there is cheaper labor overseas. Force US companies to not use them, will only put them out of business in the international market and lead to giant job losses here.

As Jblo points out, you need to simplify and lower corporate taxes, streamline regulations, provide financing for new companies, and we will get right back to full employment.

JemmBob

Tax uncertainty, over regulation and rising health care costs are the factors that led to off shoring

If it were really in the best interests of the business (you liberals hate the word --"profitable") then businesses wold grow and jobs would be created here in the U.S.

If consumers bought more American products instead of shopping only at WalMart small stores and manufacturers would still exist in small towns.

Liberals say consumers are the answer, but they are also part of the problem too.

We need to get to be nonpartisan and fix this together

Blaming the rich, will not improve the lot of the middle class anymore then demonizing social programs without alternatives will make the rich any better off.

Unemployment would be easy to solve and the wealthy would be glad to help you if the solution is put into place! All that needs to be done is eliminate the minimum wage or lower it to $1.25 per hour and they jobs will come back to this country, at least until some other nation decides to work for less!

Corporations have adapted to the economic climate by learning to do more with less. You have three people doing the work of five, all of whom are willing to work more for less because the job market is so terrible. Giving corporations a break isn't going to make them create jobs out of the kindness of their heart. Not here; there's no reason to.

If you force companies not to use cheap, overseas labor AND create protective tariffs against imports it will allow American-based corporations to compete.

I know. If the rich are so mad about the unemployed then give them a job. What is so hard about that?

I can't explain it to a simpleton because I'm not trained to deal with children with learning disabilities.

What's wrong with your question? The mere fact you can even ask it.

over regulation

Yeah just ask all those who have been screwed by BP about over regulation. But thanks for parroting per Rupert Murdoch's instructions.

Force US companies to not use them, will only put them out of business in the international market and lead to giant job losses here.

Ironically if they do use they it will lead to giant job losses here as well.

Duh!

I love how rich Repubs and their corporations outsource our jobs and then refuse to help the displaced, citing the need for the poor to "practice ingenuity". Translation: "find a way to make a pot roast out of grass and dirt you poor slobs. We have what we need so we don't care and, by the way, we're Christians" Must have missed that whole brother's keeper message...

jermmbbob: Slave labor in India and China? Hardly true - the Indian and Chinese economies are clipping along at a nice robust 10% growth per year. They may work for less wages then we do here in the satates but they need less income becasue their standard of living is lower. They have accumulated more individual wealth in the last 20 years than they have ever experienced in their histories. The literacy rate and college grasduation rates of Indian exceed our own, China literacy exceeds our own and they are gaining rapidly on us in college graduation rates. They are succeeding becaus they have a taken the long view of the world economy and have developed thier people to meet the challenge while we here sitting on our asses allowing the world to pass us by. Jobs went overseas because in general they build a better product, at a lower cost than we do.

An example, I use to work for Cummings Engine, we make truck engines - the best in the world. I, as a buyer for the Corporation could buy higher grade steel crankshaft forging cheaper from Japan than I could from a steel mill in Pennsylvania and our plant was in Ohio - thats why our jobs have gone overseas.

"Streamline regulations" is a euphemism for allow greater pollution and other environmental destruction. No, the better solution is simply deflation. Mexico has hospitals just as modern as in the U.S., doctors just as knowledgeable, yet health insurance that pays 100% with no deductible costs a grand total of just $270 per year there. Here it's over 100 times that, way more than explained by a difference in regulations. When most Americans accept a lower standard of living then the job market will improve. For example surgeons could make $200K per year instead of $700K, which would in turn slash the cost of a medical education. My dentist gets $270 for a teeth cleaning. My child got 2 stitches, the bill was $1500. The local hospital put in a giant waterfall. My health insurance has gone up over 15% for 5 years straight. Ridiculous, and it's not just health care that's been increasing way faster than the general rate of inflation.

Yash - your meaningless ramblings and rants are tiresome go get a life - preferrably not in this country.

@hellinahandbasket

You complain about the GOP. Now here is the fact-Clinton was the one who signed the trade agreements that sent out jobs offshore. Clinton was a Democrat. He was the one that made the agreements slanted to the foreigners. Now you have to watch history and not blame the wrong people as it makes for hitting the wrong lever in the voting booth.

From the United States Dept of Labor

Unemployment rates for 25 year olds and over for November 2010:

Less than a High Schhool Diploma - 15%

High School Diploma - 10%

Some College or Associates Degree - 8.7%

College Bachelors Degree and Higher - 5%

"Federal workers make twice as much as their private counterparts. Cut their wages to market rate and hire twice as many."

EXCUSE ME? I'm a Federal employee and I don't make twice as much as my private counterpart.

Nice blanket statement you made there.

FedWorker, how many years are required for you to retire with a full pension? Aren't fed workers given easy access to government-insured loans with 0-3% downpayment?

My 25 years as an Army officer exposed me to many Federal Workers add in 10 years as a consultant to the Federal GVT certainly has been an eye opener. Many of the Federal Civiiian employees are overpaid and under qualified for the positions they hold. They are brought in as square pegs for round holes, they lack the education and/or experience for the pay grade they are filling and lack the ambition to meet the qualifications or requirements. That explains in part the high cost of GVT, add in the expense of bringing a contractor to do the job for this Federal employee - well you get the idea.

Now this blog is going to get a whole lot of Federal GVT employees a tad upset lmao.

Does that mean Obama's letting go of a maid or two?

I rally don't think Obama said "Sacrifice that need to be Maid" Does that mean working as a house keeper is a sacrifice? Maybe you mean made? Our education system strikes again.

I stopped reading at "eliminate corporate income taxes". No, they shouldn't get the roads & bridges & a thousand other things for free. That's just giving free money to the select few. The few jobs they'd create wouldn't be worth it. Montana tried giving big breaks to mining companies. It ended up costing their state taxpayers more than 10 times the money the jobs brought in, and the environmental damage will take nature millions of years to fix.

Try renting a place when you're unemployed. Would you rent to someone without a job?

Not all of us had "extra" anything. I'm d@mned if I'll sell my paid off house (all 1000 square feet of it) to rent in a slum, even if anyone would rent to me when I have no job. I've worked all my life, and now I don't even get an interview for a part-time, minimum wage job. I'm always "overqualified." I'll take anything I can get that's legal, but no luck after almost two years. I don't get unemployment anymore, because our state only qualifies for 73 weeks in total. I'm now living on the retirement I scrimped and saved for during all the years I worked. That means that when I do get to an age to retire, not only will I be unable to, but my house will be the only safety net I have to keep me off the street.

This is no longer the America I was raised to believe in.

actually, there are several places that will rent if you are unemployed if you show that you are trying to sell a house. And there are some private owners who will rent to unemployed on a "faith basis". While I believe that unemployment benefits are necessary, I do not believe in paying for you to keep the half-million dollar house or the two car payments or the kids in prep school. Just like every one else, sacrifices have to be made.

@smrtcookie04 - - I'll be watching for your estate/garage sale - don't worry, I'll bring cash . . . Okay, that isn't so nice - is it?

Seriously, perhaps you should show some compassion and mercy for others . . . .

Titus 3:1-10 - 3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

For those who will spew forth, "What does religion have to do with it?" Everything! Even if you don't believe, there is true wisdom if you would just read. You never know, you may just end believing . . . at at least one would hope.

Disgusted:

What half million dollar house? What part of 1000 square feet are you unable to understand? My kids were public schooled, and are now on their own. They must figure out a way to pay for college by themselves, just as I did. I do not have two car payments, but I still have to pay insurance in order to get to a job, as public transportation is not an option in my area. I am sacrificing; I have trimmed all I can (the internet is provided by my sweet neighbor). My sacrifice is now my future.

Get down off you high horse, because just like the rest of us, one day you might fall off!

okay...,WHAT taxes of yours have been RAISED in the last two years? Name ONE!!!!!~

not to worry- they can't name any taxes that have been raised in the last 2 yrs.

Ted/Maggie: Your statements about taxes are only partially true - to state federal taxes were not rasied in the last 2 years is not truly correct. Many taxes were raised over the last 2 years not all were personal taxes but the consumer was still taxed in a variety of ways to include a federal increase in gasoline tax as one example.

The real truth you two have chosen to ignore are the taxes that have been raised and deferred until 2017 to pay for the increased deficit and ObamaCare - why have we not seen the bill foir tripling the national debt in the 2 years this administration has been in office - the Administration lacks the guts to tell the American public how much of our money has been wasted and how much of our money will be taxed for ObamaCare and every other mis-guided Socia program they have taken on. ObamaCare was initated in 2010 on borrowed money, we

No new taxes - yea right - a deferred tax is still a tax - your dreamers

Maya.

i hear you. people take to much for granted. even still i hope they never have to feel what we do, have, no x-mas here this year either. luckily my lady and i are of meager needs or wants, and the kids are luckily grown. hard on the grand-kids. but you do what you can and that's all you can do.

Have a Merry Christmas. My lady and I shall after all we still have each other.Humbling perhaps but it means more then some will ever know or understand.

Wow, you people will put everyone into poverty. Do you really think charities are run off the back of the poor? How incredibly rude, selfish and short sighted are you. The damn rich support the charities. How unbelievalby, freakin stupid are you people? Your answer is to make everyone poor, so no one can pay the taxes, or support the charities.

It is you, that should be ashamed of yourself! Thank you Mr. Rich Man for the unemployment, and streets, and education, and jobs, and charity, NOW GO TO HELL! Are you really that clueless?

I understand the lack of money as well as you do. I did not grow up rich. I paid for my own school while working. I have been short on cash many times in my life. But, I'm not going to walk down the street and knock over the first rich person I see and steal their wallet. You people can't even look up the word, morality, as you don't have any idea what it means. You would rather dwell in your ignorance, than review easily retrievable information as to the causes and solutions to the problem.

Maya, If I knew where you were, I'd give you a great big hug. Right on, woman! God Bless you. Hugs to you~

Mr. Dim:

Do you really think charities are run off the back of the poor? How incredibly rude, selfish and short sighted are you. The damn rich support the charities.

I have bit my tongue as you have made statements that have been misleading at best, but this one forces a reply! Why do you suppose that the "Rich" support charities? If you eliminate the tax breaks for them doing it, you would see the funds dry up instantly! The truth be known, probably more actual help is provided by the middle class to charities than you allege the rich provide! Why do you hate the poor so much? Are they beneath your social status and therefore not worth your compassion? Or is it that you are so selfish that you feel that they might get something that you feel is owed to you instead? Perhaps a lump of coal is what you should receive for Christmas!

Americans are dimwitted,

What is wrong with you. Why do people like you vote against their own self interests every time and cheer on the other team. Are you one those people living in a house on wheels who votes as if already rich believing someday you will own your own corporation so you can send jobs overseas (job creation for the Chinese) and enlarge your six car garage to twelve while people can't find work and children are writing Santa Claus not for toys but clothes! The power, the might, the manifest destiny of this country has been for most of its history created by working Americans, the Middle Class, common sense governance and people with heart! Honestly, the Rich don't need your help because in the end your just one of us - a working Joe or Sally. The RICH DON"T MAKE JOBS THEY DOWNSIZE!

Buffett and Gates! They asked that the really rich give 1/2 of their wealth to charities. They truly are americans. What a great idea. Unfortunately half of my wealth would not buy a McDonalds for a poor kid.

The damn rich support the charities. How unbelievalby, freakin stupid are you people?

So why do charities spend all their time appealing to the middle class for money? And big surprise, not one stat to back up your massive and intentionally ignorant statements. Of course if you had any proof you wouldn't need to be so arrogant to people in the first place.

Or are you just a misanthrope?
(Yes I realize you will have to look that up, that's why I used it.)

Americans are dimwitted,
What is wrong with you.

Apparently he has become a desciple of Glen Beck and Hannity. Five CC's of Haldol wouldn't hurt either.

@dimwitted - it has only just begun - choose your side wisely, my friend.

2Timothy 3:1-9

"1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone."

choose your side wisely, my friend.

Calling him a friend I offer you the same advice.

@YashBudini -

Why? He/She is not my enemy. Do you suppose it would better to call them an azzhole or some other lovely term to get their attention? No, I don't think so.

Titus3:1-2
1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

Some people have simply been deceived and are continuing to be deceived. Some will say because I am a believer in the "fairy godfather" or the "flying spagetti god" (that one really cracks me up) that it is me . . . but time will tell. There will be a time when the real truth is known. People really need to look around . . . see what is happening here . . .

2Timothy 3:12-13
"12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived."

TT, go right ahead, I'll take my chances with a jackal.

You're expecting compassion from a bunch of social retards here. The vicious right-wing neocons here who were all raised on Reagan and Bush all have this "it won't happen to me" attitude. They were all raised on Rush Limbaugh and Fox News (Faux News).

The conservative right wing in this country is the most selfish, self serving, heartless group of "human beings" that ever lived.

I hope that all right-wing republican'ts on this site that thinks the unemployed are lazy and evil for collecting unemployment comp lose their jobs. Then they will be forced to eat their own words. Then they will see what it's like to pay a mortgage, pay bills, pay insurance, etc.

If you ask me, the lazy good-for nothing right wing republicans are the REAL social parasites in this world.