Wayward Walker

During these recessionary times, with stubbornly high unemployment, Scott Walker wants to increase the requirements for providing unemployment benefits. (Whilst simultaneously reducing regulations on business.)

Scotty rode into town claiming (like all Republicans) he would create jobs and fix anything and everything else that might be broken. Tax cuts, deregulation, and privatization (again) was the answer (again) to all our problems.

Walker hasn't created anywhere near the jobs he promised during his campaigning. Which isn't much of a surprise since most of the legislation he has proposed has been payback to cronies or ideological chest-thumping to impress his base.

But this just seems punitive and wrong. Making it harder for people whom are already down on their luck to get unemployment benefits? Does Scotty not realize that this would further depress the economy? Has there been an explosion of unemployment benefit fraud sweeping Wisconsin? Does Walker realize there is only 1 job opening for every 3.3 persons looking? Should people be punished for not finding the job that isn't there?

If we're looking to cut costs/spending, shouldn't we first be looking at reducing the benefits (or increasing the tax rates) for those doing the best, rather than taking away the crumbs for those at the bottom?

Safety Net

Five Points Worth Remembering About Taxes & The Poor
Introduction To Unemployment Insurance
Myth Of The Exploding Safety Net
Nothing Courageous About Raising The Retirement Age
The Problems Facing Social Security

Paul Ryan Is A Right-Wing Extremist!

Paul Ryan is coming for your Social Security, Medicare, unemployment insurance, minimum wages, public services - what he claims are "entitlements." The programs that your tax dollars support, which the majority of Americans are in-favor of and enjoy, those are "entitlements" which Paul Ryan doesn't feel you deserve. That money should be given to the ultra wealthy, and then allowed to trickle-down to you.



If you believe our society would be (by the eradication of these programs) better off, the Romney/Ryan ticket is your pick.

The poor, working and middle class have struggled the past four decades with stagnating wages and increased volatility of their daily lives. Income inequality has increased exponentially over this period. The rich have gotten much richer and everyone else is either spinning their wheels or losing ground. Our "entitlements" aren't bringing us down, our lack of economic justice is the true culprit.

What used to be paid in wages, retirement, public services, and health care (to people who worked for a living), is now given away as tax cuts, subsidies, exemptions, and other breaks for Wall Street, Big Corporations, Agribusiness, Big Energy, and Pharma - our modern-day Robber Barons. The rich are reaping an excessive amount of our society's rewards, and they want more. So now they're coming for your Social Security and Medicare.

Sorry, but I'm going to pass on the plan that will increase my taxes, lower my pay, end (or increase the cost of) my health care, and jeopardize my retirement ... while simultaneously further enriching the already wealthy.

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And, just in case you've forgotten - Bush's tax cuts and the economy crashing are the two major causes of the deficit:

The Unemployment Crisis

Sometimes we borrow for things that make our lives better. Like buying a home, a new car, or new furniture. People borrow money to brighten their day, reward themselves, or for necessity.

Government, if needed, must deficit-spend out of not only necessity but out of moral obligation.

Certainly unemployment insurance, when necessary, is such an item.

And rather than discussing this properly, as an unemployment crisis, as a time for government to be spending and putting people back to work, we're trying to figure out how to make the unemployment checks for the unemployed even smaller.