Friends,
Haven’t done this for a while, but it’s hitting close to home.
I heard an ‘economist’ this morning on NPR brush off the upcoming end to long term emergency unemployment benefits by saying ‘the world isn’t going to end’. The discussion revolved around 1.3 million getting cut off Jan. 1, and another 5 million running out at the end of their current extension. Well, Mr. ‘economist’, the world isn’t going to end for you, but those millions of people have families with children, and for them it IS going to end. And this will have significant consequences for ALL of us! Please follow me below the magic scroll
Many are going to lose their homes, many are going to go hungry, lose their medications and get sick or sicker. They’re going to wind up in emergency rooms, where they are going to get treated very expensively and that will be paid for by those of us that are fortunate enough to have jobs and insurance and pay taxes. Some are going to die. Some are going to abuse their spouses or children, some are going to commit suicide. Some are going to resort to drugs, gambling and crime. And when I say many, I’m talking about hundreds of thousands, if not millions; when I say some, it’s thousands, perhaps tens of thousands! The sadness, and loss of potential, for these unfortunate, deserving, talented people and their children, is staggering.
All of that misery will affect our economy. That unemployment money is not going to be spent on rent and food and utilities, and that is going to put a drag on the economic recovery that is providing jobs. Meanwhile the NY Post thinks the poor have it too good at the homeless shelters…thank you Hunter for skewering them!
http://www.dailykos.com/...h
Where is our humanity? Congress is home for the holidays, let’s make them feel it!
and thanks for letting me part of this incredible community!