Friday, December 13, 2013 Zeb’s VUE

General Information and Analysis

 

Friday the 13^th in Xmas Season… Go quiver J

 

US

From the NY Times:  Tempers Flare as New Rules Strain Senate...  I am too upset and depressed to write a blog entry after all the going on between Republicans and Democrats.  The good-ole boy Republicans are nothing but middle-of-the road Democrats, and the only thing that differentiates the party from middle-of-the-road Democrats on financial matters (like it or not) is the Conservative Tea Party group.  More damaging to the Republicans is the harsh rhetoric being exchanged between the leaders who control the Republican party and the new members of the Republican party who seem to believe in financial responsibility.  The current mess in Congress and Senate must fall under the definition of lunacy.

If anyone reads this today, you should take the time to read Charles Blow's Op Ed (against Rand Paul).  The Appalling Stance of Rand Paul.  

I do not know if Mr. Blow intended to provide the liberals view of social employment, but he has provided a well written opinion of providing a safety net.  What you should ask, is if 26 weeks of unemployment (1/2 year) is not enough, then what is?  If you say 52 weeks, then why not 104 weeks?  Why not forever?  I would suggest that we (including Mr. Blow) look at the big picture and try to understand what must occur overall (how do we pay, how long is long enough, where are new jobs coming from? How do we assure jobs for those that are uneducated and ill prepared to meet the information society (rather than looking for jobs agriculture or manufacturing). 

I also grew up poor as Mr. Blow did, but my father was never without work that I can remember. However, we were always poor, but my parents believed in the USA system.  If we worked hard, went to school, and paid our bills, we would improve. 

That was before the current state of affairs under the USA.  Mr. Blow could not in a limited Op-Ed address the jobs that have moved overseas (and are not coming back).  Those jobs moved there because the wages are lower, the environmental taxes are lower, the governments (ours and the overseas governments) provide incentives to move there. 

Mr. Blow, We, the People, have elected ourselves into a perpertual downward cycle for the middleclass - exactly the opposite of what Communist China is now doing.  Extending unemployment will not bring the jobs back.  I believe you are correct in saying the hardest workers are those in the lowest wages, but those jobs have disappeared and are disappearing.  What now?