A Plague On Both Your Houses: The Unemployment Debate

The unemployed are still suffering under a horrible job market; photo credit: irina slutsky

There is a fight between President Obama and the Republicans over an extension for unemployment benefits.

The Daily News is reporting that the President, in particular, has been holding the Republican feet to the fire, accusing them of depriving the out of work public of needed funds.

In researching the facts, one feels like quoting Shakespeare by saying, “A plague on both your houses.”

The President is not exactly telling the truth when he says that Republicans refused to fund unemployment – the truth is that the Republicans have a condition attached to the funding, wanting the money allocated for the extension not to add to the deficit.

The Republicans are saying that since there are billions left from the TARP, and since said TARP is already part of the debt, why not use some for the unemployment benefits extension? For those waiting for the life line, they just want it done and they do not care about whence it came or the conditions.

It is rather disheartening to hear some Republicans argue a position akin to throwing out the proverbial baby with the bath water. In essence, many who are out of work are judged collectively, being seen as lazy. The truth is some of these people seeking unemployment benefits have worked for decades without using the safety net of unemployment, yet in times of their needs now are deemed indolent.

They are accused of being lazy when they have worked for such along time without delving into the unemployment benefit pool, ironically, which was put their for such a time like we are going through. Yes, it is natural for a few to take advantage, but many of us prefer to be gainfully employed.

In the Shakespeare play, the character who said, “A plague on both your houses,” died; the same may happen if the jobs don’t come back and unemployment benefits are cut off.