Will the Senate finally pass an unemployment extension measure? Three weeks seems like an eternity to those who have been waiting patiently to receive their unemployment compensation.
Now a reported 1.2 million people will be without benefits beginning this week if the Senate continues to drag their feet on this issue.
There have been reports that the unemployment extension is on the way. Then there have been reports that such an unemployment extension is not going to happen. The giant yo-yo of an emotional roller coaster ride effect is very frustrating to those whose lives depend on the income that was coming via unemployment compensation. It's next to impossible to look for a job when your very livelyhood depends on it. Not just that, but unemployed workers don't always have the money for gas to get to those interviews. That is if those jobless Americans without unemployment benefits are lucky enough to land what is typically being termed a "rare" interview.
The numbers on unemployment are still staggering. There are a reported 6 applicants for each job. I've had complaints on Associated Content that those numbers are incorrect. That's the average number of unemployed workers per each individual job. It doesn't mean that the same 30 people are not applying for the same 30 jobs. Since many people are applying for multiple jobs the numbers may seem more drastic to those who are jobless. While this is true, the basic numbers say there will be 6 people for every 1 prospective job. Those numbers have fluxuated between 5 and 6 people by the way. Not that makes any of the people who are currently without unemployment benefits feel any better.
The hardest thing about this whole situation is that there doesn't seem to be an immediate answer in sight for those who have lost unemployment benefits. God bless the Tier 5 or 99'ers, too in this terrible tragedy. I once thought that upon losing a job I could find one in less than a year. My perspective has changed on that completely. I have a four year degree and over 15 years of communications experience. I haven't had any lulls in my career with the exception of a few weeks here or there between jobs. I was always fortunate enough to land jobs back to back to back. That has changed since my unemployment this time around. I haven't had benefits now for three weeks while the Senate pauses. I am an extremely hard worker and a dedicated individual. Yet, I have missed out on 5-6 jobs. The lady yesterday informed me if it was any consolation I was second--the next on the list to get the job. I had interviewed and was hopeful of landing a sales job-even though it is outside of the realm of what I want to do. I am trying to land different positions to no avail. I have even sent resumes to jobs that paid a lot less like some of the United States Senate has suggested. Yet, here I am. Almost one year into my jobless life. Still looking for a job and hoping someone will believe that I am not over qualified or that my skills set is finally a great match. I am typical of many business professionals that are having a tough time landing a job. If those of us who have skills, college degrees and experience have positions-what is happening to those who don't have that on their resume. It scares me to think of those people and that's why I have been so excited to help in this fight to get the United States Senate to pass this bill that is urgently needed.
It's needed, believe me. I need it and so do 1.2 million other people. When you say 1.2 million it sounds like a big number. But picture this-those 1.2 million people probably have 2.3 people who are depending on them in the form of kids, spouses and even some relatives. What will happen to those people? Why can't the Senate see this and immediately pass the 2010 Unemployment Benefits Extension? It just doesn't make sense for those involved in this terrible situation. This crisis could have been avoided almost a month ago if the Senate would have made a decision on unemployment when they should have. Most of us, who have gone without benefits never should have had to deal with the consequences we now face.
I feel as if everything I have written has fallen on deaf ears with one exception...the people it is directly hurting. I have heard so many touching comments. I have also heard the anger of Americans who feel as if they have been abandoned by the same government they elected. There will trust issues no matter what transpires in the coming days. There will be issues of abandonment for years to come. The American people who have been hurt by this will not forget this. They may express their discontent through elections, petitions or other means. But they will not forget. Hopefully if the Senate does finally pass the 2010 Unemployment Benefits Extension, it will start the road to forgiving those Senators for their lack of urgency. Hopefully this country can mend. We can finally be on the road to job creation and the thought of our Senators providing "tough love" with their lack of empathy and lack of passage in this matter will be looked back at as just one really really unfortunate idea by people who just didn't know any better. The passage of this jobs bill is essential for so many people in this hour that it needs to happen soon. It should have happened weeks, if not months, ago.
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