Millions of Unemployed Face Years Without Jobs

[groovedaddy]

BUENA PARK, Calif. — Even as the American economy shows tentative signs of a rebound, the human toll of the recession continues to mount, with millions of Americans remaining out of work, out of savings and nearing the end of their unemployment benefits.

Economists fear that the nascent recovery will leave more people behind than in past recessions, failing to create jobs in sufficient numbers to absorb the record-setting ranks of the long-term unemployed.

Call them the new poor: people long accustomed to the comforts of middle-class life who are now relying on public assistance for the first time in their lives — potentially for years to come.

Yet the social safety net is already showing severe strains. Roughly 2.7 million jobless people will lose their unemployment check before the end of April unless Congress approves the Obama administration’s proposal to extend the payments, according to the Labor Department.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/21/business/economy/21unemployed.html?th&emc=th

[Jkid]

1. And the fact the our existing social net is weak

...and neo-individualism espoused since Regan does not help much either.

For all intents and purposes, America is becoming more like Brazil.

[Walk away]

2. Except Brazil struck oil and thing are looking up. n/t

[juno jones]

3. It's ugly

http://dissidentvoice.org/2010/02/real-uglier-american-unemployment

Here are the numbers unsullied by lumping all of us together in a 'national average'.

$150,000 or more, 3.2 percent
$100,000 to 149,999, 8 percent
$75,000 to $99,999, 5 percent
$60,000 to $75,000, 6.4 percent
$50,000 to $59,000, 7.8 percent
$40,000 to $49,000, 9 percent
$30,000 to $39,999, 12.2 percent
$20,000 to $29,999, 19.7 percent
$12,500 to $20,000, 19.1 percent
$12,499 or less, 30.8 percent

At least unemployment in my bracket is only 19.1 percent. :shrug:

[cutlassmama]

4. These are the people who are going to go ballistic when their money

runs out. They are "accustomed" to living a certain lifestyle and it's going to be a rude awakening for them.

Poor people, who have always been poor, can cope much better in this economy. They've always had to "do without" and it's not much (if any) of a fall for them.

[barb162]

5. As more become unemployed, there will be no safety net.

The country is now running on fumes.

[cabluedem]

6. More nuts will be running around with thier guns, after losing a job too. nt

[truedelphi]

7. That's the truth.

The political actions of the last eighteen months ensure that Grover Norquist's wish will come true.