Senator Bunning Stops Unemployment Extension: Ryan John

Anytime I think about unemployment benefits I'm automatically critical and think .  I just had a conversation with a guy on unemployment Friday night.  He was in his 40's collecting about 2 thousand dollars a month for doing nothing.  He told me sleeps till about eleven and wakes up and watches television for most of the day until his kids get home from school.  The concept is mind boggling.  Furthermore, he told me that he answers a quick questionnaire before making his unemployment claim.  They ask him if he's actively seeking work and if he has denied any employment offers this month.  After a quick, "Yes, No," a check is automatically deposited into his account.  He has been doing this since May 2009 and will be about to do it for at least another year and a half.  I know this instance is not uncommon and a very familiar process for millions in American, especially now, but it just seems so flawed on so many ways. 

I respect Bunning for taking a hard stance in opposition against the unemployment and insurance inevitable extension.  Because he is retiring at the end of this term I don't think he's striving for Maverick status to prolong his political vitality.  I think it's motivated out of principle.  He is angered at the hypocrisy of the Senate to go against the PayGo bill that was just passed which is supposed to ensure Congress can pay for any new legislation.  Granted it won't get him very far in his efforts and the extension is going to get passed.  I certainly don't think Bunning is cruel for cutting off unemployment benefits because all he did was stall the effort and anger other politicians.  It's easy to vilify Bunning, however, and for the sake of political expediency, dems and republicans took advantage of it.  He stood fast though and even said "tough shit," after one democrats plea.

I understood many people have fallen on hard times because of the current economic meltdown.  But, there is something so fundamentally wrong with a system that pays people good money to watch television all day.  I'd like to get rid of the sympathy association that goes along with unemployment.  The government should some how some way make people earn the money they're getting.  Okay, so there business had to lay them off for whatever reason.  Why can't they be forced to volunteer their time in order to earn any unemployment benefit.  Perhaps, a laid off hardwood flooring guy can work with Habitat for Humanity twenty hours a week and actually producing something for the betterment of the state who is being quite generous.