OMG! Are Threats Really Going to Bring Back Jobs?
Courtesy of Jr. Deputy Accountant
In case you missed it, Obama is ripping on Republicans for blocking his plans to, um, make the jobs come back (even though the stimulus has supposedly created 6 million new jobs so if that’s the case why do we need this again?) and by the next time he rants about the issue, he’ll likely be dropping F-bombs by the sound of it. Here’s what we got from the Rose Garden this morning:
Good morning, everybody. Right now, across this country, many Americans are sitting at the kitchen table, they’re scanning the classifieds, they’re updating their resumes or sending out another job application, hoping that this time they’ll hear back from a potential employer. And they’re filled with a sense of uncertainty about where their next paycheck will come from. And I know the only thing that will entirely free them of those worries –- the only thing that will fully lift that sense of uncertainty –- is the security of a new job.
To that end, we all have to continue our efforts to do everything in our power to spur growth and hiring. And I hope the Senate acts this week on a package of tax cuts and expanded lending for small businesses, where most of America’s jobs are created.
Actually, right now, there are Americans who are sitting on their asses playing Farmville NOT paying their mortgage and getting free money from the government. Sure there are decent, hard-working folks looking for work too but let’s be real about our "workforce", no one is jumping up to take a minimum wage job mopping floors at McDonald’s when they can get better free money from the gub’mint.
Secondly, when did the federal government get into the banking business? (Please no one answer that, I already know the answer) Wasn’t TARP supposed to solve the lending problem? Aaaaaand what happened with that?
Meanwhile I’d also like an explanation on how we’re going to both cut and jack up taxes in the same period – or is that whole thing about tax cuts just window dressing to advance whatever stupid agenda it is he’s got buried in this plan?
So we’ve got a lot of work to do to make sure that we are digging ourselves out of this tough economic hole that we’ve been in. But even as we work to jumpstart job growth in the private sector, even as we work to get businesses hiring again, we also have another responsibility: to offer emergency assistance to people who desperately need it — to Americans who’ve been laid off in this recession. We’ve got a responsibility to help them make ends meet and support their families even as they’re looking for another job.
That’s why it’s so essential to pass the unemployment insurance extension that comes up for a vote tomorrow. We need to pass it for men like Jim Chukalas, who’s with me here today. Jim worked as a parts manager at a Honda dealership until about two years ago. He’s posted resumes everywhere. He’s gone door-to-door looking for jobs. But he hasn’t gotten a single interview. He’s trying to be strong for his two young kids, but now that he’s exhausted his unemployment benefits, that’s getting harder to do.
Excuse me for interrupting, Mr OMG, but I don’t know any instance where over 99 weeks of unemployment would be considered an "emergency" measure so let’s just ditch that term and call it what it is: a big fat dripping government teat meant to keep the unwashed masses from burning down DC.
And thank you for pointing out that it is an election year, I’m sure your encouraging words have NOTHING to do with trying to keep your brethren in jobs beyond November.
The full text of Obama’s remarks may be found here.
