Out of work and full of worry
Call for renewed federal aid not likely to be heard


By Imran Vittachi
Chicago Tribune staff reporter

December 20, 2003

Cecil Sells considers himself one of the "luckier" ones, even though
he's been jobless since September, laid off from his $50,000-a-year job
as a pre-press operator in Carol Stream.

*Others have had it tougher for a lot longer. In November, the long-term
unemployed were out of work for an average of more than 20 weeks, the
highest it has been since January 1984, according to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics.*

Sells, 45, of Sycamore, said he is not encouraged by the Bush
administration's claims that the economy is improving.

"Maybe that's happening in some never-never land," said Sells. "But if I
don't find a job by March, I may have to sell my house or find other
measures to feed my family."

In March, his weekly state unemployment check of $331, which goes toward
supporting him and his wife and helps pay on his son's college loans,
will run out.

Sells was among a small group of unemployed Illinois residents who
joined leaders of anti-poverty organizations and Rep. Jan Schakowsky
(D-Ill.), to call on the Bush administration and the
Republican-controlled Congress to renew federal benefits. A lifeline
lasting 13 weeks, the benefits kick in after state support runs out, but
the package is set to expire Sunday.

"The Grinch is back [this Christmas]," Schakowsky said at the Friday
press conference, which was sponsored by the local chapter of the
AFL-CIO at a church in the Loop.

She said President Bush, together with House Speaker Dennis Hastert and
their fellow Republicans, were now "toasting each other for this
supposed economic recovery."

*"They're ignoring the 8.7 million unemployed workers and those who are
about to lose their benefits," Schakowsky said.*

Last Christmas, Bush extended benefits into the new year. But this time
that appears unlikely; Congress has adjourned for the holidays.

"There seems to be more resistance from the Republican Congress than
last year," said Ross Eisenbrey, vice president of the Economic Policy
Center, a Washington think tank. "Without presidential intervention,
this time Congress won't renew it."

Despite encouraging reports from the Department of Labor that the
national economy may be pulling out of its morass, and that the
nationwide unemployment rate is finally dipping, the outlook for
recovery in Illinois isn't so bright.

While nationwide unemployment fell in November to 5.9 percent, it stood
at 6.7 percent in Illinois. In some pockets Downstate, the rate ranges
between 7 percent and 10 percent, said Margaret Blackshere, head of the
Chicago AFL-CIO.

Eisenbrey and others say this is no time to terminate the benefits,
known as Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation. November's
long-term unemployment rate eclipsed the average of 15.4 weeks set in
March 2002, when the benefits took hold.

"The notion that the economy is turning around and that this is no
longer needed is just wrong," said Eisenbrey. He pointed to long-term
unemployment indicators, which in November were higher than in March
2002, when the federal benefits were introduced. "It should at least be
extended for another six months."

The White House, and the offices of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist
(R-Tenn.) and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas), did not respond
Friday to requests for comment.
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Poor little Cecil's problem isn't the economy, stupid.
There's probably a computerized machine sitting where his
lazy union ass used to be parked. You can't blame
technology's advances on Bush.

Sells was among a small group of unemployed Illinois residents who
joined leaders of anti-poverty organizations and Rep. Jan Schakowsky
(D-Ill.), to call on the Bush administration and the
Republican-controlled Congress to renew federal benefits. A lifeline
lasting 13 weeks, the benefits kick in after state support runs out, but
the package is set to expire Sunday.

Paying people to stay home doesn't work....
JR

Harry Krause wrote:

snip
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--------------------------------------------------------------
Home Page: http://www.seanet.com/~jasonrnorth

On Sat, 20 Dec 2003 15:43:32 -0500, Harry Krause wrote:

Out of work and full of worry
Call for renewed federal aid not likely to be heard


By Imran Vittachi
Chicago Tribune staff reporter


Illinois was very hard hit with outsourcing. Automation and efficiencies have
also caused a reduction in the manpower needed for many of the manufacturing
plants in Illinois. The recession actually started well before Bush took office,
so to lay the blame on the administration is pointless. How does one expect a
corporation not to try to maximize profit? If the same widget can be made in
Mexico with labor costs of $5/hour versus AFL-CIO labor at a rate of $30/hour,
what can be expected?

As more and more outsourcing occurs, the standard of living in the countries
receiving the work will increase. As the standard of living increases, the
demand for higher wages will (hopefully) do likewise. Eventually, perhaps, a
leveling will occur. Boeing, for example, is outsourcing about 70% of their new
airplane.

Not saying your unions are bad, Harry, but constant demands for higher and
higher wages and benefits eventually take their toll, especially as the
capabilities increase in other countries.

Thanks for posting something besides your routine name-calling. Even a
cut'n'paste is nice, from you.

John
On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...

While nationwide unemployment fell in November to 5.9 percent, it stood
at 6.7 percent in Illinois. In some pockets Downstate, the rate ranges
between 7 percent and 10 percent, said Margaret Blackshere, head of the
Chicago AFL-CIO.

Wanna know *why* Illinois has such a higher rate of unemployment, hmmmmmm?
Here's your answer:

Governor=Democrat
Lt. Govenor=Democrat
State House= Controlled by Democrats
State Senate= Controlled by Democrats
Mayor of Chicago=Democrat

Ever wonder why the states that are run by Democrats seem to have the worst
economies and worst financial crises? You can't tax the hell out of
businesses and then expect them to set up shop in your state.

On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 04:01:07 GMT, "NOYB" wrote:


"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...

While nationwide unemployment fell in November to 5.9 percent, it stood
at 6.7 percent in Illinois. In some pockets Downstate, the rate ranges
between 7 percent and 10 percent, said Margaret Blackshere, head of the
Chicago AFL-CIO.

Wanna know *why* Illinois has such a higher rate of unemployment, hmmmmmm?
Here's your answer:

Governor=Democrat
Lt. Govenor=Democrat
State House= Controlled by Democrats
State Senate= Controlled by Democrats
Mayor of Chicago=Democrat

Ever wonder why the states that are run by Democrats seem to have the worst
economies and worst financial crises? You can't tax the hell out of
businesses and then expect them to set up shop in your state.



NOYB, you'll note that Harry vacated this thread immediately upon being
challenged.

John
On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD

JohnH wrote:

On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 04:01:07 GMT, "NOYB" wrote:


"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...

While nationwide unemployment fell in November to 5.9 percent, it stood
at 6.7 percent in Illinois. In some pockets Downstate, the rate ranges
between 7 percent and 10 percent, said Margaret Blackshere, head of the
Chicago AFL-CIO.

Wanna know *why* Illinois has such a higher rate of unemployment, hmmmmmm?
Here's your answer:

Governor=Democrat
Lt. Govenor=Democrat
State House= Controlled by Democrats
State Senate= Controlled by Democrats
Mayor of Chicago=Democrat

Ever wonder why the states that are run by Democrats seem to have the worst
economies and worst financial crises? You can't tax the hell out of
businesses and then expect them to set up shop in your state.



NOYB, you'll note that Harry vacated this thread immediately upon being
challenged.

John
On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD

Bullship. You righties *still* think I feel the *need* to somehow engage
in "debate" with you. I've posted a zillion times that I don't give a
damn what you post. I simply find it humorous that so many of you
righties make such an effort to rationalize away Bush and his failures,
lies, misrepresentations and stupidity.






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On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 09:14:49 -0500, Harry Krause wrote:

JohnH wrote:

On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 04:01:07 GMT, "NOYB" wrote:


"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...

While nationwide unemployment fell in November to 5.9 percent, it stood
at 6.7 percent in Illinois. In some pockets Downstate, the rate ranges
between 7 percent and 10 percent, said Margaret Blackshere, head of the
Chicago AFL-CIO.

Wanna know *why* Illinois has such a higher rate of unemployment, hmmmmmm?
Here's your answer:

Governor=Democrat
Lt. Govenor=Democrat
State House= Controlled by Democrats
State Senate= Controlled by Democrats
Mayor of Chicago=Democrat

Ever wonder why the states that are run by Democrats seem to have the worst
economies and worst financial crises? You can't tax the hell out of
businesses and then expect them to set up shop in your state.



NOYB, you'll note that Harry vacated this thread immediately upon being
challenged.

John
On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD

Bullship. You righties *still* think I feel the *need* to somehow engage
in "debate" with you. I've posted a zillion times that I don't give a
damn what you post. I simply find it humorous that so many of you
righties make such an effort to rationalize away Bush and his failures,
lies, misrepresentations and stupidity.

Won't? Can't? Or won't because you can't? Hmmm?

John
On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD

JohnH wrote:
On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 09:14:49 -0500, Harry Krause wrote:

JohnH wrote:

On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 04:01:07 GMT, "NOYB" wrote:


"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...

While nationwide unemployment fell in November to 5.9 percent, it stood
at 6.7 percent in Illinois. In some pockets Downstate, the rate ranges
between 7 percent and 10 percent, said Margaret Blackshere, head of the
Chicago AFL-CIO.

Wanna know *why* Illinois has such a higher rate of unemployment, hmmmmmm?
Here's your answer:

Governor=Democrat
Lt. Govenor=Democrat
State House= Controlled by Democrats
State Senate= Controlled by Democrats
Mayor of Chicago=Democrat

Ever wonder why the states that are run by Democrats seem to have the worst
economies and worst financial crises? You can't tax the hell out of
businesses and then expect them to set up shop in your state.



NOYB, you'll note that Harry vacated this thread immediately upon being
challenged.

John
On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD

Bullship. You righties *still* think I feel the *need* to somehow engage
in "debate" with you. I've posted a zillion times that I don't give a
damn what you post. I simply find it humorous that so many of you
righties make such an effort to rationalize away Bush and his failures,
lies, misrepresentations and stupidity.

Won't? Can't? Or won't because you can't? Hmmm?

John
On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD


You still don't get it, eh?
Too many years in the military.


Let's take a simple example.

If I put up a post that states that George W. Bush is barely literate,
that he won't read much of anything more than a page long, that he
admits that he doesn't really any serious books, or the real newspapers,
and that gets his news handed to him by his staff in tidbits he can
digest, two or three of you righties will then put up *50* posts that
purport to demonstrate I am wrong but in reality simply show that I am
correct.

Read up on Pavlov.

Push the Bush Button and what happens?

All the right-wing simpies start to salivate. Right here on our screens.

Got it now?

You're being worked.

Got it now?

Sheesh.




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On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 04:01:07 +0000, NOYB wrote:


Wanna know *why* Illinois has such a higher rate of unemployment, hmmmmmm?
Here's your answer:

Governor=Democrat
Lt. Govenor=Democrat
State House= Controlled by Democrats
State Senate= Controlled by Democrats Mayor of Chicago=Democrat

Ever wonder why the states that are run by Democrats seem to have the
worst economies and worst financial crises? You can't tax the hell out of
businesses and then expect them to set up shop in your state.

That must be why Texas' unemployment rate is 6.3%. Oops, Texas is
controlled by Republicans.

And Alaska's is 7.3%. Oops, another Republican state.

And then there is Maryland, 3.8%. Yup, it's a Democratic state.

Geez, NOYB, look at the map. I would suggest that there is more of a
correlation to the type of economy, than who controls the legislature.

http://www.lioninc.com/lion/unemployment_by_state1

http://www.statescape.com/Resources/...artysplits.asp

thunder wrote:
On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 04:01:07 +0000, NOYB wrote:


Wanna know *why* Illinois has such a higher rate of unemployment, hmmmmmm?
Here's your answer:

Governor=Democrat
Lt. Govenor=Democrat
State House= Controlled by Democrats
State Senate= Controlled by Democrats Mayor of Chicago=Democrat

Ever wonder why the states that are run by Democrats seem to have the
worst economies and worst financial crises? You can't tax the hell out of
businesses and then expect them to set up shop in your state.

That must be why Texas' unemployment rate is 6.3%. Oops, Texas is
controlled by Republicans.

And Alaska's is 7.3%. Oops, another Republican state.

And then there is Maryland, 3.8%. Yup, it's a Democratic state.

Geez, NOYB, look at the map. I would suggest that there is more of a
correlation to the type of economy, than who controls the legislature.

http://www.lioninc.com/lion/unemployment_by_state1

http://www.statescape.com/Resources/...artysplits.asp


Try to keep in mind that NOYB is a 30-year-old dentist whose bills were
paid by daddy and mommy and who, after being sheltered through high
school and college and dental school, moved south to Florida, and
without ever experiencing any of the downsides of life, or the
struggles, has now emerged as a snotty-nosed Republican conservative who
knows nothing of consequence about how the world works.

He sure tries to "protect" his hero Dubya the Smirking Chimp, though.
Cast aspersions on any aspect of Dubya and ol' NOYB will find and post
300 contrary opinions.

He's a trip.

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