The "Inconvenient Truth" Regarding America's Unemployment Situation

Neither Republicans nor Democrats have addressed the reality that there are millions of American Citizens who, through no fault of their own--despite extraordinarily diligent efforts, have run out of Unemployment Benefits months ago.

These "99ers" have fallen off the radar screen--and currently are not scheduled to be included in any pending legislation.

The "official" Unemployment rate of nearly 10% does not expose how terrible the lack of job creation has been over the past two years.

There is NO SAFETY NET for those who have worked in non-union jobs for 30 or 40 years...but who have been laid off in the worst recession in anyone's memory. Despite diligent efforts and heroic job searches, millions of Americans have still been unable to find jobs--even after being out of the workforce for more than two years.

Most, because of technicalities, cannot even qualify for food stamps to feed their families. Instead, many have already spent either a considerable portion of their hard earned savings--or have depleted what was supposed to be their retirement nest egg--and are now at risk of losing their homes (if they have not already done so).

Many have borrowed from friends and family-but have been largely ignored by the administration, by Congress, the press, mainstream media, talk radio and other outlets-except as a mere footnote.

Left-wing Democrats continue acting like spoiled children in connection with tax policy going forward in 2011, despite a reasonable compromise they could not achieve after the lame-duck session; several Republicans and right wing pundits manifest harsh insensitivity regarding the frightful plight of millions of Americans who have been jobless for 2 years or more. The administration has altogether avoided serious dialog regarding the long-term unemployed.

What is clear is that irrespective of one's political persuasion, the policies of this administration did not create jobs. As of this writing, there are simply not enough positions available to employ all of these Americans.

Does anyone, other than the unemployed, really get that?
Depending upon what one's political orientation is determines how the severity of this economic catastrophe is characterized, spun, under-reported or ignored altogether. But the pure hard facts are clear: The probability of landing a job, when there so few positions available, is lower than any time in recent history.

Frankly, I cannot help but wonder: "what has happened to this once great country?"

Republicans, Conservatives, Libertarians, Independents and "right leaning" pundits talk about the failure of the current administration's policies to foster job creation. Progressives, Liberals, Democrats, the mainstream media and the President continue to justify the lack of truly tangible results by claiming that as bad as it is, everything would have been far worse had the administration not enacted its spending programs and bailouts.

But where does this leave those whose unemployment statistics are no longer even counted?
Where is the compassion when it becomes convenient for congress and the media to turn their backs on men and women in their 40's, 50's and 60's who have families-who, prior to two years ago, were gainfully employed for decades-but are now facing the worst calamity of their lives-no jobs-no unemployment benefits-no access to food relief.

The unemployment rate is really way higher than 10%.
Those who are unemployed for more than 2 years, who have exhausted Unemployment Benefits and who are still looking for work (despite high transportation costs to even get to a job interview) are NOT counted in the unemployment statistics-they typically do not qualify for food stamps-and are left hanging in the balance as two parties-and media talking heads left, right and center-virtually ignore the issue.

This is the "inconvenient truth" regarding unemployment in America today.
Millions of American Citizens are out in the cold-many literally; and there is no media coverage, outrage nor concern --and I hate to say it--but no hope that congress will do anything whatsoever help these citizens in great need who elected them.

Several politicians, pundits, political strategists and economists, of all persuasions, maintain that 99 weeks is way too long a period to be extending unemployment benefits; practically no one has gone on record suggesting they should be extended further than that.

Many on the right seem to be fond of sharing stories about certain recipients of unemployment who purposely avoid looking for work until they run out of benefits. Those on the left tend to be more supportive of extensions, but refuse to include those who have not found a job after two years of diligent search.

There are simply not enough jobs for everyone who is looking.
Evidently, it is a strikingly inconvenient truth for any party or persuasion to acknowledge that the reason why the vast majority of unemployed US Citizens are out of work-many for more than two years-is because there are simply not enough jobs available for everyone.

Nobody's theories provide a real and present remedy.
While we may possess differing viewpoints as to why and how we have gotten into this financial debacle; and we may disagree regarding the best remedy to cure these economic woes--the reality is that nobody's theories are helping these Americans right now--no parties, policies, pundits or political persuasions have even hinted at a real and present remedy for these fellow citizens.

In this political climate, where many are opining about the need to be fiscally responsible--and when there are a plethora of ardent discussions and debates regarding the necessity for the government to spend less--one thing is certain: as we approach the traditional Christmas season, followed by the New Year, millions of Americans will have neither jobs, nor a safety net of benefits, from which to spend anything.