Unemployment extensions - 99ers - Any Updates?

[shark66]

Crap happens to people and we have to use whatever means necessary to survive.

Amen

MSBankruptcylawer (if I remember the name right) was at least sympathetic to our plight. One thing he touched was the downward standard of living that we are at the front of. He is so right. And it isn't the long term unemployed that should be worried. It's you employed folk sitting in judgement that should be worried.

Although I'm usually very far from passing judgment on anyone around here, I have to agree...I'm employed, making slightly more than 60% of what I was five years ago and am dead certain that I'd be unemployed for an extremely long period of time if I were ever to lose this job. Not for a lack of good resume, experience etc...but because of the fact that there are many people out there who'd be happy to do what I'm doing for half the money and the corporate HR departments know it...

This scenario that I have outlined above is what happens when capitalism moves from merely a type of economy to a type of psychology. .

Yep. The Gordon Gecko mentality as I like to call it. Scary stuff, with no end in sight.

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"

" Bernie Madoff before he got caught..."

Good luck to us all...

[houston7]

Ok, I have stayed out of this discussion, but am going to throw my opinion into the mix now, because I think some of the posters are confusing issues.

1. Short term unemployment insurance is not welfare. It is in many states, (like NJ) a system that is paid into by employees and is more like insurance than welfare. It is debatable at what point long term unemployment insurance could be considered welfare. If the insurance goes on well past the point that money was paid into the system, and if there is no end date ever, then unemployment insurance would be a form of welfare because it would be a long term entitlement based on need not merit.

2. There is no pejorative connotation to the word "welfare" when I use it. I am using the word as a means of describing financial need based government entitlements. I do not think welfare is bad or wrong.

3. 99 weeks of not holding any job whatsoever will be very detrimental to obtaining professional employment moving forward. Employers do not want to see long gaps in a resume where skills have atrophied, knowledge has been forgotten, work habits have weakened, and skill relevancy has disappeared. It is better to volunteer or start a business than to collect unemployment for 99 weeks without having any job related experience in those 99 weeks.

4. I do not see any correlation between declaring bankruptcy and filing for unemployment extensions. One action is not morally superior to the other in my opinion, nor are either action even remotely related.

5. I am a pragmatist and I do not think that a Republican congress will extend unemployment indefinitely. I think those on long term unemployment need a back up plan asap.

Just my opinions.....

I'll help you with the correlation. And I will address ohiododger.

Crap happens to people and we have to use whatever means necessary to survive. Someone who is considering bankruptcy has no reason to sit in judgement of those of us collecting unemployment. We are BOTH using a financial tool that is available to us to survive. Now, ohiododger's reasons for considering bankruptcy would most likely fall into two categories. Things that happened to him were beyond his control, so he is using bankruptcy as a financial tool for survival. Kind of like, oh I don't know, people who are laid off and are collecting unemployment to survive... The second category would be poor financial decision making. Which would mean that he brought this upon himself and has no place whatsoever to sit in judgement of us.

On to your suggestions. Please. Start a business? People who are collecting unemployment are just swimming in cash. And those wonderful bankers just can't loan money fast enough, especially to folks like us with our skyrocketing credit scores. Volunteer? Again, some of these people here don't even have enough money for gas to get to these places. Don't even bother with the flip a burger suggestion. And if you have read and understood some of the posts in this forum it's not like you just fill out an application Monday and are knee dip in french fries on Tuesday. Feel free to educate yourself on the real unemployment numbers and the fact that employers are sitting on loads of cash and not hiring.

MSBankruptcylawer (if I remember the name right) was at least sympathetic to our plight. One thing he touched was the downward standard of living that we are at the front of. He is so right. And it isn't the long term unemployed that should be worried. It's you employed folk sitting in judgement that should be worried. Employers know that the job market is tight, so I wouldn't be holding my breath for consistent raises if I was you. Also, at some point, I might take your advice and volunteer.
At the company you work for, doing your job. Then I can start undercutting your salary by offering to do your job for less money. At this point you can take less money, or, unemployment. But you can only collect for 26 weeks. Lest you have a large gap in your resume and your skills begin to atrophy. Of course you can always start a business, or volunteer, or flip burgers.

This scenario that I have outlined above is what happens when capitalism moves from merely a type of economy to a type of psychology. If nothing else, this last 14 months has been an eye opener for me as to just how crappy and judgemental some people can be. They toss out republican talking points without taking time to research the depth of the problem. People are too stupid or myopic to realize that banding together and holding employers accountable would give us all a chance to at least maintain our middle class standing. Instead, it's easier to sit in judgement of somebody who lost their job. No problem though. We are at the front economic slide, and, now that I know how my "fellow americans" feel about us, I will be only too happy to drag them down with me.

[helpme2010]

backtoschool, that was a well informed set of comments you made.

I used the time when I was unemployed to return to school and complete my degree. I have also done volunteer work.

If someone wants to refer to it as welfare beyond a certain timeline, I am not happy with that term, but to me it is a word. As long as I get help until I get back on my feet, that is what is important to me. I am getting more and more interview calls and responses right now, including two for Fortune companies. The rest are for very small companies. I am hoping to find the job and then I can post how the unemployment extensions made a success story out of me and many others that are looking forward to returning to work and contributing large amounts of taxes back into the economy again.

[backtoschool]

Ok, I have stayed out of this discussion, but am going to throw my opinion into the mix now, because I think some of the posters are confusing issues.

1. Short term unemployment insurance is not welfare. It is in many states, (like NJ) a system that is paid into by employees and is more like insurance than welfare. It is debatable at what point long term unemployment insurance could be considered welfare. If the insurance goes on well past the point that money was paid into the system, and if there is no end date ever, then unemployment insurance would be a form of welfare because it would be a long term entitlement based on need not merit.

2. There is no pejorative connotation to the word "welfare" when I use it. I am using the word as a means of describing financial need based government entitlements. I do not think welfare is bad or wrong.

3. 99 weeks of not holding any job whatsoever will be very detrimental to obtaining professional employment moving forward. Employers do not want to see long gaps in a resume where skills have atrophied, knowledge has been forgotten, work habits have weakened, and skill relevancy has disappeared. It is better to volunteer or start a business than to collect unemployment for 99 weeks without having any job related experience in those 99 weeks.

4. I do not see any correlation between declaring bankruptcy and filing for unemployment extensions. One action is not morally superior to the other in my opinion, nor are either action even remotely related.

5. I am a pragmatist and I do not think that a Republican congress will extend unemployment indefinitely. I think those on long term unemployment need a back up plan asap.

Just my opinions.....

[tobee43]

ohioflyer I have to agree with the others on this board that you have no experience being unemployed for a lengthy period of time nor have you filed bk, so unless or until you have gone through these experiences, you truly do not understand the situation. It's like me saying military wives just need to get over all the complaining about their husbands serving in war. Sure I can throw out some Dr. Phil crappola and advice, but there is no way on Earth I could even remotely understand their suffering.

I notice you comment a lot about my threads of unemployment, etc. but you truly don't understand and aren't offering anything positive to the threads.

This thread is for those of us unemployed looking for options, venting, and discussing new legislation that may be passed to help us. And unemployment insurance is not welfare, so enough already. If you don't have information helpful to the unemployed, please stop giving your advice and righteous opinions, they really aren't helpful to anybody on this board.

trolls on every board... sad but true....

sure isn't helpful to those that need sound advise or just a chance to share and vent...

hopefully one of the mods will start taking notice...i hope...i hope...

[helpme2010]

Show me where I suggested anyone to seek other sources of income as a means of not filing bankruptcy? I will dodge your red herring question until you post that I did such a thing.

I could not care less why you file bankruptcy nor could I not care less if you are perpetually on welfare. I do care that I am able to express my opinion about unemployment and what the intent of congress was in establishing the program. I do care that it's acceptable for anyone on here to express opinion on whether unemployment compensation is or is not a form of welfare.

ohioflyer I have to agree with the others on this board that you have no experience being unemployed for a lengthy period of time nor have you filed bk, so unless or until you have gone through these experiences, you truly do not understand the situation. It's like me saying military wives just need to get over all the complaining about their husbands serving in war. Sure I can throw out some Dr. Phil crappola and advice, but there is no way on Earth I could even remotely understand their suffering.

I notice you comment a lot about my threads of unemployment, etc. but you truly don't understand and aren't offering anything positive to the threads.

This thread is for those of us unemployed looking for options, venting, and discussing new legislation that may be passed to help us. And unemployment insurance is not welfare, so enough already. If you don't have information helpful to the unemployed, please stop giving your advice and righteous opinions, they really aren't helpful to anybody on this board.

[houston7]

Show me where I suggested anyone to seek other sources of income as a means of not filing bankruptcy? I will dodge your red herring question until you post that I did such a thing.

I could not care less why you file bankruptcy nor could I not care less if you are perpetually on welfare. I do care that I am able to express my opinion about unemployment and what the intent of congress was in establishing the program. I do care that it's acceptable for anyone on here to express opinion on whether unemployment compensation is or is not a form of welfare.

Answer the question you dodger.

You are throwing out your opinion that long term unemployment is welfare. You are stating that they should seek other sources of income instead of collecting unemployment. I am pointing out the fact that you, who is considering filing bankruptcy, instead of taking YOUR OWN ADVISE, and seeking other sources of income, are sitting in judgement of other people. As such, if you express your opinion on those of us on unemployment, we will express our opinion of you.

You see, my reason for filing bankruptcy is due to a job loss. Now you, who, according to your posts are still employed, are considering filing bankruptcy. Why? Why don't you follow your own advise and seek other forms of income? You do realize that you look WORSE than those of us who are unemployed because you have a job and considering bankruptcy.

Unless of course there is a backstory you would like to share with the rest of the class.

[tobee43]

Hey all of you, there is only one burger king job available and we can't all compete for Burger U. I am asking all of you to back away from applying for Burger U, so I can get the job at Burger King. sighhhhhh

NO...way....getting and taking the job!! i was here FIRST...LOL!!!!!!!

[OhioFiler]

You are still dodging.

Why are you considering filing bankruptcy instead of seeking other sources of income, like you tell those of us collecting unemployment to do?

Until you answer this question, you are dodging.

Answer the question.

Show me where I suggested anyone to seek other sources of income as a means of not filing bankruptcy? I will dodge your red herring question until you post that I did such a thing.

I could not care less why you file bankruptcy nor could I not care less if you are perpetually on welfare. I do care that I am able to express my opinion about unemployment and what the intent of congress was in establishing the program. I do care that it's acceptable for anyone on here to express opinion on whether unemployment compensation is or is not a form of welfare.

[tobee43]

You are still dodging.

Why are you considering filing bankruptcy instead of seeking other sources of income, like you tell those of us collecting unemployment to do?

Until you answer this question, you are dodging.

Answer the question.

sometimes it's best to just put people on "ignore"....especially, when people answer that have NO direct experience in a situation...(i.e. one who has never filed bk on a bk forum, unless visiting the forum to learn from those that have lived through it, or...i.e. someone NOT collecting UI and commenting and answering questions and they don't have and never have collected during this 99er's time period)....need i write more..

i always personal enjoy "comments" and input...even from those that never personally experience a situation...however, not when it's based on ignorance, so, sometimes you just have to let it go...or just "block" the person.

now...back to the subject at matter...........

we'll be filing for another extention next wed., i think we are going into tier 4...we are SCARED!!! we hope it goes through.

[tobee43]

And how'd you know my college? Old BU. LOL

LOL!!!!!!!!! my OLD college was BU....Boston U...ROFL!!!!!!!!!!...and when i was going there........burger flipping classes were all filled up!!!!!!...(but it really was my old school..)

[houston7]

I HAVE NOT FILED BANKRUPTCY.

Aside from that, why are you mixing two unrelated concepts? What do seeking a job (the topic here was extension of unemployment benefits ad infinitum) and bankruptcy have to do with each other?

As to why I MAY file bankruptcy, I have a constitutional right to do so.

Trust me houston, I don't dodge. Follow me around here long enough and you'll understand.

You are still dodging.

Why are you considering filing bankruptcy instead of seeking other sources of income, like you tell those of us collecting unemployment to do?

Until you answer this question, you are dodging.

Answer the question.

[OhioFiler]

Get off your high horse and answer the question.

WHY DID YOU FILE BANKRUPTCY INSTEAD OF SEEKING A DIFFERENT SOURCE OF INCOME?

Don't dodge.

Answer the question.

I HAVE NOT FILED BANKRUPTCY.

Aside from that, why are you mixing two unrelated concepts? What do seeking a job (the topic here was extension of unemployment benefits ad infinitum) and bankruptcy have to do with each other?

As to why I MAY file bankruptcy, I have a constitutional right to do so.

Trust me houston, I don't dodge. Follow me around here long enough and you'll understand.

[helpme2010]

NO WAY startover......Buger U....u need a perfect SAT score and you need to know someone in the kitchen......LOL!!!!!!!

Hey all of you, there is only one burger king job available and we can't all compete for Burger U. I am asking all of you to back away from applying for Burger U, so I can get the job at Burger King. sighhhhhh

[startover24]

NO WAY startover......Buger U....u need a perfect SAT score and you need to know someone in the kitchen......LOL!!!!!!!

And how'd you know my college? Old BU. LOL