tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post8559258146388540568..comments2023-10-17T08:16:35.305-04:00Comments on That's Why: Unemployment Diary: My "Quiet Conversation" with My Senator's Aidelisahgoldenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11158660223296807317noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-32765301995331546342010-12-04T00:11:41.189-05:002010-12-04T00:11:41.189-05:00RIGHT THERE WITH YOU my friend, RIGHT THERE WITH Y...RIGHT THERE WITH YOU my friend, RIGHT THERE WITH YOU!!!!Mnmomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05004472091756966173noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-53758524542488186202010-12-03T21:10:47.926-05:002010-12-03T21:10:47.926-05:00I wonder, how many have actually tried fighting &q...I wonder, how many have actually tried fighting "city hall" or gone up against government representations? I have and I can add this to the conversation: It takes a tons of time and really deep pockets to even get in the conversation.<br /><br />Not only that, don't expect much from sympathizers. True enough, friends, neighbors and the general public might agree with you - but few will commit their own time and energies to actually being involved.<br /><br />Still, there is strength in numbers but the trick is to not let supporters fade or dissipate - which is typical unless someone is a charismatic leader (spokesperson). <br /><br />If you do get a foot in the door with an elected representative ... they will want positive suggestions, not criticism or hostility. That's just the way it works. Generally, those elected are hesitant to get involved unless there is something useful to them.<br /><br />Representative government works ... the problem is Big Biz and vested interest groups are the ones who are being represented, not you and me.willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15590217997145761582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-83935902323327017322010-12-03T15:09:33.018-05:002010-12-03T15:09:33.018-05:00Ouch. ouch. ouch.
Another offer of impotent sympat...Ouch. ouch. ouch.<br />Another offer of impotent sympathy.<br /><br />Any chance of writing editorials for Atlanta's paper? Even if the aide HAD drunk the Kool Aid I can't believe your "quiet conversation" didn't register somewhere. If only, like the telemarketers trying to sell me stuff every night at 5 pm, he was required to "record the conversation for training purposes."Beehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02375981493145612394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-58221893453781488342010-12-03T14:13:29.264-05:002010-12-03T14:13:29.264-05:00The only people holding on to their money are the ...The only people holding on to their money are the very rich who bank it out of the country and the corporations (who don't even pay taxes) and bank it out of the country.<br /><br />I don't know enough to know how we are going o get out of 30 years of mismanagement and crazy thinking - like off shoring jobs and manufacturing somehow helps us- <br /><br />I am very afraid for what this means for families like yours and for our kids, too. My husband says anarchy.Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12768569658001165651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-17712624493986566502010-12-03T02:19:31.670-05:002010-12-03T02:19:31.670-05:00"...holding onto that money"! -- *What* ..."...holding onto that money"! -- *What* money?! As soon as the necessities are paid for, there's nothing left! <br /><br />I'm with you, Lisa xoxoJaliyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02868006713291780694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-72587066545207195652010-12-02T23:07:39.849-05:002010-12-02T23:07:39.849-05:00Will: Unless I am mistaken, every revolution was s...Will: Unless I am mistaken, every revolution was started by the middle class. As for Shadegg, I'm guessing his masters have a nice plan for him now that he's unemployed. Or maybe he's one of the rich ones. I'd like to see him raise money for the unemployed by allowing people to contribute $20 for the right to kick him in the balls. I'm in for $100.gmbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12838413091600247047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-26570896040318395952010-12-02T17:53:22.993-05:002010-12-02T17:53:22.993-05:00I really don't like where we are headed.I really don't like where we are headed.adam.purplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13715310339491141836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-27102468793961830602010-12-02T16:28:27.600-05:002010-12-02T16:28:27.600-05:00It's all so screwed up. How DO those people s...It's all so screwed up. How DO those people sleep at night? Are they really that ignorant? Do they tell these lies so often they believe them themselves?Mauigirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15529827915262851910noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-47807782476601800022010-12-02T15:26:31.624-05:002010-12-02T15:26:31.624-05:00Really Lisa, you haven't mentioned all that go...Really Lisa, you haven't mentioned all that government money you are hoarding under that inexpensive mattress. It's time you did your civic duty and took it outa there and bought some crap young lady, and leave those poor senators alone.<br /><br />You know politicians are doing the same thing over here in Canada - they'll say anything - it doesn't matter how far off from the truth it is. If called on it later, they'll blame it on "context" or "you didn't take my words the right way." In fact, often they don't even feel the need to explain away lies anymore. <br /><br />Really what they're doing is throwing words against the wall and seeing which ones stick. Unfortunately, in this world of sound bites, a lot of them stick. And a lot of people believe if the words are out there sticking on a wall, they must be true.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-73195518831490113782010-12-02T13:51:36.262-05:002010-12-02T13:51:36.262-05:00Hi Lisa~ You nailed it with this comment
"hu...Hi Lisa~ You nailed it with this comment<br /><br />"human political pawns in a game of partisan chicken."<br /><br />And yesterday's debacle about 42 GOP Senators signing a formal letter to the president stating they will not vote on anything until the tax cuts for the rich & government funding are dealt with to their satisfaction. <br /><br />Bastards! I want Obama to push back.... put out a ton of legistative measures... one after another, so as we head inot the holidays, the headlines would read GOP refuses to fund Social Security. GOP cuts Grandma's Medicare prescription funding. <br />GOP out of touch. GOP getting paid $14,000 a month, plus benefits, but refusing to work. <br />GOP = Grinch. <br /><br />Might I suggest you hound the Senator endlessly. <br /><br />Mail in a letter marked *Personal & Confidential* stating a line item list of everything. <br />How many resumes you've sent out. <br />Although you have a College degree, you can't even get a shitty job, with no benefits. <br /><br />How many times utilities were shut off & how much more it cost to turn them back on. <br /><br />How many extra things your husband is doing & how long it will take to pay back student loans. <br /><br />Request a personal response.... no pre fab "thanks for your input" BS reply. <br /><br />But I would also send it to Rachel Maddow & Keith Olbermann. <br /><br />Make this unemployment money thing personal. <br />Maybe just use your first name only, or a fictitious name... but they need to understand in a very real way what exactly the hardships are. <br /><br />Go nuts! Write Oprah. Major news stations. Your local news station.<br />Make a fuss. Pitch a fit. <br />Tell the truth. <br /> Once you have drafted the checklist, <br />it will be easy enough to send out to many outlets. <br /><br />Because the truth needs to be told Chloe. <br />Because there are some people who do care & would help. <br />Because if you keep doing the same thing, you will keep getting the same result. <br /><br /> Also because the government always has money for wars & to overpay themselves.<br />Because they think we will have "just" lost $25 billion from the TARP corporate bailout money. <br /><br />Let me state the obvious-- the $25 billion would be real handy for those out of work- the 99+ crowd. <br /><br />Because what they are doing is not right & people have to speak up. <br /><br />*** steps off soap box now***Franhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14198689517878201943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-15809471977053431582010-12-02T13:27:06.780-05:002010-12-02T13:27:06.780-05:00What Nick said; but at least you had the balls to ...What Nick said; but at least you had the balls to say what needs to be heard AND noted by our "esteemed representatives" in W-Town.<br /><br />We should just kick them all out, revoke their gov'ment pensions and health care. Then let's see how well the handle what they have dished out to the nation's middle and working poor.kkrynohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07727264476742817993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-50772367919604821362010-12-02T10:46:33.971-05:002010-12-02T10:46:33.971-05:00Food stamp usage is at record highs.
Real unemploy...Food stamp usage is at record highs.<br />Real unemployment is around 17%.<br /> Food and energy inflation are on the rise.<br />Incomes and housing prices are falling.<br />Wall Street bonuses are at record highs.<br />Manwhile, the Fed continues to pump hundreds of billions of dollars into the banks while proclaiming a “recovery”<br /><br />A typical American doesn't buy food or pay their mortgage/rent with the profits from their day-trading; they pay with the money they earn from their JOB. <br /><br />The *<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTUY16CkS-k" rel="nofollow"> BenBernank </a>says the stock market is a great economic indicator but that's only true if you work at Goldman Sachs or are a corporate insider.<br /> <br />* hopefully, you've already seen <br /><br /><br /><br /> susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16747450215034568033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-63760546955600971842010-12-02T10:21:22.980-05:002010-12-02T10:21:22.980-05:00Juli, we already have tent cities in California an...Juli, we already have tent cities in California and Arizona, and various municipalities around the country are designating parking lots as safe zones for overnight parking for people who are now living in their cars. The BBC and other foreign news media have numerous reports on how bad things are getting in this country while the US news media ignore those stories and continue to peddle propaganda and/or natter on about D-list celebrities.Nanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18359007443116549436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-71019548803560008162010-12-01T20:25:16.859-05:002010-12-01T20:25:16.859-05:00And -- Lisa, in your conversation with the staff g...And -- Lisa, in your conversation with the staff guy in Wash. D.C. -- it's his JOB to listen to you -- you're a constituent. <br />I suppose they take a different view. Not only have they "drunk the kool-aid" as another Comment said, but they're pumpin' that kool-aid out, AT us.<br />I guess that shows the staffer works FOR the senator, not FOR you, yet Guess Who pays his (staffer's) salary?<br /><br />Your leverage is there, on Election Day, but it doesn't feel like much.<br />(Man, this is ticking me off.)Carson Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11426505356407204408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-30620191766551709572010-12-01T20:15:55.513-05:002010-12-01T20:15:55.513-05:00glass eye:
It sounds like you're talking about...glass eye:<br />It sounds like you're talking about term limits -- it sounds good in theory, but in the state where I live, they passed Term limits for our state legislature. Results:<br />A) when their limit is up in the state senate, they run for the state house, and vice versa -- they can "ping-pong" back and forth forever, and<br />B) our state politics got meaner and stupider because as the Term Limited elected officials came in, as "freshmen," they were In A Big Hurry to get things their way Right Now (because of Limited Time in legislature) and it gave way to a culture of agitation and impatience and no one bothering to "learn" ANYTHING, it was like just say it louder & more....<br />(Part of that change, thought, will readily admit was cultural across the board in our country -- modern mores -- be obnoxious, bully, lie, and steal what you can get. <br />Oh sorry don't mean to rant.<br />And -- term limits might work, if we took out the "ping-pong" option, but still -- there's Value in Institutional Knowledge, where you have people involved who have longer experience -- in my experience with it, term limiting served to "dumb down" the process.<br />However -- I Totally Agree with what you intend to Accomplish, with Term Limits.<br />just don't know how...Carson Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11426505356407204408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-23543535213702317492010-12-01T18:42:38.264-05:002010-12-01T18:42:38.264-05:00I have been thinking about you and your family as ...I have been thinking about you and your family as I hear this sickening news. I am sorry our country has become so retarded that they will accept this crap reasoning that these blowhards spew!Life As I Know It Nowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03733963455243806298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-71726988925593194392010-12-01T18:31:43.103-05:002010-12-01T18:31:43.103-05:00It's all just so frustrating. But, you REALLY ...It's all just so frustrating. But, you REALLY taught your daughter a valuable lesson today.<br /><br />Case In Point:<br /><br />"Will he tell the Senator what you said?"<br /><br />"Of course not."<br /><br />She furrowed her brow. "So why did you say that stuff?"<br /><br />"Because if I don't, I'm part of the problem."<br /><br />------<br /><br />Way to go!!meleah rebeccahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08116656129112106780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-3946677102441727932010-12-01T18:01:23.340-05:002010-12-01T18:01:23.340-05:00Will people migrate to other regions in a futile s...Will people migrate to other regions in a futile search for jobs? Will there be an emergence of tent cities? What will it take to awaken America's social conscience? Homeless people selling apples on street corners? No, I don't think so. I'm afraid that things are going to get worse in the next two years. I'm very afraid.Julihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03244459055520883039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-68418119037274596032010-12-01T17:30:18.660-05:002010-12-01T17:30:18.660-05:00When I realized that the unemployment benefits wer...When I realized that the unemployment benefits were not going to be extended, I wondered about you and your family. I am really sorry that you are getting fucked over by this and as you said if you did not say anything to a staffer that will not pass it on, you are part of the problem.<br /><br />But I do have to say that once you mentioned you in a french maid outfit, I kind of lost focus and had to go back and re-read the last bit.joshhill1021https://www.blogger.com/profile/00262725763812594725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-18974032393111457812010-12-01T15:15:17.268-05:002010-12-01T15:15:17.268-05:00Sadly, your phone comments probably fell not only ...Sadly, your phone comments probably fell not only on deaf ears, but on the vacuum between them.Along These Lines ...https://www.blogger.com/profile/11227702789184973335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-44687369967173183852010-12-01T15:10:36.639-05:002010-12-01T15:10:36.639-05:00Oh, Lisa-I've been thinking about you since I ...Oh, Lisa-I've been thinking about you since I heard the vote went this way. I'm so sorry. Michigan's unemployment is on the downswing at last! Should drom from 13.4% this year to 12.9% next! *rolls eyes* It BAFFLES me how blind people are, and yes... Reagan DID start this. Deregulation and Supply Side economics... Borrow until the credit is gone because he knew he'd be dead by then. That claim that the unemployment checks don't get spent? Are you freaking kidding me? In what universe?Hart Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-35406210480569618452010-12-01T14:42:42.566-05:002010-12-01T14:42:42.566-05:00I have long thought that the answer to so many of ...I have long thought that the answer to so many of our problems with politics and government lies in doing away with multiple terms in office. A politician could campaign on his or her own beliefs and could actually, you know, draft legislation and VOTE based on those ideals. What we have now is a pack of career politicians with dubious alliances and more interest in keeping their own jobs than in the welfare the citizens they have been elected to represent.Averil Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07581842611503530296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-82298248595780232352010-12-01T14:20:09.664-05:002010-12-01T14:20:09.664-05:00All I can think of to say are cusses and extension...All I can think of to say are cusses and extensions of impotent sympathy.<br /><br />Instead I will do a small dance, in hopes that, through chaos theory that I don't understand, the flapping of my arm wings will somehow create a sensation of human grace within the demented soul of the Republican party.Summer Kinardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13071928555304030141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-64302424578749527412010-12-01T12:23:23.015-05:002010-12-01T12:23:23.015-05:00Will - Yes, we can think Reagan for this. What we...Will - Yes, we can think Reagan for this. What we see now is the result of 30 years of magical thinking based on is philosophies.<br /><br /> MommyL - Love that joke!<br /><br />Comrade - It's so frustrating. The lies are just repeated and repeated.<br /><br />Nan - Thanks for the correction. I should have known that or researched it better.<br /><br />Amyg - Could you believe that segment? I was yelling at Barnicle to ask tougher questions. It makes me nuts that these guys get to go on these shows and spread their lies and misinformation and they're not called out on it.<br /><br />Silly Kulkuri. You know those laws are for the little people.<br /><br />Drydiggens - Yeah, Reagan unleashed a mess of monsters on us. Attacking labor which led to the bad trade policy that has resulted in the loss of jobs, energizing religious fanatics who want to make law based on their religious beliefs, the big lie of trickle down economics, the demonization of taxes, the utter hypocrisy of the Right when it comes to deficit spending (borrow and spend, don't tax and spend), the legitimizing of the Free Market fetishists, the end of the Fairness Doctrine which gave rise to the Right Wing media machine which has framed every American debate since. (imagine if Americans of all political stripes were exposed to real news and were unable to live in an echo chamber!)<br /><br />Randal - You busted me. It would have done no good. Saxby has an affinity with gay haters. I'd never qualify.lisahgoldenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11158660223296807317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3221819058568684886.post-62032945990084055722010-12-01T11:49:29.585-05:002010-12-01T11:49:29.585-05:00Jeez, why didn't you ask if you can be Saxby&#...Jeez, why didn't you ask if you can be Saxby's maid? Obviously, someone doesn't *really* want to work.Randal Graveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08728992897551848531noreply@blogger.com