Eugene Robinson: The Cruelest Cut of All

[babylonsister]

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2013/12/31/the_cruelest_cut_of_all_121094.html

The Cruelest Cut of All

By Eugene Robinson - December 31, 2013


WASHINGTON -- To 1.3 million jobless Americans: The Republican Party wishes you a Very Unhappy New Year!

It would be one thing if there were a logical reason to cut off unemployment benefits for those who have been out of work the longest. But no such rationale exists. On both economic and moral grounds, extending benefits for the long-term unemployed should have been an automatic bipartisan vote in both houses of Congress.

It wasn't. Nothing is automatic and bipartisan anymore, not with today's radicalized GOP on the scene. In this case, a sensible and humane policy option is hostage to bruised Republican egos and the ideological myth of "makers" versus "takers."

snip//

Sadly, cruelty is the point.

The Republican far right perceived the budget deal as a political defeat -- even though it caps spending for social programs at levels that many Democrats consider appallingly low -- because it does not slash Medicare and Social Security. For some in the GOP, accepting an unemployment extension would have been too much to swallow, simply because it was favored by Democrats.

snip//

I wonder if these Ayn Rand ideologues have ever actually met a breadwinner who has gone without a job for more than six months. I wonder if they know that some jobless men and women -- and I know this is hard to believe -- don't have well-to-do parents or even a trust fund to fall back on. I wonder if they understand that unemployment benefits don't even cover basic expenses, much less bonbons.

The Republican establishment doesn't want this to be a campaign issue for Democrats, so it's quite likely that the benefits will eventually be extended. Until then, more than a million households are being made to suffer privation and anxiety -- for no good reason at all. Thanks for nothing, GOP.

[spanone]

1. K&r...

[Galileo126]

2. Agreed

"Thanks for nothing, GOP." - E. Robinson

"It's a big fucking club...and you're not in it." - G. Carlin

[Laelth]

3. k&r for the truth, however depressing it may be. n/t

-Laelth

[L0oniX]

4. At least there are jobs for troops and drone builders.

[Enthusiast]

8. Yeah!

They're bringing freedom and democracy to the world. A force for good.

[fasttense]

37. Yeah, but they also cut the retirement pay for military retirees

so smart people are staying away from the military because of the crappy pay and the lies.

[malaise]

5. K & R

for truth

[Dustlawyer]

6. K&R Eugene! Keep speaking truth to power!

[Enthusiast]

7. I like this.

"I wonder if these Ayn Rand ideologues have ever actually met a breadwinner who has gone without a job for more than six months. I wonder if they know that some jobless men and women -- and I know this is hard to believe -- don't have well-to-do parents or even a trust fund to fall back on. I wonder if they understand that unemployment benefits don't even cover basic expenses, much less bonbons."

I endured a long term lay off during the rein of Saint Ronnie the Actor. It is stressful beyond belief.

[dem in texas]

9. Republican Congressmen - Good Christians?

These are the same people who show up at the Christian conferences to spout their "Christian" talking points, totally forgetting the teachings of Jesus. They should listen to the Pope, he gets it.

[SCVDem]

10. Another problem

If I get a job I can't afford gas or insurance to get there.

These jerks should try living on cup of noodles.

[BumRushDaShow]

11. "a million households are being made to suffer privation and anxiety"

Which is what also happened with federal government employees during the shutdown. There was never a guarantee that back pay would be granted when many hundreds of thousands were never reimbursed for earlier sequester days without pay.

It goes to show the sadistic side of those who follow the teabag agenda.

[freshwest]

34. They reveled in that act - we saw them for what they are. They exhibited wanton cruelty. n/t

[ConservativeDemocrat]

12. This is really hurting the GOP...

...and it will hurt them even more as it goes throughout the year. They just have to find a way to persuade their crazies not to gum up the works. Harder than it looks, I know.

- C.D. Proud Member of the Reality Based Community

[12ZTR]

13. What's wrong with cuts?

There won't be any Rep/Con/Teas affected in any way.
It's a free country,why can't I vote against my own interest? rofl

1.3 X ~ $300.00/week removes $390,000,000/week from the local economies?
Math Pop Quiz:
$390,000,000/week times how many weeks(you supply the number) = ?

[Thinkingabout]

31. Hey, did you really expect the GOP to intelligently look at the true ecomomy? What happens when

these unemployed people get in the social net which helps those without jobs or resources. At least when you are collecting unemployment you have to actively seeking work.

[golfguru]

33. Where does that $390 million go?

Does it disappear altogether or does it get spent on something else,
such as republican favorites...the military!

[Hekate]

14. KnR

[kairos12]

15. These rethugs are why the French invented the guillotine

[DinahMoeHum]

29. Up thumby.

n/t

[WillyT]

16. HUGE K & R !!!

[ut oh]

17. and we don't...

I wonder if these Ayn Rand ideologues have ever actually met a breadwinner who has gone without a job for more than six months. I wonder if they know that some jobless men and women -- and I know this is hard to believe -- don't have well-to-do parents or even a trust fund to fall back on. I wonder if they understand that unemployment benefits don't even cover basic expenses, much less bonbons.

...have a bunch of stocks given to us by daddy to cash in when funds are low...

[Cha]

18. But, but, but.. Rand Fucking Paul.. asshole sociopath

[Blanks]

19. He says liberty a lot...

And apparently repeats cliches such as 'the private sector always does a better job than the government.'

He should be your hero.

[Cha]

20. My hero Senator Sherrod Brown on privatization.. :)

[Blanks]

21. The interesting thing to me is the lack of evidence...

I'm not aware of a comparison between a service provided by a private company and the exact same service provided by a government entity at any level (city, county, state or federal) having ever been performed.

If such an analysis existed - then those who question the validity of the statement (private sector is always better) could evaluate the 'study' and point out any inconsistencies that existed or variables not taken into account.

...but how do you refute a cliche'? I guess its just another one of those things the conservatives take on faith. Those of us who don't believe in faith based economics just don't get it.

[YOHABLO]

26. Oh Bull,.. Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland etc.. They take care of their people.

[Blanks]

32. What exactly is it that I said that you are calling bullshit on?

There appears to be a disconnect. Are you saying that in Scandinavia - studies have proven that the private sector always does a better job than the government?

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

35. The City of Chicago privatized parking meters about five years ago

2014 is the first year (so far) in which the parking fares have not increased.

The Chicago Transit Authority privatized fare collection for busses and trains about six months ago. The new system has worked so poorly that the CTA has had to issue about a million dollars in free rides.

Whenever a right-wing nut job tells you that privatization always saves money, you can just laugh in his or her face.

[Blanks]

36. I read something about Chicago parking meter privatization...

Not too long ago. It was listed as one of the biggest government abuses by the private sector (similar to prisons).

However, I don't think it's very persuasive to laugh in their faces.

...and, if I were to point out the Chicago parking meter scandal as an example - they would claim that it's because it's the democrats running the government there.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

40. Yes, laughing in their faces is not the way to act, and I should not have suggested it

Blaming the Democrats for the privatization failure is stupid. You should respond that you thought they supported privatization, so do they only support it when done by Republicans?

[Blanks]

41. The other problem with the parking meter example...

Is that your standard run of the mill conservative doesn't believe that there should be parking meters because it is another method of funding the 'wasteful' government.

There are also those that are aware that when some things are privatized it is still government funds that are spent. Usually they're libertarians, and they believe all government services just need to be eliminated.

I don't worry too much about winning any arguments with them (in the sense that they admit that they're right). I only argue with them so that the young people can see that not all older people are buying into the bullshit. I just wish there was a place where a person could point to that compared private sector vs government provided services.

I personally know that they (the advocates of privatization) are wrong because I worked on a bridge that was originally built by a private investor and the (state) government had to absorb the debt because it never made a profit. Apparently quite a lot of mass transit started off as privately owned, couldn't make a profit and the government took over the service.

There are multiple explanations for why the government can't (and shouldn't) compete directly with the private sector, but none of them can be reduced to a tiny amount of text on a little graphic. I'm not sure your garden variety conservative can read anything more than a sentence that isn't put on top of a graphic.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

42. Oh, you generally can't win arguments with libertarians

God knows I've tried. The problem I have is they are generally so wedded to their ideology that they refuse to see any flaws in it. I've come to the conclusion that libertarians must be ignorant of history, economics, politics, and the real world in general in order to maintain their ideology.

[BobbyBoring]

22. It's like Bill Maher said

"I understand why 1% of people vote Republican"

If people would get out of the bubble for just a day, they would see that these pukes have voted against EVERYTHING that would help the average American and voted for EVERYTHING that helps the wealthiest not only in America but around the world.

We need to put a cease and desist order on the entire party~

[YOHABLO]

25. People think that they too will join the ranks of the 1% .. so why vote against their best interest?

People are insane .. and hood winked by the Right Wing. United States of Stupid ..IMO

[Scuba]

23. It's red meat for their base.

[AuntPatsy]

24. Those repugs effected by this will simply blame President Obama, sad but true

[DirkGently]

27. Eugene is right as usual. N/t

[sheshe2]

28. K&R

[VanillaRhapsody]

30. there is a large group of "humans" in this world who don't feel good about themselves...

unless they have visible proof of a class of people suffering more than "they themselves" are suffering. As stupid as that is. They are quite literally sadistic. If they do not see evidence of other people suffering...then that means that "they themselves" must be the ones suffering the most....so they side with the people they believe will ensure them of a class of people they can consider "they themselves" "better" than. They rationalize this away by seeking those that can give them any kind of justification for being that damn selfish...enter the Republican party.

[ewagner]

38. Another K&R

[lonestarnot]

39. Pugs, the champions of evil.