Millions wait for delayed jobless checks

[Soylent Brice]

Source: NYT

Cracks in unemployment system widen under strain of recession

WASHINGTON - Years of state and federal neglect have hobbled the nation’s unemployment system just as a brutal recession has doubled the number of jobless Americans seeking aid.

In a program that values timeliness above all else, decisions involving more than a million applicants have been slowed, and hundreds of thousands of needy people have waited months for checks.

And with benefit funds at dangerous lows even before the recession began, states are taking on billions in debt, increasing the pressure to raise taxes or cut aid, just as either would inflict maximum pain.

Sixteen states, with exhausted funds, are now paying benefits with borrowed cash, and their number could double by the year’s end.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32116694/ns/business-the_new_york_times/

[KansDem]

1. Too bad Congress can't get checks to these folks as quickly as it did the banksters & Wall Streeters

Priorities, priorities...

[Soylent Brice]

2. not only that, but why the hell are people so damned afraid of higher taxes?

raising taxes in states like CA instead of cutting social programs seems like the more intelligent thing to do.

but what the hell do i know.

[kestrel91316]

4. Raising taxes in CA appears to be more difficult than changing the

Constitution. But that's ok. They just raise "fees". Like my veterinary license.

Oh, and they are gonna shut down all the state parks.

[Soylent Brice]

5. wow.

:crazy:

that makes a whole hell of a lot of sense.

:sarcasm:

[tridim]

3. Damn, I just applied yesterday

:( :scared:

[mbperrin]

6. But hey, the Dow went over 9000 yesterday!!!!!!!!!!! It's all GREAT!

Goldman's raking it in hand over fist for the highest profits in their 140 years of existence! Woo-hoo!!

Now what about these unemployed, again?

Oh, the "little people."

[Wednesdays]

7. K&R

:kick: