Buffalo to Obama: "I Need a Freakin' Job"

[sabra]

Source: CBS News

Western N.Y. Media Campaign Puts Focus on Unemployment as President Visits Region to Discuss the Economy

(CBS) Frustrated western New Yorkers have a pointed message for President Barack Obama when he visits the economically troubled region Thursday: "I need a freakin job."

The president makes another stop on what the White House calls his "Main Street economic tour, this time to Buffalo, NY, the anchor city in a region that was hard hit long before a recession that made things even worse, reports CBS News White House correspondent Bill Plante.

Awaiting him will be a billboard carrying a simple, direct message: "Dear Mr. President, I need a freakin job. Period." The sign is part of a media campaign called the INAFJ Project, which was organized by Buffalo businessman Jeff Baker. Baker lost his own small business 15 months ago.

"We employed 25 people and it was the most heartbreaking situation I've been through in my life," he said.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/13/earlyshow/main6479377.shtml?tag=cbsContent;cbsCarousel

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[Donnachaidh]

1. it's more important to give 33 BILLION to the puppet from Afghanistan than put that money into

a jobs program.

The puppet actually showed up for a photo op. :sarcasm:

So you unemployed -- STFU and STFD. You don't RATE as high as our oil interests.

[ShortnFiery]

4. But but ... the fixed polling data and official government reports say we're doing just peachy?

Get with the program you proles in Buffalo! :sarcasm:

[asdjrocky]

2. PS: Stockton too. nt

[brendan120678]

3. For some reason, the way this message comes across...

really annoys me.

Yes, I understand that the economy is in the shitter and that many jobs and positions are being eliminated.

Maybe I'm just getting older and crankier. I hope not, I'm only 31.
But this comes across as almost as complaining too much. And like they are begging the President himself to just magically place them in an employment opportunity somewhere.

I almost want to respond, "Then go get one, you lazy bums!"
But I won't, because that would be too insensitive.

[ShortnFiery]

6. Think of what all those BILLIONS going to feed "death and destruction" overseas

could be used on GREEN ENERGY jobs over here at home?

Just ending these occupations would give us BILLIONS to spend domestically.

[Donnachaidh]

7. so being out of work for YEARS is complaining too much?

Old and cranky you say? Nah -- quite the opposite. I think you need your eyes opened, and some growing up is required.

That lazy bum comment smacks of a puke-like response. Evidently you don't see the tent cities going up around the country, or the people begging at busy intersections because they don't qualify anymore for UI. In my state, you can make as little as 1 DOLLAR over the cap and be refused food stamps and medicaid. Kind of hard to tell your family you've paid taxes but you can't get help.

That's pretty tough for someone working a minimum wage job that only gives them part time hours.

People are in REAL pain. You don't hear of it because our news media is NOT reporting it. They are making a concerted effort to NOT report it, because the corporations that own THEM don't want people to know the TRUTH.

I'm speaking from the side that went through this shit already. And it's devastating. Too bad too many thirty somethings don't *get* it because it hasn't touched them personally. Not YET.

But if the economy keeps diving (and it is, regardless of the Orwellian reports) those same thirty-somethings snarking about *lazy bums* might just get the same reality check the *bums* got.

THAT won't be fun.

[Lost4words]

28. Bravo! Spot On!

[proudohioan]

9. Don't be so quick to underestimate the ecomomy and unemployment situation.....

You may well be looking for a McJob yourself in the very near future.

[lasttrip]

14. ever spent time in WNY?

down to earth hardworking people that help each other out. been going through tough times for years before current economic climate hit. how much "complaining" have you heard in the last 30 years from them?
you need to get a clue.

[Betty]

16. your response to people who lost their jobs is

"then go get one"????? That's exactly what they want to do. They aren't lazy bums. There aren't enough jobs to go around.

[brendan120678]

20. No, but it is my response to people whose

whining makes it sound like they believe they are entitled to employment and that the President, or the government, should give them a job just because they are unemployed.

The government cannot just create jobs for people out of nothing. That's no way to help the economy recover.

[Dappleganger]

23. Huh?

These people are not asking for a free ride. They want to work.

The gov't CAN create jobs, CAN give incentives to businesses to expand and CAN change regulation (such as NAFTA) in order to give a more favorable chance to US companies to produce inside this country.

That is what they want.

[CountAllVotes]

66. there are jobs aplenty

just look to the gulf. Someone has to clean this mess up and stop the oil from gushing and someone will pay them to do it.

:kick:

[Lost4words]

29. our jobs were SOLD for profit, Corporate profit, no other reason

my only regret is that you are not in the same room with me right now.

[Juche]

34. Yes they can

Wall street self compensation was $145 billion in 2009. Since spring of 2008, corporate profits have gone up $280 billion a year and are closer to 1.7 trillion a year now. Income for the top 5% is still growing strong. Corporations now have 1.6 trillion in cash reserves, an all time high.

You can easily create jobs, there is enough capital. But capital has no incentive to put people to work. 10 million people earning 40k a year in wages & benefits adds up to $400 billion a year. That is a small fraction of corporate profits, corporate cash reserves and income of the top 5%.

[Iowa]

35. Have you ever heard of FDR?

"...whining makes it sound like they believe they are entitled to employment... The government cannot just create jobs for people out of nothing. That's no way to help the economy recover."

This is one of the worst comments I have ever seen on DU. You should be ashamed.

[LiberalEsto]

37. Ever hear of the WPA?

Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration did create jobs. LOTS of them.

[Lorien]

43. Not big on U.S. History at that High school of yours, were they?

The WPA, The New Deal. Google them. Read up. The government could create a boatload of American jobs simply by changing one simple policy; instead of giving corporations tax BREAKS and incentives for outsourcing American jobs, give them tax PENALTIES. Love of free market globalism helped to get us into this mess to begin with.

[CountAllVotes]

68. right, they could start with CCC jobs to clean up the gulf!!!

jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs ... all the jobs anyone could ever need. Maybe not a nice clean type of work but JOB.

:kick:

[Dappleganger]

18. Go get one where?

That's the point.

Bottom line, if there are no jobs there is no 'going to get one.'

And yeah, being unemployed and not able to find anything is pretty fucking annoying.

You're 31? Being 46, I have been through more boom and bust economies than you and find your post quite sad.

[Lost4words]

48. Thanks for that little bit of data ! you are a stinking youngster, what the hell do you know

besides treating people like crap with your gang of duds. usually you are slamming anyone who thinks the economy isnt improving, which side are you on? do different folks use your ID, cause you sure sound different here tonight!

I would believe your post if I hadnt read so many others!

[SammyWinstonJack]

25. If they were 'lazy bums' would they be asking for a freakin' job?

Insensitive? :silly:

[Lost4words]

27. someone might be tempted to say GFY if you had!

you are doing OK arent you, good for you!

[newspeak]

65. I'm in Nevada, job openings come up

and hundreds are lined up for a few jobs. Hundreds of applications for one job. Yeah, "go out and get one." Can you imagine putting in application after application to all of those jobs where hundreds or thousands are competing and you're hoping that maybe, finally, you'll be the one picked.

[ipaint]

32. That's reacting like a republican.

At 53 years old I have no problem with the in your face approach. Watching wall street party on with hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars while the long term unemployed can't even get an additional tier added is beyond pathetic.

In your face approach has a much better chance of piercing the pampered bubble all those in washington who govern live in than the pragmatic "please can I have a bite approach" so many think is so "adult".

It has the added benefit of further uniting the millions of unemployed folks who are suffering amid all the green shoots happy talk in the media.

[lynne]

38. I'm guessing you have a job or at least aren't looking for one -

- because you wouldn't say "Then go get one, you lazy bums!" if that was the case. I was laid off - along with several other coworkers - from a job I'd held for over 25 years. That was almost 6 months ago. Still No Job. Not even the local grocery store is hiring. And I live about 30 minutes from D.C.

People are afraid to hire because they are concerned about the economy. I'm GLAD they put up the billboard and there is NO SUCH THING as complaining too much when you can't support your family. Sheesh . . .

[baldguy]

39. The recession in Buffalo began in 1975.

Cities the the "rust belt" are on life support.

[proudohioan]

5. Cleveland checking in here. nt.

[AlphaCentauri]

8. Dear Wall Street, I need a freakin job. Period

why not ask wall street after all they are the ones who got bailout.

aren't they responsible for job creation with our tax money?

[proudohioan]

10. Hey, good point! n/t

[UndertheOcean]

11. Maybe Obama can employ all of them in his cabinet as ushers or something. n/t

[Lost4words]

30. maybe you could play on the interstate!?

[UndertheOcean]

31. play what ? n/t

[Cal Carpenter]

12. Don't forget the Motor City....This is supposed to be the new woooorld..."

"honest to goodness the bars werent open this morning they must have been voting for a new president of something do you have a quarter?" i said yes because i did honest to goodness the tears have been falling all over the countrys face it was better before before they voted for whats his name this is suppose to be the new world flint ford auto mobil alabama windshield wiper buffalo new york gary indiana don't forget the motor city baltimore and d.c. now all we need is don't forget the motor city this was suppose to be the new world all we need is money just give us what you can spare twenty or thirty pounds of potatoes or twenty of thirty beers a turkey on thanks giving like alms for the poor all we need are the necessities and more it was better before they voted for what his name this is suppose to be the new world don't forget the motor city this was suppose to be the new world


(fyi - this song is decades old and isn't about Obama or anything, but it came to mind just now so here are the lyrics. It's by an old LA punk band called X.)

[Dulcinea]

15. Great song!

And just as relevant today.

[Dulcinea]

13. Atlanta, too.

10.6% unemployment here.

I have been out of work since February 2009. I have an interview today! Like the people in Buffalo, I need a freakin' job!

[Dappleganger]

19. Good luck on the interview...

knock 'em dead!

[subject]

17. I live a half hour south of the Ruff Buff.

Things are bad here. Chautauqua and Erie counties are sooooo in the red. Our property taxes here are second or third to southern California land taxes. Grape farmers have had EVERYTHING die for 2 years in a row...we're talkin a solid 90% of all the grapes in a hundred mile radius just died. It happened because of irregular weather patterns. Fortunately I have a job but even if I didn't I certainly wouldn't go to an Obama rally with a 'gimme a job' sign. That is not to say that I don't identify. We are the east end of the Rust Belt. We are really depressed here and have been for almost 2 decades. Reccession Schmeeccesion. We live eat and breath economic decline and crisis here.

What really gets me is that all the way over here, 500 miles from New York city, that our tax money is going to subway repairs. That 70 year old farmer bent over himself from years of a brutal work ethic has to pay upkeep costs to Rome! We need to cut NYC off the state and treat it as D.C. is treated.

I was really happy just because of the fact that he came here. It's someone out there in that administration is listening to us here in western NY.

[devilgrrl]

21. Well maybe if all the industries hadn't moved away for cheaper labor - you would have a job.

:popcorn:

[conspirator]

22. They should add: "But not a job killing civilians in Afghanistan" n/t

[harun]

24. Sorry Buffalo, we are busy creating jobs in Iraq. Maybe we'll get to you when

we are done there.

[MisterP]

26. crap, this is how "Canadian Bacon" started nt

[Lost4words]

58. Its Ham Disks! No Bacon in Ham Disks!

call it what it is, Ham Disks!

[melm00se]

33. Buffalo's

fundamental problems are:

- drastically (and criminally) high taxes
- irresponsible and unresponsive government

(one of the reasons that my wife and I packed up and left 10 years ago)

[newblewtoo]

36. How many jobs

will we be creating in Greece? Of course how much of that bailout we are responsible for only the IMF seems to know.

[Lost4words]

59. No the idea is to screw the working classes by ending social programs so the rich can get richer.

This is a class war make no mistake and its fucking worldwide.

[FrenchieCat]

40. Why is a president supposed to pull jobs out of his ass for everyone.......?

Is that new? :shrug:

[Hardrada]

49. Right on time! Did you punch the clock too?

[FrenchieCat]

51. First I have to pull clocks out of my ass for everyone....

Cause I control time....you know! :rofl:

[Lost4words]

53. no thanks, I want nothing thats been anywhere near you.

:puke:

[Lost4words]

52. He saved a lot of fat cat banker jobs didnt he!

you dont deserve a cat in your ID.

[Selatius]

64. Is that new? Well, FDR created something called the WPA and the PWA to put people back to work.

On top of that, he cut taxes for the working class and jacked them sky high on the wealthy to pay for the programs, and he imposed anti-trust and regulatory reform on the banks that crashed the economy in 1929.

[KamaAina]

41. Did they ask Bush* for a freakin' job?

Why all of a sudden blame Obama? :shrug:

[KillCapitalism]

50. I don't think it matters who it is.

10% unemployment is unacceptable, and I don't have a problem with riding any president's ass over it no matter if they're repub or dem.

Let's bring back some manufacturing, bring back lost IT jobs, and get to work on our crumbling infrastructure. All of that alone could bring unemployment to a more acceptable level like 3%.

[Lost4words]

54. Oh I dont know, maybe something he said during the campaign.

[newspeak]

67. well, actually

at one of *'s rallies, a single woman with children complained to * that she was working two jobs to make ends meet for her family. And * replied to her, that isn't it great, only in America. See she should be happy of having to work two jobs to make ends meet. Of course, today, she may no longer have two jobs. But, that slide started with *. I swear the man and his minions has the anti-midas touch when it came to mainstreet.

[Akoto]

42. Why hasn't Obama used his magic jobs wand yet?!

I don't see the point of a billboard aimed at him. He came in when the jobs were already gone. Why aren't they aiming said billboards at, say, the companies outsourcing the work?

[amandabeech]

45. The companies would be less likely to be outsourcing the work if our government

hadn't gotten into a bunch of wretched trade deals with third world countries starting back in the Clinton administration.

Obama is pushing even more of them incluing one with South Korea of all places IIRC.

Instead of getting tough, Obama's gone with the one world, free from all responsibilities trade, laizzes faire bailout the banks economic policy.

Obama deserves those signs and more.

Both Bushes and Clinton deserved them, too, but now things are worse than they were during any of the three previous administrations, at least in the rust belt.

It's even worse than the Reagan recession in the early '80s and that was very bad on its own.

[Lost4words]

56. Nail on target, hammer hits nail! GREAT POST nt

[amandabeech]

60. Thank you very much!

It's nice to find a kindred spirit.

[Abq_Sarah]

46. Part of the point is

That government actions have a great deal to do with job creation in Iowa, or NY, or California. Both state and federal governments have the unfortunate habit of taking action that hurts job creation.

[Lost4words]

57. Hi Neighbor!

:hi: EAST MOUNTAINEER here!

[dflprincess]

47. If he could use his magic wand to find 33 billion for more war in Afghanistan

and the defense contractors he ought to be able to use it to find money for badly needed infrastructure projects that would create jobs that can't be outsourced.

[Lost4words]

55. Oh I dont know, maybe something he said during the campaign!

BO campaigned as a Democrat, thats fucking why! He was supposed to be the anti-Bush instead he is Bushes third term IMHO.

[OhioChick]

44. Cleveland to Obama: We Need Jobs. n/t

[NuttyFluffers]

61. WPA, CCC, important historical acronyms to learn.

but will our president learn? i don't know, he hasn't learned from his version of bipartisanship yet...

[Dark]

62. Absofuckinglutely.

We need jobs. ASAP

[Divine Discontent]

63. END. THE. WARS. It's amazing what can be done domestically when wars aren't raging on pointlessly.

I believe in special ops forces, as they used to do before B*sh's wars started (that Obama has continued, and hopefully ends before this term ends!)