Would you agree to a 1 year extension of tax cuts in trade for a 1 year extension of unemployment?

[TheWraith]

It's a simple sort of question. Would you agree to a 1 year extension of all the Bush income tax cuts, for all brackets, in exchange for a one year extension on unemployment benefits? Assume that they're on the same bill, and there's no possibility of either side doing a double cross.

[Kaleva]

1. I'd agee to it if that was the only way to get an extension of EUC08

[tedbear]

5. unemployment or tax cuts for wealthy

I voted NO. I am watching Meet the Press. Mitch McConnell is sitting there on TV acting as if it was his idea to "work together" on this - there is no such thing as working "together" with the excessive spending in DC and the vote of the people made it clear that is what they want. WHOSE EXCESSIVE SPENDING CAUSED THIS MESS???? THE NERVE OF THESE REPUBLICANS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

Just seeing this outrage is more than any sane, caring person should have to view about their own government. Games should be over - and the people who don't watch cable news need to know what is happening. If the majority of the people in this country understood the game being played with their country, they would step up.

[Tx4obama]

2. No, because

the current proposed unemployment extension is for only an additional 20+ weeks to be tacked on to those that folks that are already eligible for 70+ weeks -- so that would bring the total up to 99 weeks.
Giving the folks that have already gotten 70+ weeks an additional 'one year' wouldn't be fair to all the folks that have already had their benefits expire after their 99 weeks was up/
And also we need the millionaires and billionaires to be paying more in taxes in order to help pay for the unemployment extensions and to help bring the deficit down.

p.s. Just a note before everyone flames me - I am currently unemployed.

[BzaDem]

3. If the current proposal dies, aid to people out of work after 26 weeks will cease once they finish

their tier.

If it passes, it only keeps the same exact time limits that exist right now (99 weeks for the hardest hit areas, etc).

[Tx4obama]

4. Well....

Some republican was on the news saying that 99 weeks was enough and there shouldn't be an extention - and then someone corrected him by saying that the extension wouldn't be for the folks that have already gotten 99 weeks, that it would be for those that are at the 70+ week limit. So, I guess I got confused since they didn't mention 26 weeks.
But if there is only a 26 weeks limit then adding on 52 weeks (like the OP suggested) wouldn't be bad cause that would bring it up to 78 weeks --- but I wouldn't agree to giving the RICH folks a continued tax cut in order to get the extension ;)

[DemocratSinceBirth]

23. What Would You Say To Somebody

What would you say to somebody who the only thing that stands between them and starving to death is an unemployment insurance check?

[still_one]

6. I wonder what the poll results would be if it only included those who are unemployed /nt

[DearAbby]

7. Why?

We have proof the Democrats tried. We have a vote, and future vote in the senate to show GOP will VOTE DOWN TAX CUTS. They are not willing to compromise. They are demanding cuts for the 2% and holding the rest of the country hostage to get it. In some circles that would be called political terrorism.

It's time to lay the cards on the table, CALL THEIR BLUFF.

[MiddleFingerMom]

8. More and more I feel that it's NOT a trade...

.
.
.
.
.
...it's fucking EXTORTION, plain and simple -- essentially threatening the LIVES of
those struggling just to survive to get more for those who don't desperately NEED
more.
.
"You just have to give us what we want... and we'll make sure your house doesn't
burn to the ground."
.
.
.

[Skittles]

13. CORRECT

this is WRONG WRONG WRONG

[Hannah Bell]

14. +100.

[aquart]

20. Extortion is exactly what it is. Give in and we will all die.

Because they will leave us with nothing.

[Warren Stupidity]

39. exactly right

we are having this shoved down our throats. The UC extension will of course have to be OFFSET BY CUTS TO SOCIAL PROGRAMS OR INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS - it will be a zero sum game for that part, while the the billionaire tax cuts will continue their unfunded deficit bloating existence. We will trade one of the least effective ways to stimulate the economy for one of the best, and at an order of magnitude difference in cost. SHITTY DEAL. But we will take it rather than standing up and fighting.

[MiddleFingerMom]

9. More and more I feel that it's NOT a trade...

.
.
.
.
.
...it's fucking EXTORTION, plain and simple -- essentially threatening the LIVES of
those struggling just to survive to get more for those who don't desperately NEED
more.
.
"You just have to give us what we want... and we'll make sure your house doesn't
burn to the ground."
.
.
.

[JonLP24]

11. +1

[lamp_shade]

10. Yes, I totally would.

[Skittles]

12. NO NO NO NO NO

the unemployed should NOT be a bartering tool for rich fucking ASSHOLES

[Azathoth]

28. They already are

You can't solve a problem by complaining that the problem shouldn't exist.

[tomm2thumbs]

15. only if they are of equal amounts of $$$$ any guess if that is the case?

uh, I highly doubt that it is even close to what the rich would tuck away into their pockets

[Warren Stupidity]

41. it isn't even close.

[jefferson_dem]

16. This poll result is pitiful.

Seems a majority would rather screw the unemployed and the middle class than see the wealthy continue to receive tax breaks.

[Owl]

17. No.

[jaxx]

18. Yes.

You can't play politics with the lives of 2 million+ unemployed Americans and their families. If that's what it takes to get the extension passed, do it. Those who are ready to throw those people out....why?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

21. Because They Aren't One Of Them

To paraphrase Stalin, "One homeless and starving unemployed person is a tragedy; a million is a statistic."

[jaxx]

22. You may have the answer.

[aquart]

19. No. It's insane. SUNSET.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

25. What's Insane Is To Let Folks Starve To Death Because Their Unemployment Benefits Ran Out

But like Josef Stalin said "One death is a tragedy. A million deaths is a statistic."

[DemocratSinceBirth]

26. What's Insane Is To Let Folks Starve To Death Because Their Unemployment Benefits Ran Out

But like Josef Stalin said "One death is a tragedy. A million deaths is a statistic."

[aquart]

27. Hey, if cringing cowardice is the path that calls, crawl it.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

32. Why Don't You Come To Florida

I will buy you lunch out of what little money I have left from my girlfriend's unemployment insurance and the money I got from selling the furniture in my foreclosed home and we can go up to homeless/unemployed people and you can tell them you oppose help for them because it was tied to tax cuts for the rich.

That would show the rare combination of moral and personal courage.

DEAL

[JonLP24]

35. What makes you think

there aren't people that are currently unemployed that don't agree to this "deal"?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

37. Maybe They Are Like The Unemployed Contactor I Knew In Florida

His wife was a partner in a law firm. He was able to keep the nanny and the 010 Q X56 depite being unemployed. He could get by without it. Now, my fiancee and I are literally an unemployment check away from being homeless. I doubt very many in our category would volunteer to be pawns in this game of chess...

[JonLP24]

40. Nope

Not everyone is like the unemployed contractor you know that opposes this.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

44. Would You Let Your Family Starve To Death To Prevent The Rich From Getting A Tax Cut?

Simple question.

[JonLP24]

45. Rich tax cuts

lead to decreases in real wages. It increases the gap between rich and poor. This isn't likely to have no effect this time around.

Don't worry about me being against this. You'll likely get what you want.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

46. Obama Can Revisit The Tax Cuts During His Re-election Campaign

But millions of unemployed people losing their benefits is an immediate problem.

[quaker bill]

24. if it was the only way to keep hungry people fed.

people's lives should not be pawns in political games. If I had to be the grownup in the room that could cut a deal to do the morally right thing by the poor, I would bargain hard then when I had all I could get, do it.

[aquart]

29. Did we abolish food stamps?

[Azathoth]

30. So we should make the long-term unemployed rely solely on food stamps to eat?

Yup, that will show the Republicans alright.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

33. They Still Would Need A Place To Live

I don't think they have "house stamps"

[quaker bill]

42. ever try to live on them?

I have. It is not enough, and I am a pretty good gardener.

[aquart]

48. I do live on them.

Next snotty question?

[quaker bill]

49. and you have a place to cook the food?

[MadHound]

31. No, I'm tired of continuing to cave to the 'Pugs,

The more you cave, the more demands they make. It is time to put an end to this, call their bluff and show them up for the cold, heartless bastards they are.

[tammywammy]

34. Yes n/t

[Dulcinea]

36. Yes.

I'm a 99er. I have bills to pay like everyone else.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

43. I Don't Want To Disappoint You But The Extension Wouldn't Help The 99ers

My girlfriend is a 10er. To cut her off at 26, if she doesn't find a job in this economy shocks the conscience

[rug]

38. Yes, because people are hurting right now. However,

I would remove the cost of the tax cuts directly from the Defense budget.

[Laelth]

47. Yes. The deal we actually get won't be that good. n/t

-Laelth

[demwing]

50. The Republicans always bluster on about the Unemployment Benefits, and in the end, extend them.

They would have done the same this time, but we're supposed to believe that the only way to get them to do what they always have done in the past is to give them everything they ask for, even if the country cannot afford it, and the President already promised he would not?


That's the choice we have?