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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsStatement by Vice President Joe Biden on the Latest Unemployment Filing Numbers
Link to tweet
These arent just overwhelming numbers or aggregate statistics every one is a life thrown into uncertainty, a family unable to make ends meet, a community worried about how it will recover. Every worker left wondering when they will next see a paycheck is part of this American crisis and Donald Trump isnt doing enough for them.
Congress gave President Trump the tools to keep people on payroll in the CARES Act, but he hasnt fully used them. Instead of standing by while the economy sheds millions of jobs each week during this pandemic, Trump should be working around the clock to keep as many people as possible attached to their jobs. Thats what I would be doing if I were in the Oval Office right now.
I would be doing everything in my power to expand short-time compensation programs for workers. I like to call it employment insurance. So for example, if a company has to make cutbacks,, instead of laying people off, its employees would remain employed but working reduced hours. The federal government would cover the difference for the duration of the crisis. Those workers stay on the job and their lost wages are replaced. Workers making median wages remain financially whole. And businesses dont lose money by keeping everyone on payroll. The CARES Act created the framework for this, but it requires presidential leadership to execute.
Trump hasnt done anything discernible to make this happen. Instead, the entirely predictable has occurred: state unemployment systems are being stretched beyond capacity, and workers are anxiously waiting for their checks as the bills pile up. In Florida, as of this week, only 15 percent of unemployment claims were being paid. 15 percent. Thats so disgraceful, it doesnt even approach a failing grade. Every Florida worker who has lost their job needs to be made financially whole for the duration of this crisis.
Leadership means taking responsibility not just credit especially when things are hard. Its time for President Trump to step up. The livelihoods and futures of millions of Americans depend on it.
Kablooie
(18,634 posts)There will be the biggest financial and physical disaster in modern world history to manage.
It's like the Depression and WWI and WWII all rolled up together.
And he will not be able to manage things in the way that's natural to him because he won't be able to get physically close to anyone.
He's our best hope but it's not going to be pleasant.
Another Democratic president that has to clean up a disaster created by the previous Republican.
Its not going to be pretty. And rethuglicans will suddenly start bitching about how much money is being spent.
but I'm sure he'll put together a very competent team to help, in fact I think he is already. And repubs will fight him every step of the way...
jmg257
(11,996 posts)Were furloughed cause there is NO work - no customers, no clients, no work no income - not for the company, not for us.
I would LOVE to be made whole financially for the duration - as would the other 26million people now unemployed - so someone better start coughing up a LOT more dukets.