Did they not think about the consequences to those of us who are receiving these benefits that equal a quarter of our normal wages? They have a paycheck to go home to, food on the table, a nice comfy house that isn’t being taken back from the bank, they simply have no clue.

Families are scraping by barely making ends meet and they are going to temporarily stop what little money they have coming because they can’t “find” the money to pay for it. Well maybe if they actually looked at reality and seen the truth things might go in the right direction for once.

Fact: Collecting the maximum unemployment benefits in the State of Michigan will give you approximately $19,800 a year….Wow that’s under federal poverty level for the average American family!

Fact: In February Michigan’s unemployment rate was at 7% and people were getting nervous…As of February 2010 the rate is now doubled, sitting at 14.1%

It was Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., that stopped the measure from being passed. He much like Sen. Jim Bunning, R-Ky last month, wants to know where the money will come from to pay for this without adding to the nation’s $12.7 trillion debt.

Well I have a couple of suggestions…

For one, we are the people that make this country run. Without the hard working middle class the “rich guys” wouldn’t be rich…how would they like to go build their own cars or pack their own products.

For two, Obama just request from Congress this week for $2.8 million dollars to help Haiti. Excuse me Mr. Obama we have to feed our kids too, find another way to help Haiti. Request that $2.8 million be placed to help with the unemployment extensions.

This is what Sen. John Kerry , D- Mass. , the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , had to say:

“It’s a non-negotiable measurement of how the United States responds to a humanitarian emergency,”

I wonder how many of the Americans that are about to lose their only income will feel about that?

This administration is mismanaging our money at the worse possible time. They spout change and new programs to help with job growth, foreclosures and health care but in reality a lot of money is being spent and none of it is working.

For example, this morning I read this quote form an article titled: Obama’s Weatherizing Program Off to Stormy Start

“After a year of crippling delays, President Obama’s $5 billion program to install weather-tight windows and doors has retrofitted a fraction of homes and created far fewer construction jobs than expected.”

The article goes on to say that of the 37 million people in the state of California this program created 84 jobs. ARE YOU KIDDING ME….84 JOBS!

This money could have been spent for unemployment. The issue is keeping companies from moving their work to other countries not creating a new sector of employment. The country has heard many promises from President Obama and yet have I seen one fulfilled. We are much worse off than we were two years ago and many American families are in the same situation we are.

When will they start listening to us, the people they are suppose to be representing instead of doing what they do best, spend money on worthless programs and live the lavish life?

That ambiance has left and the people in Michigan are losing hard! Not only are over 12% of us unemployed, but the crime rate is staggering and house values….yeah right. Even if they wanted to, the middle class couldn’t move out of this state right now without taking a huge loss.

It’s not just the closing of iconic plants like Flint Powertrain North, but it’s also the closing of numerous dealerships and parts suppliers around the state. Unless you live here, you could not image the chaos of losing so many jobs so quickly.

This loss has helped Michiganders band together and help others, as we are all the same boat. Community support for our local Garber Buick Dealership is a great example of this. Garber Buick has been serving the people of Saginaw for 102 years starting in 1907 and received the dreaded letter from GM that in October of 2010 they will have to close the doors. The dealership has set up a website (Garber Buick) as a message to their customers and to rally support appealing to GM about the closing.

Dick Garber states: “Garber Buick is one of the top performing dealerships in America. We’re off the charts in sales, service and facilities.”

Michigan has lost its identity, stability and jobs, but we’re sticking it out, making the best of it. Many of us have planted gardens for the first time this year…helping with the money at the end of the summer when the cost of the kids going back to school always hits. There are garage sales on almost every corner, every weekend…people just trying to make an extra buck to get by.

I read an article this morning in which some morons (President Obama’s Advisers) said:

“The economy is gaining momentum and the Democrat-passed stimulus package is only just beginning to pay dividends to the American workforce”

Just beginning to pay…HMMM

• National Unemployment rate is 9.4% – Michigan 12.7%
• Obama’s advisers say it’s the smallest job loss since September of last year – Did they think maybe most of the people have already lost their jobs or their unemployment has already run out which means they are not counted?
• Joe Biden says the stimulus is funding 3,600 projects and that $11 billion has been spent to date on highway construction. – What jobs did that created? It just brought back the laid off highway workers which is good for them.

What about the people that have 20 to 30 years into these plants across America that are closing down? The Federal Government has “plans” in place to retrain these workers. Well, if I worked at a plant for even 15 years, I would not want to retrain into a new job I knew nothing about for lower wages and shitty benefits.

• The three car companies that employed a half-million Michigan residents three decades ago employs just 112,000 in 2009. In 2010 when more plants, suppliers and dealerships close due to the bankruptcy this number will drop significantly. 
• Michigan in 2000 had 105% of the national average per capita income, it’s now at 89 percent.
• Michigan also trails its neighbors, Minnesota, Illinois and Wisconsin in personal income growth this decade.         Michigan – 14.7 percent, Neighbor’s average – 25 percent.

Although Michigan is losing a sense of history, we still have the Red Wings and the appreciation of a sunny 80 degree summer day.

One more thing:

President Obama told America that taking over GM was the only way to save what’s left of the economy and that we, the taxpayers, will own 60% stock in the automaker.

Well, Mr. Obama I don’t feel comfortable owning 60% stock in a failing company…so can I cash out now? Just send it direct deposit…we don’t accept checks.

Then when he is asked about the prospect of the price of gas reaching $4 a gallon 

Bush says

“That’s interesting. I hadn’t heard that. … I know it’s high now.”

OK so where has this guy been while he is presumably running this country? He obviously has no idea about the increased cost to live on a DAILY basis as our American jobs continue to be outsourced to other countries.

Like I have said before the unemployment rate in our state is over 7%, the price of gas this week is $3.17 a gallon, and industrial plants are closing left and right. If our President thinks that any person in this state is going to be able to spend their “stimulus rebate” on fun stuff, HE’S CRAZY! The people of Michigan will be trying to save themselves from foreclosure, try to keep their cars so they can get to work, and if there is any money left over it will go to our local utility company for our extremely high heating bills this year.

CNN just ran a story about the astronomical rise in food prices this year. It stated that the average price of milk has rose 17.7%, eggs 34.7%, bread 5.7% and wheat is up over $12 a bushel.

Let’s break that down in real terms…

In the past year milk is $1 more a gallon, we purchase 6 gallons a week (growing boys), that’s an additional $312 a year.

Eggs are up approximately $1 also, we only purchase 1 dozen a week (thankfully), that’s an additional $52 a year.

Instead of bread I am going to use cereal, which I know has risen at least $1 this year. We purchase 5 boxes a week, that’s an additional $260 a year.

Add that up and it is an additional $624 on just milk, eggs and cereal!

I guess I should mention that my husband is an Ironworker and commutes to work everyday, which depending on the gas price is anywhere between $150 – $200 a week! (average $9000 a year) So how is $1200 going to help us? It was our money to begin with!

This is happening to Americans across the country, and it is absurd for our President to try to pull the wool over our eyes by calling this a “slowdown”.

With the candidates running in the upcoming election ….it doesn’t look like it is going to get much better anytime soon.

UPDATE:

This picture was posted on The Fox News home page this morning!

George Bush will be eating crow for breakfast!

Drivers in San Mateo, Calif., shell out more than $4 a gallon for gasoline, as crude oil prices extend their march into record territory, hitting $103 a barrel.

Read About It - Oil Surges to Record Above $103 as Dollar Weakens

Friend #1 is almost out of unemployment and is complaining that he does not know what he is going to do. Well stop sitting around waiting for a job to land in your lap and go find one. Reading the local newspaper once a day does not count as job hunting.

Friend #2 was “let go” from his job in the fall, he does not have any steady income. He was able to sell things around his house to keep him going for a couple months, but then nothing. He just keeps complaining that there is no work. This Friend has had one small side job that lasted a month or so, but will not take a job an hour away due to the high gas prices. If you are turning down work than don’t complain.

There may not be a vast amount of good jobs out there at the moment, but all the local fast food restaurants are hiring. Yeah it would suck to flip burgers to get by, but at least it’s something. It would be equal to what Friend #1’s unemployment is and Friend #2 has no income so it has to be better.

We agree that something has to be done about the lack of decent jobs in this country, but any job is better than no job. Life will only give back what you put in, so GET A JOB!