Nearly another half million people thrown out into the cold.
Meanwhile, the government continues to welcome illegal immigrants.
End result - nearly three quarters of a million people - this week - jobless.
Nearly another half million people thrown out into the cold.
Meanwhile, the government continues to welcome illegal immigrants.
End result - nearly three quarters of a million people - this week - jobless.





and this news is even worse if you 'distill' down the actual components ...
(snip)"After the double dip in new home sales and NAHB confidence, we are starting to see the beginning of the end of the improvement in firings: initial claims in the week ended January 16 came in at 482,000, higher than the estimate which expected a number of 440,000, which was supposed to be an improvement from the prior week's 446,000.(snip)
(snip)"But by far the worst news was EUC, or Emergency Unemployment Compensation, which as even Mr. Liesman acknowledges now is important, which shot up by a stunning 652,364 to 5,654,544. The end-beginning of the year transition sure caught the DOL offguard."(snip)
(snip)"The combination of initial, continuing claims and EUC for the most recent period is a record 10,701,794 Seasonally Adjusted or a whopping 12,021,880 Non-Seasonally Adjusted. The double dip is here, and unfortunately for Obama, he is all out of stimulus bullets."(snip)
from
For anybody that is unaware, 'emergency unemployment benefits' refers to unemployed Americans who have exhausted their state unemployment benefit payment time limit now signing up for additional weeks of federal unemployment benefit coverage. This typically adds another 26 weeks of federal unemployment checks to the 39 weeks of state unemployment checks that have been collected already. However, the cost of these federal unemployment checks falls directly on the federal gov't, exacerbating the budget deficit and increasing the amount of 'new' dollar bills and US Treasury bonds that the federal gov't must print up.





And it'll get worse. I know this will sound heartless, and I feel for the Haitians, but we can't support them. Most are uneducated so they will either take tax payer welfare (which we pay for) or they will compete for jobs with Americans (mostly unskilled/low skilled). We can't continue to take care of everybody except Americans. What about all those who have exhausted unemployment?





Well, based on the results of the last two votes by the US congress, they'll simply vote to further extend the time limit of Extended Unemployment Benefits - and simply vote to further increase the national debt limit to pay for those additional unemployment checks !!!What about all those who have exhausted unemployment?




ya Its sad when most of us strippers dont have masters in politics and whatever else and we have better ideas than the guys in the government






I can't help point out though that in comparison to other developed countries, the government gives the least amount of money to take care of others. But I guess if you consider our two wars and 'letting' immigrants into the US, then that's another issue. I do hope that for the future of Haiti though, that we don't try to overextend in rebuilding the country, but rather rely on a collective rebuilding from NGOs and the world community. Having one country's interest has never proved to provide much in the past (our gov. being involved in Haiti for a number of decades)
And it's not like I don't believe in taking care of Americans, we have a lot of problems and people that are in very poor positions and I wish I could do more to help with that, but in all these situations I feel like there's not much that I can do.





So what do you expect, them to live in complete poverty? Mostly its not the fault of these people that the incompetent finance industry and their also incompetent regulators fell asleep at the switch? What practical alternative do you propose to those millions?
FYI it's a max of $405/week in NYS, regardless of family size, age, or circumstance. And this may be the highest paying state. Oh, and good luck with your medical expenses and mortgage and car payments.
I loved going to strip clubs; I actually made some friends there. Now things are different for the clubs and for me. As a result I am not as happy.
Customers are not entitled to grope, disrespect, or rob strippers. This is their job, not their hobby, and they all need income. Clubs are not just some erotic show for guys to view while drinking.
NOTE: anything I post here, outside of a direct quote, is my opinion only, which I am entitled to. Take it for what you estimate it is worth.





there are very few haitians in america, and most of them work very hard and save up their money to start businesses rather than collect welfare/unemployment.
as for haitians in haiti, they were independent food-wise until cheap foreign food was dumped in their country and they were pressured to take sweatshop jobs instead to 'join in the global economy'.
on top of that, the money going to haiti is coming mainly from private pockets as voluntary donations and nations that aren't the united states. so no, tax money is not being wasted on horrid horrid black people.
I think you need to do a little more research. I mean the whole private pockets thing is paying for the military personnel? Navy Ships? Air Force flights dropping supplies? All the US local government based search and rescue teams? One can simply watch on TV millions of dollars being spent from US taxpayers.
And what is with this "horrid horrid black people" nonsense? Playing the race card? What a horrible horrible counter-argument. How vapid. The ole "that's racist!" argument that just doesn't work anymore.
Just about the only point you make I can agree with is globalism harming their economy.
Oh - and thank you for introducing the most vile of political shilling into this thread.





We cannot afford to have a terribly failed state so close to the US. Further the US has had pretty close relations with Haiti. From a humanitarian standpoint to me this is certainly a very high priority situation, on a par with Katrina and even moreso. Haiti has certainly had its share of corrupt/incompetent rulers, and it has been hard to watch it's destitute lifestyle destroy so many potential good lives. It is amazing that the USA has shown so much restraint in its mostly hand-off policy. Maybe its time to help out a bit more. Wha is happening there is a global effort with the US leading the way as usual. Not helping out of a large scale is unacceptable; tears alone won't do it.
I loved going to strip clubs; I actually made some friends there. Now things are different for the clubs and for me. As a result I am not as happy.
Customers are not entitled to grope, disrespect, or rob strippers. This is their job, not their hobby, and they all need income. Clubs are not just some erotic show for guys to view while drinking.
NOTE: anything I post here, outside of a direct quote, is my opinion only, which I am entitled to. Take it for what you estimate it is worth.




^^ completely agreed. maybe deogol you should do some research on haiti and learn more about the country's history before you think it's such a bad idea to help...(a country that was basically a hub for slavery and continued policies that continued slavery--though not in the traditional plantation sense--well into the beginning of the 1st world war) What mia wrote was in response to the idea of not allowing Haitians in and 'taking care of them' through government assistance...and as much as Americans don't want to admit that racism exists, it does. There have been many instances where Haitians are turned away for refugee status, while Cubans are not (while I know many Cubans are ethnically very varied), if Haitians try to immigrate to the United States they are much much more likely to be turned away.
And it's not just globalism that has destroyed Haiti's ability, it's their past governments and history, dating back all the way to colonization...and if you don't think colonization has any effect on the development of countries, then apparently you think Africa in general is doing quite well.
This is more BS - colonization and slavery was thrown off hundreds of years ago. Their problems are a result of decades of dictatorship from Papa Doc, Baby Doc, and Aristede fucking things up. But oh no - it's the white folks fault! (Yes, I do know what is going on in the world.)
Propagating "white man's burden" is good for racism. Not helpful.
America doesn't need to be the interventionist for all the world's problems - especially when we are nearly 20% un/under-employed, the worlds largest debtor nation, and a corrupt government at all layers - WE are the third world these days. We just aren't willing to believe it - yet.





By taking care of them I mean I fear many will come here. I wasn't actually talking about giving them relief (which I support). It's unpc to say, but in many cases illegal immigration does hurt those on the bottom of the economic ladder. And no, this has nothing to do with race at all (and I resent those who make it a race issue).




We hardly are interventionists when it comes to the world's problems, there are many human rights violations going on that the US does not become involved in, even if it doesn't take financial costs. But, I think you also missed my point, I think it needs to be a global effort in helping Haiti and trying to rebuild the country, so they don't have the need to immigrate. Do you really think Haitians (and other immigrants) want to leave their home country? Most have to because the economic conditions are so harsh and free trade agreements allow corporations to reap the benefits. The average American also suffers from these policies. We are not a third world country by any means...yes, there are some places that are dire but, as a whole you really need to look at a true developing nation to see that we do not fall into this category. I'm not making this a race issue either, but simply pointing out that past policies that were in fact racist led to the situation that Haitians and other 3rd world nations are currently in.
Yes, I agree it will be a world wide effort for a long time - if it even works out. They are still making a go of it in New Orleans and that is a city much less a whole country.
Past policies are in the past and racism in the past is always brought out as the cause to woes. Bill Cosby is pointing out here and others are pointing it out in Africa () that lot of people need to step up to the plate instead of dependence.
Please don't assume I don't know what I am talking about.I know what third worlds look like, smell like, and sound like -- and I know the US is looking and acting more and more like them every month.
As Paris pointed out in an IM, we are really straying off topic.





haiti has stepped up when it is allowed to, but it is often not. france could give them back the money they extorted, that would be a useful thing to do.
i agree with ron paul that the united states shouldn't occupy the country.
and it will make no dent in jobless numbers, but certainly i hope to employ some people in the next few months gainfully. that's my on-topic contribution. :-P





trying to swing back on topic ...
actually NY is fairly low on the weekly unemployment payments compared to some other states. I think that CT is $540. And of course this doesn't count a federal subsidy for the continued purchase of cobra insurance coverage from the former employer. This does not count the cash value of food stamp benefits, or subsidized utility bill benefits, or other social welfare benefits the unemployed person becomes eligible to receive.FYI it's a max of $405/week in NYS, regardless of family size, age, or circumstance. And this may be the highest paying state. Oh, and good luck with your medical expenses and mortgage and car payments.
As to actual repossession of cars or actual foreclosure of homes due to delinquency on loan payments, a fair amount of delinquency is being tolerated on a long term basis these days.
In regard to the true situation re Haiti from a non-sugar coated perspective, I look to Prof. Walter Williams for some of the best insight. Being black himself, Prof. Williams is in a position to say / print inconvenient truths that would prompt 'race card' backlash if a white person were to say / print the same points.
(snip)"Some expect Haiti's 7.0 earthquake death toll to reach over 200,000 lives. Why the high death toll? Northern California's 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake was more violent, measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale, resulting in 63 deaths and 3,757 injuries. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake measured 7.8 on the Richter scale, about eight times more violent than Haiti's, and cost 3,000 lives.
As tragic as the Haitian calamity is, it is merely symptomatic of a far deeper tragedy that's completely ignored, namely self-inflicted poverty. The reason why natural disasters take fewer lives in our country is because we have greater wealth. It's our wealth that permits us to build stronger homes and office buildings. When a natural disaster hits us, our wealth provides the emergency personnel, heavy machinery and medical services to reduce the death toll and suffering. Haitians cannot afford the life-saving tools that we Americans take for granted. President Barack Obama called the quake "especially cruel and incomprehensible." He would be closer to the truth if he had said that the Haitian political and economic climate that make Haitians helpless in the face of natural disasters are "especially cruel and incomprehensible."
The biggest reason for Haiti being one of the world's poorest countries is its restrictions on economic liberty. Let's look at some of it. According to the 2009 Index of Economic Freedom, authorization is required for some foreign investments, such as in electricity, water, public health and telecommunications. Authorization requires bribing public officials and, as a result, Haiti's monopolistic telephone services can at best be labeled primitive. That might explain the difficulty Haitian-Americans have in finding out about their loved ones.
Corruption is rampant. Haiti ranks 177th out of 179 countries in the 2007 Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index. Its reputation as one of the world's most corrupt countries is a major impediment to doing business. Customs officers often demand bribes to clear shipments. The Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom says that because of burdensome regulations and bribery, starting a business in Haiti takes an average of 195 days, compared with the world average of 38 days. Getting a business license takes about five times longer than the world average of 234 days -- that's over three years.
Crime and lawlessness are rampant in Haiti. The U.S. Department of State website (travel.state.gov), long before the earthquake, warned, "There are no "safe" areas in Haiti. ... Kidnapping, death threats, murders, drug-related shootouts, armed robberies, home break-ins and car-jacking are common in Haiti." The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade warns its citizens that, "The level of crime in Haiti is very high and the police have little ability to enforce laws. Local authorities often have limited or no capacity to provide assistance, even if you are a victim of a serious crime." Crime anywhere is a prohibitive tax on economic development and the poorest people are its primary victims.
Private property rights are vital to economic growth. The Index of Economic Freedom reports that "Haitian protection of investors and property is severely compromised by weak enforcement, a paucity of updated laws to handle modern commercial practices, and a dysfunctional and resource-poor legal system." That means commercial disputes are settled out of court often through the bribery of public officials; settlements are purchased.
The way out of Haiti's grinding poverty is not rocket science. Ranking countries according to: (1) whether they are more or less free market, (2) per capita income, and (3) ranking in International Amnesty's human rights protection index, we would find that those nations with a larger free market sector tend also to be those with the higher income and greater human rights protections. Haitian President Rene Preval is not enthusiastic about free markets; his heroes are none other than the hemisphere's two brutal communist tyrants: Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and Cuba's Fidel Castro.
Haiti's disaster demands immediate Western assistance but it's only the Haitian people who can relieve themselves of the deeper tragedy of self-inflicted poverty."(snip)
from





Interesting piece about Haiti's history and problem in Bill Moyer's Journal of Friday night. And there was an hour-long history piece Thursday about Haiti from being France's slave state up to a few years ago after Aristed. PBS is quite educational. People ought to watch it a lot more.
I loved going to strip clubs; I actually made some friends there. Now things are different for the clubs and for me. As a result I am not as happy.
Customers are not entitled to grope, disrespect, or rob strippers. This is their job, not their hobby, and they all need income. Clubs are not just some erotic show for guys to view while drinking.
NOTE: anything I post here, outside of a direct quote, is my opinion only, which I am entitled to. Take it for what you estimate it is worth.





^^^ in the interest of 'equal time', people should also know the real story behind Bill Moyers ... ... which isn't all that surprising given that PBS is primarily funded by the US gov't and uber-rich foundations.
Again trying to swing back on topic, the fact that X number of Haitians are going to receive quasi-legal US resident status and working papers will have essentially zero impact on US unemployment. In the final analysis, those Haitians will wind up competing for a shrinking number of minimum wage jobs, or competing with even less legal immigrants for under the table jobs. More significant economically speaking is the net 'drain' they will create on the US federal taxpayer and (primarily) Florida state taxpayer as they begin to sign up for and consume social services.





Yeah, I've noticed his liberalism. And I've also noticed the rampant bias in thearticle you referenced. I'm not espousing all his causes, but he often makes a good case for his opinions, a lot better than most conservative talkers. Further there was a lot of correspondence between the two shows which were independently produced at widely different times.
About immigrants from Haiti, I haven't heard that will happen. Actually. I'd be much more concerned with the prison escapees mixing in with the rest of the population. But I'll agree that the immigrants, if any will be just a tiny drop in the bucket. Most Hatians, like the Cubans, I've heard about are partiotic and would much rather remain in teir country if they wer given a fair chance to make something worthwhile out of their lives. and I believe we (meaning all the benefactor countries, not just the US) should help them, now that the opportunity is here for them to accept it.
Oh, the Hell with that idiot bigot Pat Robertson.
I loved going to strip clubs; I actually made some friends there. Now things are different for the clubs and for me. As a result I am not as happy.
Customers are not entitled to grope, disrespect, or rob strippers. This is their job, not their hobby, and they all need income. Clubs are not just some erotic show for guys to view while drinking.
NOTE: anything I post here, outside of a direct quote, is my opinion only, which I am entitled to. Take it for what you estimate it is worth.





Agreed ( Haitian 'voodoo' revolutionaries supposed deal with the devil to help expel the French colonials ) ! But in the interest of equal time, Danny Glover's retribution for Copenhagen's failure comments re the Haiti earthquake are no less ideological / objectionable. But for some strange reason only Rev. Robertson got pummelled by mainstream US media.Oh, the Hell with that idiot bigot Pat Robertson
perhaps - but I wasn't advocating that other Dollar Den readers should regularly check out Prof. Williams articles / radio shows etc. in the same manner that you were 'promoting' PBS and Bill Moyers.And I've also noticed the rampant bias in thearticle you referenced
Back on topic, here's an interesting stat regarding Haitians working in the USA. 'Remissions' of money earned by Haitians working in the USA to relatives still living in Haiti arguably comprises 1/3rd of Haiti's total GNP !
If that is factual, then indeed Prof. Williams' comments about Haiti's 'self-inflicted poverty' gain creedence.





Nothing mystical about an earthquake. It is all geologically determined and we mostly all live undisturbed only for time being. Eventually almost all of Earth's crust will experience earthquakes (be one motivated by Glover or Robertson or no one at all).
I wasn't trying to promote Moyers as much as trying to inject some history into comments here on the sad story of Haiti whch had been missing.
Seems like every so many years when Haiti has recovered from one hurricane, another hits and wipes out all the infrastructure and crop progress made since the last one. And now that some investment capital was interested in Haiti, this massive disaster happens. Well, the hurricanes and earthquakes may well happen again, but let's hope that the world assistance will give then a decent boost.
I loved going to strip clubs; I actually made some friends there. Now things are different for the clubs and for me. As a result I am not as happy.
Customers are not entitled to grope, disrespect, or rob strippers. This is their job, not their hobby, and they all need income. Clubs are not just some erotic show for guys to view while drinking.
NOTE: anything I post here, outside of a direct quote, is my opinion only, which I am entitled to. Take it for what you estimate it is worth.
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