Pelosi: Unemployment Benefits Are “One Of The Best Ways To Grow The Economy”
Posted By Philip Hodges on Dec 7, 2013
The White House just got through claiming that food stamps were a great way to “boost the economy.” Perhaps if they wanted to boost the economy even more and lift us out of this economic downturn, they would give us all food stamps.
Now, Nancy Pelosi is speaking out against letting the federal unemployment compensation program expire at the end of this year. She said that extending these jobless benefits is “one of the best ways to grow the economy”:
“Economists agree that unemployment benefits remain one of the best ways to grow the economy in a very immediate way. It immediately injects demand into our markets and increases employment. For every dollar spent on unemployment benefits, the economy grows by, according to one estimate, $1.52; by others, $2. So somewhere in that range, but much more than is spent on it… We have a responsibility to the American people. These are people who have played by the rules, have lost their job through no fault of their own, and need these benefits in order to survive. So we must extend this insurance before the end of the year and we must extend it for at least a year. And I’d like to see that as we go forward before this year ends. Hopefully it could be part of a budget, but it doesn’t have to be part of a budget. It could be in its own vehicle as it goes forward, but it’s something we must consider.”
She wants to turn unemployment compensation into just another welfare program. I know people who have purposely “lost their jobs” just so they could collect unemployment. As with any other welfare program, people find ways to game the system in order to get something for nothing.
But see, those people are probably Pelosi’s biggest fans. She wants these former “safety net” programs to be full-fledged welfare programs, because it means she and her teammates get to stay in office. She and the rest of her party and much of the “opposing” party are profiting from this economic malaise by offering to take care of those Americans who lost their jobs (either voluntarily or involuntarily). They’re just buying votes, like they usually do.
But these people are being fleeced. At some point, these programs will run out of other people’s money, and the “beneficiaries” will have to experience “austerity measures.” These austerity measures are like depriving an alcoholic of alcohol.
Read more at
http://lastresistance.com/3947/pelosi-unemployment-benefits-one-best-ways-grow-economy/#HufVkC1IyZc328Gh.99
