i agree. they have no incentive to fix things for others because they are still living high on the hog. people at the top dont care about the people at the bottom and it is sad to say but it is true

I'm sorry, mycroftt, but, the jobs problem in the US started long before Obama came on the scene. You can't have US corporations outsource and downsize without abandon for the last 40 years and not expect that to lead to unemployment picture we have in this country today.

I DO agree that big government knows how to fix the problem; the problem is, they don't GIVE a damn about the problem. As long as they have their fat paychecks and the million other perks their jobs provide, I really believe the average politician could give a damn about what we're going through.

I used to believe the president of one of the most powerful countries in the world certainly has the power to effect real change in the US. But, I've come to believe that's not true. I believe Obama is a good, moral person. I think he would have been able to make more of a positive difference in the economy in the US, particularly in the way of jobs, if he had the power to do so. But, I just don't think he has it. For me, that's a scary thought - because if someone with the character and moral fiber that I believe Obama has can't help us, we're pretty much screwed as far as expecting any help to come from the powers that be in Washington.

After being out of work, with the exception of one 5 week staffing assignment from hell, for over 2 years now, I feel like I'm floating in the middle of the ocean, trying to save myself.

This past Monday, I had the most incredible interview I've ever had in my life (with the woman who would have been my direct manager). At the end of the interview, she said she wanted me to meet with the VP of sales, (he wasn't in the office on the day I interviewed) so I expected to have the meeting with him later last week. Despite leaving the woman I interviewed with an voicemail last Thursday, letting her know I'm still very much interested in the position and asking if she could let me know when I could expect to meet with the sales VP, I've heard NOTHING from her. And, this continues to happen over and over and over. If my ongoing trip through hell as I continue to try to secure gainful employment again is any indication of why the unemployment numbers in this country are so high, the vast majority of us are screwed.

I don't know what the answer to this hell is, I just know that I'm already out of money (no income at ALL now, including UI benefits). Very, very soon, I will also be out of time.

Janice

i used to be an obama fan not anymore. remember, obama inherited the mess from bush which every president in history inherits the mess from the previous president b4 them. i believed the president was the powerful one that is not true my bf explained it to me. there are 4 corps controlling the president the cfc, bilderberg, goldman sachs, and ftc they dangle the strings on the president.

my bf did a lot of research on that stuff they will never tell u in history or gov classes in school. he said obama is nothing but a do nothing president and a yes man a useless president. like i was telling him the US dollar is so low and bad, saving money is not going to be easy when the dollar is not worth shit. looks like everybody is now living paycheck to paycheck even if they r not a big spender

I don't buy into that arguement I think that the President Does have the authority and the moral obligation to use his executive authority to exact meaningful jobs legislation,,,It stands by a matter of will and determination,,,if I am wrong we would have never gotten through WWll or anything else since then,,,

Oh, please, mycroftt! Just in the area of unemployment benefits ALONE, look at the shit Obama and the politicians who actually GIVE a damn come up against when they're trying to get these benefits extensions passed!

I absolutely believe Obama is a moral and good person. As such, I don't believe the jobs situation, (just citing ONE of the serious problems this country is facing) would continue to be the total MESS that it is if Obama had any real power to change it. At least I really HOPE that that is true, because if it isn't, those of us on this board who are out of work, particularly we long-term unemployed, are (and excuse my french here) fucked. I mean, what would be the point of having such a high unemployment rate, especially one that has remained as high as it has - for years!

You can't just exert the executive power of this country as president simply by will and determination. There are not only rules and protocols to follow, but, also the different branches of government to deal with, not to mention that these things have to go through a voting process. (Enter bi-partisan bickering).

Maybe I'm a moron here (lord knows I don't understand half of what goes on in Washington), but, I just do not see why Obama (or any other president of this country for that matter) would not use every piece of power at his disposal to put people back to work if he had any real power to do so. I mean, a strong jobs sector in the US makes for a strong economy. And, a strong economy makes for a strong country. Isn't that one of the things that resulted in the US becoming a superpower???

If what you're saying is true, Washington's goal is to keep 14 million or so people across the country out of work and struggling financially. How does that help anyone?

I think that you are wrong ..and I will cite two examples and this is not even what I have to think about,,I will also echo 2 people who are very knowledgable in this area ,,one is Robert Reich, and the other is NYT columnist Paul Krugman there are many many others that share this view to a greater or lesser extent ,,,,Roosevelt did it in the thirties and Carter in the 70's...these of course were temporary measures to create employment till the pvt sector got their shit together to take over that responsibility,,,I was there in the Carter effort where people where hired enmasse...IT WAS EXPENSIVE BUT NECESSARY and did the job...and it was for a limited time,,,I am just citing 2 historical examples here ,,,

How many people ,,talented people do you know during normal times would not be in the least suffering economically I am talking 4-6% relative unemployment ..not the so called 9% that is what were dealing with ...the 8.6% is an statistical fantasy,,

neil

Well, I can see that we're going to have to agree to disagree here, Neil. But, for the sake of argument, let's just say you're right - that any given US president in any given year has the power to put the vast majority of us who WANT to work BACK to work. My question is - why wouldn't a president, or ANY one person or organization in Washington, for that matter, want to to do that?

As for you statement about "...until the private sector gets their shit together..." - that's my point exactly! The private sector's idea of getting their shit together is doing and continuing to do what they've done for the last 40 years - downsize! The average US private sector company has MUCH more interest in REDUCING their employee rosters than adding TO them.

I agree, I know a LOT of talented people who, in "normal" times, wouldn't be suffering economically. Hell, I'm one of them! Obviously, given that the private sector has been outsourcing and downsizing without abandon for the last 40 years, we certainly can't expect any help from them. But, I still beg the argument - if you think the Feds have the ability to rectify the jobs mess this country is experiencing, yet, refuse to do so, my question is still - why? How does it benefit the Feds NOT to do what you say they are well able and have the power TO do?

I don't get it.

Sorry - the first paragraph of my last post is a little misleading...

I meant, why would the president or any group in Washington who has the ability to put vast numbers of people back to work, yet refuse to do so, refuse to do that? HOW would the decision to have to power to effect such positive change in the way of getting people back to work, yet not doing that, benefit anyone?