The Class Wars

Instead of politicians daring to tax the rich and corporations more, they are going after impoverished groups like the unemployed.

Despicable, especially when there are NOT enough jobs for all of the unemployed.

This growing assault on the jobless comes as the latest jobs report saw the national unemployment rate rise from 8.8 percent in March to 9.0 percent in April. If “discouraged” workers are taken into account, the rate rises to 15.9 percent. More than 40 percent of the unemployed have been out of work for six months or more. In April, the US government slashed an estimated 24,000 jobs, and local governments cut 14,000 workers from their payrolls.

While Republican legislators have been the most aggressive in slashing jobless benefits, the attack on the unemployed is bipartisan. The Obama administration has rejected any jobs or public works program, exploiting high unemployment in an effort to force workers to accept cuts in wages and benefits throughout the economy. The White House is currently engaged in horse-trading with congressional Republicans over a deficit reduction plan that will slash from $4 trillion to $6 trillion over the next 10-12 years from Medicare, Medicaid and other social programs that benefit workers.