Organized to help ourselves.

I hadn't planned on posting today. It's Erev Yom Kippur (Yom Kippur, a 24 Hour complete fast begins at Sunset), I have an appointment in a few hours 75 miles away and it's garbage day. I found some good news in my email last night and feel compelled to share the news. Just maybe, yesterday's unjustified optimism is justified.

Cleaning out my email yesterday night 3 great independent sources shared a similar message.  Donalee King, Mike Thornton and UWAG all had the same theme: As of today we are all organized, in this together.

It was the lack of any organized effort that made me start this blog.  As I found other advocacy forums, I followed their lead because I believe we need to work together. In the name of total disclosure, I had absolutely nothing to do with this aggregation of force. None the less, I would not feel any prouder had I pulled this together myself.

Our task is clear. Unemployment beyond 26 weeks is not funded for anyone beyond Nov. 30, 2010. There is still nothing for anyone  beyond 99 weeks. Congress will be in session for 3 weeks beginning Monday and neither of these topics is on the calendar in either chamber. This is unacceptable and must be changed. So along with Ed Schultz, Norman Goldman and other progressive voices support the DC rally on 10/2/10. Whether or not you can attend the rally, get everyone you know involved with the call-in on Wednesday 9/22/10. Spread the word, provide the energy and create the buzz. Our moment has arrived, do not let it disappear.

I wish an easy fast and a Gmar Tov to those that these wishes apply. I wish us all success. Lives hang in the balance.

Bipartisanship can happen

I was going through the usual this morning and found this article via Ezra Klein's Wonkbook. Some Dems are considering pushing for extension of the Bush tax cuts due to the continued lack of economic improvement. This could be a godsend for the #99ers.  Extend the tax cuts across the board including the uber-wealthy and add a jobs program with extended unemployment benefits.  Since tax cuts and safety net would be lumped together their timing should be the same. Extend tax cuts thru 2011, do the same for long term unemployment benefits. Thru 2012, 2013, the longer the better.

I realize it would be near impossible to make the "numbers" work. So? That has never stopped Congress before. I believe the only goal for the 99ers should be jobs, jobs, jobs with a safety net until significant job creation can be achieved.  Many Congressional friends of the unemployed have been working tirelessly to provide that safety net but with only sporadic success.  Politics is the art of giving up something to receive something. This would put the needs of the most at risk with the wants of the least at risk.

Albert Einstein said "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."  Let the deal making begin.

Good news? At least not bad news.

Like so many unemployed I was alerted to Sen. Stabenow's sponsorship of the "Americans Wants To Work Act"  on "The Ed Show" via Twitter. I even claimed TV priority over my kids to watch.  All in all I was hoping for more, but I was pleased that benefits beyond 99 weeks were combined with a jobs initiative.  After all, as one of the long term unemployed, I would prefer working to unemployment benefits.

The bill is a good start but only a beginning.  The bill will pass mid-September at the earliest.  99ers started losing benefits spring, 2010 and they need help today or sooner. Estimates put the number of those without benefits at over 5 million before any help arrives. 20 weeks of benefits are great because it carries through November elections to the lame duck session of Congress.  An additional extension will certainly be necessary; the jobs part of the bill will not eliminate rampant unemployment in 20 weeks.  Senators and Representatives are more likely to vote "compassion/ common sense" when two years away from an election.  Finally, what will be the cost to obtain necessary votes. There are 59 "Democratic" Senators. Joe Lieberman and Bernie Sanders are independents that caucas with the Dems; Ben Nelson is (your words, try to keep it clean this is a G-rated blog) ????  This bill did not wait until 3 days before recess due to lack or awareness.  There was not and has not been enough Democratic support for TierV since May. The jobs creation and unemployment benefits may be vastly different from what Sen. Stabenow is proposing.

What to do? Take the negatives and make them positive.  I realize that for 99ers or soon to be 99ers, positives are impossible. These people are not falling through the cracks, they are falling off a cliff.  It is profoundly sad. I have no answers, so I return to taking action.  Stay aware.  Mike Thornton and Donalee King provide daily insightful updates. Stay active. Congress.org has great tips and a full contact list. Stay calm. It's much easier to solicit help if you are strident, not angry. Stay focused. The unemployed want to work. Until sufficient jobs are created unemployment benefits are a safety net. Retribution through voting (or not) will wait. Stay energized. The 99es energy claimed the attention of Ed Schultz. His daily appeal on behalf of the 99ers moved Senator Stabenow. Stay involved. The Wall Street Rally on August 12 needs support.  "America's 99ers: The Forgotten" must be shown to more people. Other projects will arise,like this on Facebook UBO21C.  If I appear to consistently return to the same theme, I do. Participation is crucial.  This is our moment, we can be part of history. If we fail, we are history.