The 99ers blueprint for success is already written and available.

It's the last week of 2010 and 2011 can't get here fast enough. Unfortunately I said that in 2008 and 2009 as well. At least I've had the good fortune to ruminate on 2008, 2009 and 2010 from the same address so I am luckier than many. I'll revisit these thoughts at the end of 2011 and hopefully not have to schedule the same review for 2012.

Congress has gone home to spend Christmas with their families.  Enjoy your eggnog, Senator Kyl. 99ers are still trying to make a point with some powerful imagery. Here are just two examples, the latest from Donalee King (aka Paladinette) and a poignant tweet from @suzeyQ41.  I know that the 99er community is moved by these portraits of anger and despair.  Unfortunately if only 99ers are moved, 99ers are moving into tent cities. So what do the 99ers (and those soon to gain 99er membership) do? Well...

Sarah Robinson of Escaping Mediocrity teaches learning to swim by jumping into the pool and suggested anything by Seth Godin. In "small is the new big", the post "Bluegrass and the Cello Player",  page14 Seth writes: "If your target audience isn't listening, it's not their fault, it's yours. If one story isn't working, change what you do, not how loudly you yell." It's time for 99ers to change the message.

99ers also have to change the message delivery. Jane Hamsher from Firedog Lake laid out the new blueprint for 99er advocacy while discussing the plethora of legislation from the111th Congress on "The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell":

00:07:34	Number two, it was the groups who would not take no for an answer.
00:07:39	Get equal, the 9/11 health care.
00:07:41	The first responders who came here, who demonstrated, chained themselves to the white house, who followed the president around and heckled and absolutely would not take no for an answer, who got their issues addressed.

The plan of taking it to the streets, peacefully but aggressively is a time tested success and the only path to survival for 99ers.

I'm not claiming it's easy to gather the long term unemployed with family obligations and no money to march on the White House.  The 99es need help with organization and funds. Hopefully, some of the working class advocates (NELP, U-Cubed, Working America) will take.  If not, 99ers will have to organize them(our)selves.

If I appear to be preaching, it's because I see no other way.  I am open to suggestions, can you make any?

More of the same.

It appears Congress and the White House have reached a compromise on extending expiring tax cuts that would includes funding current unemployment extensions for 13 additional months. 99ers will be left to fend for themselves.  Why have the 99ers been abandoned by everyone except Ed Schultz?

To understand the predicament of the long term unemployed during the Great Depression of the 21st Century, it's important to review some pertinent facts:

1. The unemployment rate is somewhere between 9.8% and higher. That makes the employment rate 77% or higher. It is very hard for the 77% employed to fathom why anyone is involuntarily unemployed for greater than 99 weeks, even in a weak economy.

2. The current model of issuing unemployment benefits via "weeks" is inadequate given current economic conditions. With five seekers for each job and an unemployment rate predicted to hover above 8% through 2012, a safety net for the unemployed should be tied to the unemployment rate.  Benefits should continue until the unemployment rate is down to 'X' not an arbitrary designation of weeks.  Unfortunately no one will commit to structuring unemployment insurance accordingly.

3. The argument in favor of adding a TierV has too often been made from the POV of the 99ers. (These people need the safety net to survive.) Unemployment advocates (I include myself) should have jumped on the Republican meme that small businesses are the primary creators of jobs.  The success of small business depends more on demand than tax cuts. Therefore it is vital that the unemployed have a minimal amount of money to support these small businesses.

What is left to do? The aforementioned compromise has not net been voted on in Congress.  Now, more than ever is the time to bombard elected officials. It is also important for all unemployed to stick together. Given the statistics above there are going to be more 99ers each week. Attrition (death and  homelessness) will reduce the amount of 99ers but not nearly by the numbers joining the ranks of the 99ers.  Eventually, something will be done. I am hoping for the best.

What just happened?

June 30, 2010 7:20 PM CDT I was on the laptop, The Rachel Maddow Show on TV in the background. (Yes, I am a progressive and proud of it.) The hose host stops her interview to announce Breaking News: The Senate has failed to pass Funding of Unemployment Extensions by 1 vote and was adjourning for Independence Day until July 12, 2010. My extended unemployment has been held hostage since June 6, 2010 and elected officials were taking a week off.

How could this happen? Many reasons with blame enough for both parties, the White House and my fellow unemployed. There is time enough to go through the politics, I want to talk about the unemployed.

That week was a very busy week in Washington. 2 confirmation hearings, the death of Senator Byrd, the ongoing mess in the Gulf. Many pressing issues were competing for coverage. 1.2 million citizens without any support, promised support and very little coverage. This is my responsibility along with my fellow unemployed.

The unemployed have no voice, no face, no advocate. We don't have a concrete message other than we need help either with a job or longer benefits. We are relying on the compassion of others, but our plight is much harder to comprehend than the image of an oil-slicked pelican. That is not going to change unless we make it change.

That is why I have started this blog along with companion sites on Facebook UBO21C (please like) and Twitter @ubo21(please follow). Together I want to craft a message and devise ways to deliver that message keeping us in front of the news. I also hope to share links that can help us get by. Finally we can gather for support.

I look forward to your thoughts and ideas. Stay positive, despite it all.