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?

#99ers: As long as we remain alone, we will be alone.

Minor surgery is surgery that occurs in someone else's family. If my flesh and blood is involved even a liquid suture is a major procedure, worthy of the same worry as open heart surgery. Over reaction? Not when my family is involved. This is a major problem for 99ers. As long as the 99er isn't in your family, the problem is minor.

Simply put, 99ers need to make others understand exactly what is happening to the 99ers. How do you make others feel hunger, homelessness, bone numbing fear? It's not easy, but I have an idea.

As a start, violence is never, never, never an appropriate or allowable response.  Any idea I suggest or endorse will not include violence or a threat to some one's personal safety. With non-violence an expressed requirement here's my thought:

I would take last night's candle light vigil and add some flash mob mentality. Imagine a group of people with only boxes for shelter blocking the entrance to a US Representatives office at opening time. How about a human blockade of 99ers with signs, blocking an expressway off-ramp at rush hour?  A mass of rags-for- clothes protesters impeding access to a civic cafeteria (or maybe fast food restaurant) at lunch time? No one talks, chants or moves. Press coverage is essential, but the local TV station should be called (prepaid cell phone) moments before the protest comes together. The protest lasts a specific period of time (15 minutes - hour) and breaks up as quickly as it assembles. A fax or call to the local media explains the significance of the protest as soon as it concludes.

This type of advocacy is not simple. It requires organization and money. It requires lawyers on site to represent the protesters when they get arrested. Ideally these attorneys would use the bond hearing as a soapbox. This advocacy requires the participation of the very same groups (NELP, U-Cubed, Working America) that have yet to make the 99ers a priority.

You might think I espouse extreme measures. Perhaps, but ask yourself if the Viet Nam War would be over if  the only protests were calls and letters to Congress? I'm just saying.

Oh, Joy.

Yesterday I criticized NELP, Working America and UCubed. These organizations with budgets and paid professional staff have failed miserably in assisting the 99ers. Their inability to be proactive brings us to December 3,2010 and the 99ers ignored again in an attempt to re-establish extensions for the unemployed in weeks 27-99.

What should NELP, Working America and UCubed be doing? Watching Joy Behar. Last night, Ms. Behar opened her HLN talker reminding everyone that Sen. Scott Brown was the latest Grand Obstructionist Party member to block a vote on funding unemployment extensions. She then suggested that all effected by Sen. Brown's vote drop in on his $100 a plate holiday dinner funder on Friday Night, complete with time and address. I have Joy, deep in my heart.

In summary, in a 30 second intro to a show that included an update on a Hollywood murder and an interview with the Hasselhoffs, Ms. Behar offered an idea that is more creative than anything 3 worker advocacy groups have done in 2 months. NELP, Working America and UCubed are you listening?

Finally, as you head out to do some holiday shopping this weekend, don't worry about the malls being crowded with 99ers.  Unless of course NELP, Working America and UCubed get off their ass.

Here we are again.

Day 2 of the unemployed held hostage and the 99ers are ignored. Again. For the third time this year.  At least extending tax cuts will continue to spur the economy.  What? Unemployment benefits are more effective than tax cuts? So why do we continue to engage in counterproductive economics? It's the American way.

99ers should not be surprised at our current plight.  99ers have been ignored since (before) Jim Bunning staged his one man show of arrogance. Sen. Bunning's show was so successful, it reappeared in summer stock. As we approach Christmas,"Waiting for Congress" has been made into a winter holiday special. The common theme of these three extravaganzas? Nothing about the 99ers, which means nothing for the 99ers. This is like going to the Emergency Room for a cough. The Triage Nurse mentions your intestines are hanging out and you choose to treat just the cough. How did we reach reach this nadir of lunacy? There are many directions to point a finger, I am aiming at NELP, UCubed and Working America.

99ers should not be surprised we have reached this point. Except for occasional whispers to the contrary, Congress has been shouting opposition to TierV since spring. It's easy to suggest 99ers should have organized more effectively. There have been great grassroot groups, UWAG and Unemployed Friends are just two of many. These are primarily volunteer organizations. NELP, UCubed and Working America have professional staff and budgets. The staff may be small and the budget limited, but 99ers budget? 99ers are trying to keep the utilities on in a house they might lose to cook food they can't afford to buy. NELP, UCubed and Working America should have been doing more this whole time.

The One Nation Working Together rally was great.  That rally was two months ago.  Since then there have been call rallies, fax rallies, email campaigns. Obviously these attempts have been ineffective and done nothing to generate public opinion. 99ers are told time is dear and unemployed between 26 and 99 weeks need all efforts to continue to fund their benefits. NELP, UCubed and Working America should have never let it come to an either/or decision. As soon as Jim Bunning started his one man show in March, NELP, UCubed and Working America should have been screaming every day that 99ers be included in any extensions. These professional organizations were neglectful and now claim they must concentrate their efforts for those with extensions previously approved.  Okay, what about the rest of us.

I don't know how this will wind up.  I fear it will end with discord between 99ers and less than 99ers. Unemployed eating their own.  Which makes sense, because it's the only food many of us can afford.

No news from Gov't but things are happening.

On Sunday, I tweeted this link from the US Unemployed Blogsite, "No News But Speculation-So Why Say Anything." The gist of the post stated there is nothing new with no legislation scheduled; so if you can't say anything good.... I cannot dispute the fact about legislation nor the prayers for full employment by Labor Day; I agree 100%.  None the less the editor did not address the positive things that happened in August. Maybe there is something to hope for.

Before I continue I must offer this disclaimer: For the 99ers, long-term, shorter-term or soon to be, no silver lining exists. If they have not yet experienced total disaster (I include myself) they fear total disaster every day. Fearing something every day means you have that experience every day. This type of existence quashes hope and remains immune to "Things aren't all that bad". In truth things are indeed all that bad. Still the tide may be starting to turn.

During August bills addressing unemployment compensation beyond 99 weeks were introduced in the Senate and the House. Ed Schultz promoted and attended a rally on Wall Street in support of the 99ers. Reverend Jesse Jackson led a Jobs, Justice and Peace rally in Detroit with the potential for additional rallies in other cities.  Legislatively I realize both bills are imperfect, need to be merged into one bill and no debate is scheduled. The longest journey starts with a single step and for 99ers the first step has been taken.  Ed Schultz and Reverend Jackson are great advocates and they speak to different audiences.  This is the only the beginning of a single battle on behalf of the middle class, but I am pleased by those on our side. Except for Ed Schultz none of this was a reality before the month began.

Much more needs to be done but the framework exists.  There are various groups working for the unemployed. Both UCubed and Working America have Union affiliations. The Unions bring organization and access that a group of individuals would be hard pressed to acquire. A rally is scheduled in DC on October 2.  It is now up to the 99ers and their support to continue to speak out in any manner available. Each day is dear, but the past has passed and cannot be recaptured. There is a possibility of reclaiming the future. That's what happened this month. Not much in the way of results but much more than "no news". This is more than speculation.