Even if a person were to get a job today magically- for many it would take minim 2 weeks for them to recieve their first check. Which would include only pay for the first week. For freelancers it can take 30-60 days to get paid on a contract. #unemploymentextension is needed.
If the jobs market was reporting that there were 10 million+ unfilled jobs slots, there would be evidence that a hole is unfilled. (Controversially so) However only 1.8 million jobs were added last month with 30 million still unemployed. Even if ppl want to return it’s impossible
A pandemic couldn’t have occurred at a more unfortunate time in the USA. A year or two ago this may have been handled differently and benefits may not be such a heated debate. But with election on the line within the next three months- egos are beating ethos.
Whatever occurs from this chaotic situation I hope we take away a few key things and apply an avid search for solutions within the next years of government. 1) Our individualized social systems need a technological and processing update. It’s too easy for fraud and getting lost.
2) Unemployment and social safety nets are often designed to be difficult and act as deterrents for people to access them by being overly complicated. As a formerly homeless person I remember being unable to acquire SNAP benefits for a long while because I had no address. Duh.
3) We need to offer more places of employment in positions of social welfare programs to give people the individual assistance they need. This will ensure they don’t get lost in the system- but also that they are guided through it to be stable beyond benefits. From jobs to home.
4) We’ve learned that there ar meant forms of employment that can done from ones home and are able to be performed by many. Customer service to computer programming. I’d love to see big tech work with gov to provide hand up opportunities in these fields for benefit recipients.
5) Lastly- our government has expressed surprise on BOTH sides of the aisle at how unemployment benefit raising helped instead of hurt the economy. I would like to see an in-depth discussion about the results of this experience and a consideration of UBI or fair wages as a result
At the end of the day, though a nation divided we are a species united. Take care of each other. On at least the basic level of food, shelter, water, physical safety. We may disagree on policies but we all deserve to live. Be compassionate but not complicit.
