US Unemployment hits 7.2
The nation’s unemployment rate bolted to 7.2 percent in December, the highest level in 16 years, as nervous employers slashed 524,000 jobs, capping one of the worst years in modern history for American workers.
But even this shocking number hides truths: many, many companies have cut their workers hours back, or put in mandatory ‘don’t show up’ periods. Many employees don’t work enough hours to qualify for health insurance or retirement savings plans. A Bush apologist might say, ‘well the 7.2 wouldn’t reflect those people anyway’. True. But that means the 7.2 might be somewhere around 15-30% of Americans who do not have jobs that pay enough to care for themselves and their families.
While this harsh reality is shaking us up, can we please re-look at our expectations of the American workplace?
I believe:
all Americans should have equal access to healthcare for themselves and their families, unrelated to where you show up for work
America’s youngest children and oldest elders should have access to consistent nutritious meals, to ensure their development, best health and quality of life, within their communities, not their workplaces
Our tax dollars should be invested in our communities, thru spending on green jobs, infrastructure that reflects our global world, on transportation, on expanding our power grid, on community food production
So that this horrible jobless statistic, which is backed by Americans just like you and me – who wake up and get on with the daily job of providing for ourselves and our families – can be morphed into an active and challenged workforce.
Its the American Way.
And I’m not a socialist. I’m not a communist. I’m an American and I’m a mom.
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