[Tango589]

Originally Posted by vienna

There is a similiar problem here in the US: Congress adjourned for the year without passing an extension of benefits for the long-term unemployed. The number of people being affected is 1.3 million. Here the main problem is a very small number of Republican (GOP) Far-Right "Tea Party" members of Congress, mainly in the House of Representatives, who are blocking and stalling any extension(s). The long-term unemployed are composed of those who, on average have been unable to find work for about a year. A lot of these are people who have, in recent years since the "Great Recession", found themselves in the "hard to hire" categories: older workers (over 50); workers without college degrees or professional certification(s); workers whose were employed in now 'dead' occupations due to automation, outsourcing,and other effects of 'downsizing' and 'restructuring'; and, a significantly large number of minorities, women, disabled, etc. There are a couple of bi-partisan plans being advanced to renew the extension(s), but there will be not chance for action until mid Junuary 2014 at the earliest. As of today, those 1.3 million affected will have their benefits terminated as of Friday, December 27. Not a very merry Christmas for them..


The toal official US unemployed figure stands at about 11 million. Not included in this number are those un employed who are not officially part of the data gathering process: persons not eligible for unemployment benefits, for some reason or other; those involved in labor disputes, those who have given up on finding employment; students, part-time workers, and the self-employed who are not able to find work. So, roughly, 12% of the 11 million are about to find themselves out of luck for the time being...

The galling part of this for the regular GOP members is the acts of the "Tea Party" faction is giving fuel to the Democrats to bash the GOP and threatening the GOP hold on the House of Representatives in the Congressional elections coming up in November 2014:


http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...it-expiration/


http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...ration-economy

<O>

It amazes me how a small part of the opposition government can so comprehensively screw up any of the majority partys' plans and decisions. At least here all the opposition can do is rant, moan and shout ' yah boo sucks' at something they don't like, they have to wait until they are elected before they can bugger things up for themselves.

Originally Posted by Oberon

Lots of familiar names appearing in the news, looks like the Medway has flooded pretty spectacularly and there's a lot of water around on saturated land. Yalding, Tonbridge, Paddock Wood.

Feel really sorry for the people, particularly the children, in the flooded areas.

All these places are within 1/2 hour drive of me. It's a shame to see such devastation to a lovely part of the country. I live very close to the river Swale, but fortunately we are ok. Sparing a thought for anyone around the country who has had their xmas destroyed.