The website ProPublica, journalism in the public interest, published a fascinating investigation of the crisis in the nation's unemployment finance systems. There are some interesting statistics that I did not know: Florida ranks 46 of 51 states in average weekly benefits. I'd like to hear Associated Industries take, on that. Or the Chamber of Commerce. I know their response: Florida's regulatory environment inhibits jobs. Baloney. We have one growth model in Florida and it has performed miserably: chew up wetlands and open space for suburban sprawl. Fueled by the supply chain, the growth engine remains active in Tallahassee but no where else. The Tea Partiers who are against federal funding for the states: check out where Florida is borrowing money from, to keep the unemployment trust fund afloat. Yes to states rights, no to federal intervention? Voters need to wake up, but so far Floridians are sleep walkng.
3 comments:
The only reason the State of Florida needs federal money is because the federal government keeps extending unemployment benefits and creating an unfunded mandate. The system was meant to provide six months of benefits, not benefits for years and years. Put the blame where it belongs: on the Obama administration and its expansion of the welfare state.
I don't give a rats ass if we have to kill every alligator in the state to get Floridians back to work.
Trust me I am not sleep walking. I am very sensitive to the economic situation situation in the state and in the country.
Dade County was 13%, so we are on the extreme end of bad things here and I agree that benefits should lot be extended over and over again. However, that is a symptom of a greater disease and Obama is not responsible for that disease. Get ready for the next bump in the road. Lots of ARMS are getting ready to mature. Summer is going to be ugly and we are just going to have to go the soup kitchen route, I fear.
Post a Comment