We're all alone

As of last month, we have 11.7 million unemployed Americans (of which 4.6 million, or nearly 40% are long-term--unemployed for longer than six months), 7.6 million Americans are working part-time hours and need full-time hours, and 2.3 million Americans were marginally attached, i.e., they wanted work and had looked in the past twelve months but either became discouraged or were unable to take a job because of family obligations.  By my calculations, that's better than 20 million Americans, and the numbers don't even include those who have completely lost hope of finding employment.

So yesterday, when Minnesota Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar scheduled a Congressional hearing on long-term unemployment, you'd expect most Committee members to show up to see what they could do to help alleviate this problem for average Americans, also known as their constituents (because, get real, corporations flat just don't give a fuck about us).

You'd be wrong--Sen. Klobuchar was joined by four, count 'em four, of the Committee's twenty members, all Democrats (Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, and Reps. John Delaney and Elijah Cummings of Maryland).  Granted, republicans had 100% no-shows, but a sixty percent no-show rate for the Democrats isn't exactly a number to be proud of.

All of which begs the question...if our hard work that earns an opulent lifestyle for our corporate superiors isn't enough, and our taxpayer dollars supporting their families isn't enough, exactly what does it take for our "leaders" to actually give a fuck whether we live or die?

Peace,
emaycee