Thousands of Utahns to lose jobless benefits next week

Jason Cannon
Unit 5
12/28/13

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865593112/Thousands-of-Utahns-to-lose-jobless-benefits-next-week.html?pg=all

Synopsis:

With the recent budget plan that Congress passed, federal long term unemployment aid will be cut.  This federal aid program was set up by President Bush, and it helps those who are unemployed longer than the individual state programs cover.  It is an extension of the state unemployment aid programs, which usually last for about 6 months.  About 3000 Utahns and 1.3 million Americans will be directly affected by this cut.  The average American unemployment lasts about 2 months longer than the state programs cover.  The cut of this program is projected to hurt the economy because of the decrease in spending that will occur.  President Obama said, "When Congress comes back to work, their first order of business should be making this right."  Reenacting this program will increase the national debt, but will help the unemployed and the economy.

Comments:

This example of social welfare shows the complexity of social welfare issues.  Social welfare is all about who deserves benefits and who does not.  I am sure that there are Americans who have taken advantage of this federal unemployment aid program.  I also am sure that there are many who have greatly needed it and have benefited greatly from it.  In my opinion, this program is legitimate and is needed.  While there are some who take advantage of it, many more use it in the right way to get back on their feet.  In the article, it quotes Maurice Emsellem as saying that the program, "is really a lifeline to help pay the bills, put food on the table, and put gas in the tank so people can look for work."  It would be hard to look for a job if you had to worry about what you were going to eat that night.

This issue also highlights the view of most Americans on political policy.  No one likes adding to the national debt, but everyone wants more spending on programs that will benefit them and that they deem legitimate and necessary.  There really is not a country wide solution to this desire.  This specific program is an example of client politics.