The unemployment extension Tier 5 for the 99ers will probably have very little discussion from the lame-duck Congress this week. They are first going to discuss if the unemployment extension Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3 and Tier 4 should be extended to those who have not even received these extensions. With millions of unemployment extensions ending the end of November 2010 these are also needed.
Many of the 99ers, some for 2 years, are trying to keep their homes, if they haven't already lost them. A favorite movie at this time of the year is "It's A Wonderful Life" starring James Stewart and Donna Reed. Unless we have a lot of representatives in Congress like George Bailey (James Stewart) it looks like it won't be such a "wonderful life" for many this Christmas.
Reading comments online that are similar to the comment that follows, shows how dire many of the unemployed are becoming:
This from Kaynonymous:
"I'm a 99er too. 53, female, single and once on track with an IT career. No one in their right mind would consider me for an IT position after being gone from the field for over 2 years. I have officially been a 99er since May 2010. In Aug. 2010 all of my savings and retirement funds were finally depleted--not only can I no longer make my mortgage payment, I can no longer afford utilities either. I'm just not sure that the 99ers ever had a voice outside of union organizers and even with them it was too little too late. Guess I'll be seeing ya'll in the soup kitchens and tent cities. I do still have my tent..."
With just a few days this week that Congress will be in session and having all next week off for Thanksgiving vacation, it will be lucky if the unemployment extension for Tier 1 through Tier 4 will even be voted on much less likely the Tier 5 for 99ers. For the unemployed who may not even have bread to eat this Thanksgiving we're hoping that the members in Congress won't be saying, "Let them eat cake."
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