Is extending unemployment benefits doing a “disservice” to the unemployed?

Let them eat cake? 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Rand Paul‘s (R-KY) comments about his unwillingness to extend unemployment benefits have caused a strong backlash. The question came up in light of Paul’s trip to Detroit where he planned to propose “economic freedom zones,” which would lower personal and corporate income tax rates to 5% in areas where unemployment is over 12%.

Unfortunately for the senator, the only talking point that has emerged amidst the sea of criticism is that Paul wants to cut off benefits to those who are unemployed. Even members of his own party such as Jon Huntsman have criticized him for what appeared to be icy rhetoric about welfare.

Joe Scarborough chastised Paul’s message, “I understand, intellectually, the argument,” he said. “It’s a debate we had during welfare reform. But as I said an hour ago my dad was unemployed for a year and a half, and he was working to get a job every single day. You know, we needed that money. Is this recession not worse than other recessions? We shouldn’t go around talking like that on national shows, should we?”

If Paul intended to have his message heard of saving $1.3 billion in the next ten years for the citizens of Detroit, that is not what was communicated to the public.

Paul’s comments were based on a study that found that workers who were unemployed longer had a harder time finding work than those unemployed for shorter periods. This is true for several reasons. One is because employers, perhaps unfairly, believe they “may have outdated skills, or may be a short-timer who is desperate enough to take any work now but will leave when something better comes along.”

 

Paul’s misstep and inability to control the message on this point is a problem, especially considering how much resources he invested in this recent Detroit initiative. President Barack Obama has provided a strong, recent example of what not to do when proposing sweeping reforms or plans. The president’s dramatic failure of Healthcare.gov has generated incredible buzz in the Public Relations industry as an example of what “not to do.

Still, Paul’s actual message is sound and correct. People who are unemployed for a longer period of time do have a harder time finding work. And as the interview below reveals, even a progressive such as Thom Hartmann agrees with the Senator on that point. The debate should be about whether economic freedom zones that save a billion dollars for the citizens of Detroit is a good idea. Instead we are faced with a battle over whether we should extend unemployment benefits. Defense, instead of offense.

We’ll fight the good fight anyway.




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