The writer was unemployed for more than a year.
While Congress debates whether “in God we trust” will remain the motto of the United States, millions of U.S. workers are suffering the untold, yet far too familiar, horrors of unemployment. The story of the unemployed worker is quickly replacing the much-lauded myth of the American dream. Yet even with millions of workers unable to find employment, Congress has decided to wait until year’s end to take up the issue, and decide whether to continue to expand unemployment benefits to 99 weeks. What is there to debate?
From late 2007, when the recession began, to early 2010, the number of people receiving unemployment benefits rose more than four-fold, to 11.5 million. According to the Census Bureau, unemployment benefits kept 3.2 million people from falling below the official poverty line defined as an annual income below $22,314 for a family of four.
But for as many as 2 million unemployed people, extending the benefits to 99 weeks is irrelevant, because they are no longer eligible; they have been unemployed for more than 99 weeks. (Associated Press, Nov. 7)
Unemployment an integral part of capitalist system
The capitalist class needs unemployment, and unemployment is a natural byproduct of the anarchic capitalist system. People lose their jobs due to the crisis of capitalist overproduction. At the same time, maintaining a permanent army of the unemployed serves the capitalists as a means to terrorize the working class into accepting lower pay and poor working conditions. Workers fear losing their jobs and being replaced by someone from the reserve army of the unemployed. Under capitalism, workers have only our labor power to sell, and must work to survive.
We are living in a time where there is more wealth than ever before, and in a land which is supposed to be the richest to ever exist. How is it then, that the working class still finds itself trying to claw and scratch our way out of the pit of capitalism? It is because the working class must suffer so the ruling classes can maintain their lives of leisure and exploitation.
It is only by transforming the very core of our society that we can dethrone the kings of capital, and create a future where all people can work meaningful and fulfilling jobs at living wages. We seek not to divide but to unite, and together against capitalism and the 1 percent usher in the future that we the people deserve.
