Who is Nina Easton?
Posted by Ray on January 17, 2010 under Main | 
6 Comments to Read
I had personally never heard of this person before until I read an article in Time Magazine a day or so ago and let’s just say she did not start off on the right foot with me. Ms. Easton is apparently some right wing nut job from Fortune, I could be wrong, but usually when you are on Fox News all the time and rail against such things as unemployment insurance, well, you are a right wing nut job. There is nothing wrong with being nuts, some say I fit that category very well, but there is something wrong with being an idiot.
This woman actually cited a study that says people live off of unemployment insurance and they deliberately turn down good jobs for the riches of that weekly state check. Seriously? In the article she says that often people pass up lower paying jobs and “miraculously” find work right before their benefits run out, she just must be stupid, sorry, but she must be. Why take a lower paying job when you know you are simply going to leave it? That is why people turn down lower paying jobs. As far as people finding jobs right before their benefits run out, not shit Sherlock! A bad job is better than no job or benefits coming in right? My question is, did she even check to see if this was the unemployed persons dream job or not, somehow I doubt it. She advocates cutting benefits because it “disincentives” people from working, this proves she is a moron.
I do not know how unemployment insurance works, but I think it is like $400 a week in New York, so I assume it is similar in most states, certainly not too much more. Now, how or why would anyone choose to live on $400 a week unless they actually have to? I am sure some people can live on that, but most cannot since just putting food on the table for a family of 4 costs $150 a week or so, not to mention rent or mortgage payments. Essentially, these weekly checks cover the basics, that is it. Now, this keeps more houses out of foreclosure, a very good thing right now, it keeps people from going hungry, it keeps people from taking bad jobs which reduces turnover and employers expenses, all good things!
Not to mention right now there are not enough jobs to go around, 6 people for every 1 job opening, that is not very good odds for anyone. I am not saying keep these benefits going indefinitely, but right now these benefits are critical to keeping the country from falling off a cliff. In fact, I would say that unemployment benefits are way more important than bailing out anymore banks in the near-term. Not to mention that the little guy deserves something, anything, from the trillions spent as they are, at the end of the day, just going to get stuck with the tax bill. However, cutting benefits and citing idiotic studies that are slanted for your own personal views is immoral and devoid of the reality on the ground.
I would further argue that Ms. Easton deserves to find out just how rough it is out there and join the ranks of unemployed. I am sure if she lived just a week in the life of a regular person she would have a very different view of things. I am not saying all right wing people are nut jobs, I am a libertarian if anything, but even I know you have to have reasonable social support systems for the times we live in. Right now, we need more support than usual, but for the people, not for banks or corporations. Congratulations Ms. Easton, you made it to my libraries Hall of Shame, want to guess what room that is in?
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