Why do Republicans want to let unemployment benefits expire?
       |           

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Did you miss your activation email?
March 28, 2024, 03:32:00 PM
News: Election Simulator 2.0 Released. Senate/Gubernatorial maps, proportional electoral votes, and more - Read more

  Talk Elections
  General Politics
  Economics (Moderator: Torie)
  Why do Republicans want to let unemployment benefits expire?
« previous next »
Pages: [1]
Author Topic: Why do Republicans want to let unemployment benefits expire?  (Read 1692 times)
Indy Texas
independentTX
Atlas Icon
*****
Posts: 12,258
United States


Political Matrix
E: 0.52, S: -3.48

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« on: December 09, 2013, 10:37:20 PM »

Rand Paul illogically suggested extending unemployment benefits for long-term unemployed workers would be a "disservice" to them, while moderate hero Jon Huntsman pointed out that taking money out of the pockets of those most likely to spend it would weigh down a recovery that is already sluggish due to insufficient aggregate demand.

Even if extending benefits were a "disservice" to the unemployed, not extending them is a disservice to the economy as a whole.

Quote
You must be logged in to read this quote.

We cannot have an intellectually honest conversation about generating economic growth when the Republican Party insists on making economics into a moral issue where it suits them.

Rand Paul and other conservatives think extending unemployment benefits is a "disservice" to workers because they really believe that people on unemployment choose to be unemployed. They believe the vice of sloth is tempting the morals of Americans in the form of the dole. So the economic cost of discontinuing the benefits is justified because morally vulnerable people will not be tempted into idleness.

The other side of the coin is the Republican base itself - an angry, resentful group of people who are convinced everyone but them is "getting something for nothing" and is hell bent on putting a stop to it, no matter what the macroeconomic collateral damage.
Logged
True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)
Ernest
Moderators
Atlas Legend
*****
Posts: 42,157
United States


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #1 on: December 09, 2013, 11:08:42 PM »

As with all government spending, ending it will hurt the economy.  However, government spending is not free money.  One can argue whether this is the best way to reduce the government's red ink. (Government's red ink not the economy, for the government certainly does get more than $1 in taxes on an extra $1.55 of economic activity.)  One can argue whether this is right time to reduce the red ink.  But certainly in the long term we need to end the red ink.  The extra benefits were always intended as a short term extra until the economy is back on its feet.  So thus we apparently have the odd spectacle of the Republicans thinking the economy is in better shape than the Democrats do.  (Odd only because there is a Democrat in the White House.)
Logged
Cassius
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 4,591


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #2 on: December 10, 2013, 02:10:51 PM »

So, your idea is to keep paying the unemployed money indefinitely just so that they can spend it. There are better things to spend money on (or even better, not to spend money on). I mean, how do they even test this hypothesis that it would cost 310,000 jobs if this money is not spent.
Logged
freefair
Jr. Member
***
Posts: 759
United Kingdom


WWW Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #3 on: December 10, 2013, 06:04:28 PM »

.. eventually they should all expire, but only when the economy is booming, which its not. The money could be spent on retraining or even tax cuts for the very lowest paid workers.
Logged
Person Man
Angry_Weasel
Atlas Superstar
*****
Posts: 36,681
United States


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #4 on: December 10, 2013, 11:29:34 PM »

.. eventually they should all expire, but only when the economy is booming, which its not. The money could be spent on retraining or even tax cuts for the very lowest paid workers.

...that don't actually pay taxes. Eventually, there needs to be an end game but unless these people are paid for, you will eventually have to pay for them one way or another.
Logged
opebo
Atlas Legend
*****
Posts: 47,010


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #5 on: December 11, 2013, 07:09:14 AM »

They're quite right - can't have a plantation without the Whip:

Logged
Conflicted Progressive
Rookie
**
Posts: 52


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #6 on: December 12, 2013, 03:49:54 AM »

The other side of the coin is the Republican base itself - an angry, resentful group of people who are convinced everyone but them is "getting something for nothing" and is hell bent on putting a stop to it, no matter what the macroeconomic collateral damage.

I think you have your answer right there...
Logged
Cory
YaBB God
*****
Posts: 3,709


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #7 on: December 17, 2013, 11:20:48 PM »

The other side of the coin is the Republican base itself - an angry, resentful group of people who are convinced everyone but them is "getting something for nothing" and is hell bent on putting a stop to it, no matter what the macroeconomic collateral damage.

I think you have your answer right there...
Logged
Flake
JacobTiver
Junior Chimp
*****
Posts: 8,688
United States


Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #8 on: December 18, 2013, 11:34:02 PM »

Logged
Antonio the Sixth
Antonio V
Atlas Institution
*****
Posts: 57,963
United States


Political Matrix
E: -7.87, S: -3.83

P P
Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #9 on: December 19, 2013, 06:41:13 PM »

Because they hate the poor. This should be obvious to any sensible person by now.
Logged
○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└
jfern
Atlas Institution
*****
Posts: 53,611


Political Matrix
E: -7.38, S: -8.36

Show only this user's posts in this thread
« Reply #10 on: December 24, 2013, 01:22:42 AM »

It screws the poor, and Obama might take the blame, so of course they do it. The Republican party is absolutely disinterested in sensible government.
Logged
Pages: [1]  
« previous next »
Jump to:  


Login with username, password and session length

Terms of Service - DMCA Agent and Policy - Privacy Policy and Cookies

Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines

Page created in 0.038 seconds with 11 queries.