By State Representative, Leon D. Young
Leon D. Young
Just recently, I had the occasion of watching a riveting HBO documentary entitled “Hard Times: Lost on Long Island.” This documentary takes a hard look at the long-term unemployment crisis by profiling four, white families that live on Long Island, New York. However, what’s most intriguing about this television treatise is the fact that the individuals who appear in “Hard Times” are educated, established professionals – people who were not supposed to be out of a job for four years.
Among those profiled are a corporate trainer, a publicist, a teacher and a Wall Street office manager. Their lives have now become filled with stress, fear, anger, embarrassment, self-doubt and the feeling of emotional alienation that separates them from friends and family who have jobs. Moreover, in many instances, they blame themselves for their personal plight – for not being good enough.
Clearly, the starkest message of the documentary is that anyone can lose his or her job at any time regardless of race, age or level of education. The film showcases well-educated, hard-working people, laying to rest the ridiculous notion that those who do not have jobs are lazy or government freeloaders.
While the jobs picture has been improving, US unemployment still sits at a staggeringly high rate of 8.2 percent. Millions of Americans are looking for a job but just cannot find work. Last month 5.4 million people, or 42 percent of those who are unemployed, had been unemployed for more than 27 weeks and the unemployment rate – which includes those who have a part-time job but seek a full-time position and those who have just given up looking for work – rose to 14.9 percent.
It goes without saying that a film of this nature could be easily misused for obvious political advantage. Governor Romney and the GOP have made a point of continuously berating President Obama for the chronically high unemployment numbers, but are totally disingenuous in admitting their culpability in undermining this president. Meanwhile, millions of Americans have been left in a financial lurch.
Republicans have also played another despicable game with unemployed Americans: blame the victims by refusing to extend unemployment benefits. Over 25 million Americans are currently unemployed or under-employed in this country, with scant hope in sight.
The growing national refrain: Where are the jobs?