Unemployment benefits were extended by two months in a bill passed Wednesday, December 16, in the House of Representatives. Many individuals who were facing the expiration of unemployment benefits are given until February before the unemployment benefits issue is addressed again, but is Congress just looking at short term solutions and are extensions just for those whose unemployment benefits run out before December 31, 2010 fair?
For instance, if someone’s unemployment benefits expire on January 3, 2010, as opposed to December 31, 2009, they are out of luck and lose their unemployment benefits. It’s understandable that many people need an extension of unemployment benefits just for basic necessities, but is continually extending unemployment benefits doing anything to solve the problem.
Many feel the continual extension of unemployment benefits is equivalent to treating the pain but not curing the cause. Unless job loss is halted and more employment opportunities are created there is little that can be done except extend unemployment benefits and if the job market doesn’t start growing again, then there will be millions who are going to need more and more unemployment benefits.
A two-month extension on unemployment benefits is, again, a blessing for many people, but Congress will have to readdress this issue within two months of the new year and unless employers are given incentive to hire, either by governmental programs, lending from banks, or a stronger economy, then the outcry for unemployment benefits extension is going to continue and only grow louder.
