Dear Editor:
By all accounts, this past holiday season was one of the most difficult for both American families and business. The economic experts tell us that in 2003 95,000 jobless people in this nation will lose their unemployment benefits.
Yet, in the face of this President Bush and the Republican lawmakers are reluctant to extend unemployment benefits. Democratic leaders are calling for extended benefits, giving jobless Americans an extension of benefits of up to 26 weeks. But while the debate rages on, families are wondering what they are going to do. Is the President waiting for things to get so bad that we will be adding millions of Americans to the welfare rolls? How many people will become homeless when their benefits run out? Is it possible our President could be so out of touch with the American people?
The media has been running stories about families living in half-million dollar homes who need to go to their local food pantry for a week’s groceries. If they are having difficulty, what is happening to those families who have already been living below the poverty line and struggling to put food on the table? What will happen to all of us if fewer and fewer Americans continue to contribute to our economy?
This issues goes beyond party labels and partisanship. It is up to all of us to save the American worker and the American family from economic extinction. This country is its people; save the people, save the country.
Brian P. Stack
Mayor of Union City