Do you think Obama should extend unemployment benefits

[nisha1010]

I think he should considering the unemployment rate but at the same time, people on unemployment get too used to staying home and not looking for work - and if thats the case, the unemployment should not be extended for those who have been getting it for two years already.  what do you think???

[ULuvCeCe]

people on unemployment get too used to staying home and not looking for work

The fact is they are supposed to report x amount of jobs they apply for each week however I know a ton of people that don't OR all they have to do is call say Pizza Hut ask are you hiring, they say No, that qualifies as a place they applied. It's really a bunch of BS.

And another thing is it all depends on the person, one person thinks they are worth $16/hr and could easily get a $9/hr job but chose not to b/c they make more on unemployment. If they've been on it for awhile take it away from them as they have the opportunity to work they just chose not to. Then you get the people who are fine with taking those jobs but there are just not opportunities in their area. Then there's the other people who could really care less and always live off the system one way or another. Wonder if they started giving people on u/e drug tests if we could save money that way!

[rkjones100]

Yes he should.  We need to give the American people every opportunity to get back to the greatest nation in the world!!!

[mtmailey]

yes people need that money-they try all types of ways to try to stop others  from getting jobs.

[bschumacher]

With an unemployment rate of 9.2%, I think benefits should be extended further. My brother has been looking for work since he got laid off from his paralegal job 2 years ago, and I'm worried sick.

[ninajay]

Not sure. I agree that people do get lazy, but the unemployment rate is still high and it's is hard to find work right now. I was fortunate to find something in January after being unemployed for over a year. It's not my ideal job and pay isn't great, but it is a nice environment and something while I continue to look for something better.

[TomaYahokovRichburg]

That is a good question. However, there is a "catch-22" waiting for you no matter which way one chooses. Yes, there are a whole lot of people out of work right now. That number is growing so watch out! Providing these Americans with some relief is the humane and American thing to do. However, where is the money going to come from? America is up to its eyeballs in debt too. Continuing to increase this debt is only hurting the economy and therefore adding to the joblessness. And then again, not providing some assistance to so many people will take a lot of money out of an already anemic  economy and could hurt as well. Damned if he does, and damned if he doesn't. I am glad I am not in his shoes right now.

[jaymz462]

Yes he should.  Sure there are lazy people out there, but there are plenty who want to work and just can't find a job.  Some places are even telling people not to bother applying for a job if they've been laid off for a while.  This country needs some help.

[jazzgal]

I really think unemployment benefits should be extended, because I don't want people to be out in the streets slaving away and getting fatal diseases. If benefits don't get extended, then there would be chaos all over!

[drmotroni]

No, I think he should just create more jobs for Americans.

[trucktina]

I really think unemployment benefits should be extended, because I don't want people to be out in the streets slaving away and getting fatal diseases. If benefits don't get extended, then there would be chaos all over!

I couldn't understand what your first sentence meant... but honestly, chaos? No, people who don't get their benefits extended will get help from family, or their community/church. I've been unemployed many times, and only had unemployment once-- for a month. After that, my family helped me a little bit.

Was there chaos before unemployment insurance existed? No. I don't think the benefits should have been extended this long, to be honest. We don't have the money!

[oldbuddy]

I think he should extend unemployment to HIMSELF, then we could get someone in his job that can fix some of the crap he is breaking.

[monnee]

He's going to either extend unemployment benefits or it's going to be welfare for millions of people out of work.