This is infuriating

[misanthrope]

So red states are now jumping on the new trend to end federal unemployment assistance because they claim it is creating too many worker shortages. Montana and South Carolina have announced in the last couple of days that they will cease the payments -- that don't come out of their own budgets -- at the end of June.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2021/05/06/these-states-are-dropping-federal-300-a-week-unemployment-benefits/?sh=19d375493dc1

Thus far, the stories about worker shortages mainly stem from high-stress, low-pay jobs in the food and beverage industry. Their workers are typically paid poorly, highly exposed to possible COVID-infected customers and carry no healthcare benefits.

The way to translate the situation is thus: workers that were previously so desperate they took exploitative employment are no longer as resigned to hopelessness. What these pols want to do is bring back the desperation.

It's like these politicos are doing this just to be mean. Economists warn that the unemployment and economic situation has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Others who are truly in need of those funds are going to be caught in this squeeze.

[bamagal62]

1. I hate them so.

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. Keep voting Republican, Red States!

Enjoy the misery and blame it on Democrats.

[raccoon]

26. Problem is, those who are blue but living in red states are

So outnumbered by the Reptilicans.

[Celerity]

27. at some point, life may well become so hellish in deep Red states it is time for Dems to leave them

1850 to 1930 redux, without having to cross the Atlantic.

Gerrymandering at federal, state, and local levels, voter suppression, the RW stacking of local, state and federal courts (including SCOTUS), and the potential loss of more governorships, state assemblies, local county and municipal governments, the US Congress and, nightmarishly, POTUS in 2022 and/or 2024 will all work in concert to potentially bring about the truly sustained, systemic rise of RW christo-fascism in so many deep Red states at levels unseen in ages, if ever in post Civil War America. Life could become a living nightmare for liberals and PoC (and to be honest also for the bottom of the food chain-dwelling rubes on the right who vote for all this, but they are too gaslit and racist to care in significant enough numbers to stave it off).

[rickyhall]

3. That's their thing Repugs are Selfish, Greedy and Mean. That's all they're about.

[BigmanPigman]

10. Shortly before he suddenly died 2 years ago

my dad succinctly defined the GOP (this was before Q made it the GQP). He said, "Republicans are greedy hypocrites". I thought that described them perfectly and in a nut shell.

[ck4829]

4. Well then, time to treat the employers of these high-stress, low-pay jobs as an enemy

[SWBTATTReg]

5. I suspect that the entire labor market (especially the low end) has been totally shook up. People

are less inclined IMHO to take high exposure jobs.

[misanthrope]

8. Precisely

And that's what these politicians are trying to do, throw the most vulnerable into a more easily exploitable position.

[Claire Oh Nette]

6. high-stress, low-pay jobs in the food and beverage industry.

Pay better, cheap bastards.

They're essential, front line. They deserve $15-18 an hour. More. Like in Germany or Denmark.

Fast food workers need a union.

[jmbar2]

7. Why would anyone want to return to a job that doesn't pay enough to rent an apartment?

I hope they continue to hold back until the jobs offer a livable wage, and they are treated with respect.

[misanthrope]

9. Another thought

Not only did the extra benefits not cost the states anything, but it was actually a return of federally tax funds into the states. Also, those funds were spent and the states took another little bite in the sales taxes paid.

But now they want to kiss that goodbye. Just to be assholes.

[mjvpi]

20. Bingo

Government monies that start out in the hands of people who need the money goes directly into economy. These guys can’t even see that for the class of people who own rentals, these benefits have been a subsidy. People didn’t get behind on rent. Eventually the money will trickle up. In Montana there is a worker shortage for the shit jobs. I’m sure the people who have the governor’s ear are all business owners. During his time as a US Representative, Gianforte was the richest man in either house. I’m sure that he has his eyes on 2024.

[Demovictory9]

24. yep... just to be assholes

[Ferrets are Cool]

11. Unfortunately, your post is spot on

[C_U_L8R]

12. Unemployable magats are going to have severe cognitive dissonance.

But go ahead, keep voting against your family's own self-interest. Idiots.

[BobTheSubgenius]

13. How is this program set up that states can cancel federal payments to its citizens?

Whatever the case, it is just "so red state" isn't it?

[littlemissmartypants]

14. I couldn't agree more.

Kicked and recommended. ❤

[Snackshack]

15. It's not "like they are"....

They are doing this to be mean. In reading the different legislations that have been put forth by the GOP in red states they are going out of their way to make things more difficult for people in way that can be easily interpreted as payback to voters who did not vote for their guy. It’s disgusting the GOP really is the biggest threat we face.

[ShazzieB]

22. Wow.

"...they are going out of their way to make things more difficult for people in way that can be easily interpreted as payback to voters who did not vote for their guy."

Holy guacamole, that explains a LOT (about a number of things Republicans do, not just this particular unemployment issue). This blows my mind.

Wow, just wow.

[gratuitous]

16. Hmmm

I wonder if anyone being forced to risk their lives by going back to work at lousy wages during a pandemic might make some residents of South Carolina and Montana more open to hearing another political message from the Republican platform? Maybe the Democrats should consider doing a little campaigning there? I mean, as long as the Republicans are just handing these cudgel-like issues to us?

[2naSalit]

18. Would have been nice if that had happened last year...

When it might have mattered.

[stopdiggin]

17. Rs have been opposed to ANY kind of benefits

without serious strings attached -- forever. This is pretty much same old. And married to the same age old philosophy -- "Encourages them to be lazy!"

[misanthrope]

19. The only reason Montana cares right now

Summer is tourist season. They need serfs to carry luggage, flip omelets and ingratiate themselves to their "betters."

[dlk]

21. The cruelty is the point

[crickets]

23. 👆 This.

[dlk]

30. Sadly, the current Republican Party has a deep and wide sadistic streak

And too many sociopaths with no conscience, so the ends justify the means.

[XanaDUer2]

25. they are doing it to be mean

suffering gives Republicans boners

[radicalleft]

28. I don't think they are doing this to be mean

It's simply a matter of economics. They KNOW that the jobs deserve MUCH better pay than they are currently giving, BUT, they don't want tp pay it.

So if the state stops making up the shortfall, the business owners get their slaves back w/o having to truly play by the supply/demand rules.

[dlk]

31. I think they are selfish and really don't care how their actions harm others

Economic policies are a political choices and Republicans have chosen to promote policies to create a permanent servant class for their own personal, financial benefit. They've lost any belief that Americans working full time shouldn't be poor.

[tinymontgomery]

29. How about giving the $300 to those that find a job

How about giving the fed’s $300 to those that find a job as a bonus to help them out
instead.