Republican Congressman Implies Jobless Americans Are Simply Too Lazy To Find Work

[Report1212]

Didn't losing the election teach them anything?

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NEUGEBAUER: Well unfortunately Tom we’ve gotten to the point in this country where we’ve incentivized people not to work instead of incentivized them to work. With unemployment benefits going for as long as 99 weeks, we’ve seen food stamps in this country increase 40 percent in the last 40 years, so basically unfortunately, there’s not a lot of incentive for a lot of people to work. [...]

Let’s get something clear. The average unemployment benefits in the third quarter of 2010 was $295 weekly — about a third of the average weekly salary at that point of $865.

Neugebauer is basically suggesting that Americans are too lazy to seek work because they are living too comfortably on $295 a week.

Read more: http://boldprogressives.org/republican-congressman-says-jobless-americans-are-simply-too-lazy-to-find-work/

[sadbear]

1. He's not the only republican congressman who feels this way.

Just the last in line to say so.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. Was this guy in a coma last Tuesday?

[sadbear]

3. His seat is safe.

MFer can pretty much say anything he wants with impunity.

[Mz Pip]

4. And this is why they lost

This is such an over simplification of RW talking points. It insults the electorate and if this election should teach folks like Neugebauer is that and insulted electorate will stand in line for hours to vote against people like him.

[Report1212]

5. I really think they don't think people pay attention or listen to what they say

Their own bubble

[sakabatou]

6. My clue-by-four is getting a lot of use.

[datasuspect]

7. he's a maker

all us brown skinded people are takers.

yeah, we get it.

yawn.

the GOP is the obsolete party.

next.

[Live and Learn]

8. Lots of unemployed living on nothing because they don't qualify.

Guess they are just really lazy because the are living too comfortably under bridges and eating from trash cans.

[OhZone]

9. If their policies hadn't left us in a position almost as bad as -

the Great Depression, and if 1% would invest in America, then there would be more jobs, eh? Oh well.

[kestrel91316]

10. Don't most food stamps go to people who ARE working but are just paid too little to survive?

[Report1212]

11. Nuance isn't for that guy

Is what I'm thinking.

[Lindsay]

12. He's got a job.

Must be something the matter with everybody else.

[maveric56]

13. I've been unemployed(and looking for work) for seven months now

and I'd love a fucking job!
It is no comfortable life here. Plus I don't even qualify for fucking food stamps.
I get $342 a week and my disabled wife I have to struggle every month just paying for rent,car insurance, medications,utilities and food

FUCK HIM!

[Arugula Latte]

14. Well, I see the GOP is boldly moving towards enlightenment in the post-election environment.

[hrmjustin]

15. What a mean-spirited nutcase.

[QC]

16. This man has a net worth of more than $6,000,000,

making him one of the 50 wealthiest members of Congress.

http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2011/09/texans-abound-among-wealthiest-lawmakers/

There's our problem, right there.

[pipewrench]

17. Words are going to haunt the GOP

Lazy poor people? Who thought up that scapegoat?

[gollygee]

18. He should live on the level of unemployment these folks are living on

and financing his meals on food stamps before he tries to say that people living that life are comfortable.

[neeksgeek]

19. Three years. No benefits.

I was unemployed for most of three years, August 2009 to August 2012. The times I was employed were short stints in retail, at Christmas. Even now, my job is contract-based, semester to semester. At no point have I been eligible for any government assistance, even unemployment insurance. The only reason I'm not homeless is that I'm married and my wife was able to put up with me throughout the entire demeaning process: nearly 1000 job applications, two (count them!) actual rejection letters, and half-a-dozen interviews before I finally found something. So I don't view myself as lazy.

This GOP thug can shove it.

[Report1212]

20. Amen.

Sorry to hear about your experience.