Declaring war on the unemployed: So that's what "Compassionate Conservatism" looks like

In a recession whose genesis can largely be laid at their feet, Republicans have decided to own up to their responsibility by…wait for it…blaming the victims. Instead of determining how they might lessen the burden on the unemployed- especially the long-term jobless- Republicans have declared war on them.

It’s difficult to understand, much less explain, how Republican-dominated North Carolina could sharply cut unemployment insurance benefits. Republicans in the Tar Heel state were so committed to pulling the rug out from under the unemployed that they reduced both the duration of benefits AND the average weekly payment. Because of that, North Carolina is no longer eligible for $700 in federal assistance to the long-term unemployed.

Hey, how else are you going to get those lazy “takers” off their asses and convince them to get a job? Never mind the fact that North Carolina has one of the nation’s highest unemployment rates (8.8%). Add in the fact that there are three unemployed Americans for every open job, and a reasonable person would have to ask Republicans where the jobs are. Long-term unemployment remains at historically high levels, but Congress (read: Republicans) long ago allowed extended unemployment benefits to expire.

Ah, so THAT’S how the GOP plans to broaden their appeal to their middle class….

Perhaps Republicans believe in “tough love.” Perhaps they’re afraid of creating a culture of dependence. Or perhaps they really are just that heartless and devoid of compassion for those adversely impacted by the recession they helped to create. Republicans collectively bleat at some length about wanting to broaden their appeal among the middle class. Then they turn around and effectively tell the middle class to go fornicate themselves. If that seems counterintuitive…well, that’s because it is. After watching Republicans in action over the past few years, it’s difficult to escape the conclusion that they lack the compassion and self-awareness to recognize that they’re consigning millions to prolonged and perhaps permanent poverty.

I’d like to think that Republicans have honest and justifiable policy reasons for declaring war on the unemployed. I’d like to think that, because the other choice is to believe that Republicans are heartless monsters who lack compassion and are primarily (and only) concerned with the GOP’s political prospects. They certainly make it difficult to not think the worst of them.

WE DESERVE BETTER.