I am pleased to hear President Mubarak has agreed to step down from office. We have only to look to the streets in Egypt to see what can happen when people are frustrated with their state of joblessness.
A population of 80 million, with about half under 30-years-old, Egypt has an unbearably high unemployment rate. Nearly half of all Egyptians live under or just above the poverty line, which the World Bank sets at $2 a day. The uprisings in the Middle East show faces of frustrated young people who cannot find work or anxious mothers who cannot feed their children.
The jobless have lost more than their jobs. It's really about hopelessness over the future and losing dignity. Long-term joblessness means more than empty pockets. It means their lives are literally at a halt -- living in limbo and darkness. It means delaying their marriages and starting their own families later, and putting their dreams on hold. That sort of helplessness can only last so long before it explodes into complete unrest.
Unemployment in our own country still hovers above 9 percent, and this rate is shockingly higher for minorities. Many of my constituents are currently struggling to put food on their tables. That's why I am focusing all my energy to find ways to create jobs in America.
My main priority in Congress is to work with President Obama, Governor Cuomo, Mayor Bloomberg to generate new jobs. For example, the White House recently launched a new initiative to help entrepreneurs launch their startups. My colleagues and I are working hard to make sure they have all the resources they need to start a new business that will help foster growth in our communities.
It will take time until everyone can get back to work. But, we in America live in a country where, unlike Egypt, people have the freedom and opportunity to reach their highest potential. Please don't give in, don't give out, don't give up. Help is on the way!
Listen to Congressman Rangel's message below:
Follow Rep. Charles Rangel on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cbrangel
Kristen Breitweiser: Rooting for Egypt
William Bradley: Is the Obama Administration Still Way Behind the Curve on Egypt?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-charles-rangel/egypt-and-joblessness_b_822072.html?ref=tw
HIgh unemployment......
an ever expanding population........
a shrinking middle class.....
wealth concentrated in the top 2%.........
corruption in business and politics............
limited hope for the future.......
This sounds like a recipe for unrest. Why was anyone surprised?
I've never known of the country to tax itself into prosperity. Of course, it is there could be wealth confiscation like in Zimbabwe, Venezuela, and USSR. Then the people suffer with unbearable inflation or starvation. Of course, Rangel and Jackson wont speak out against Zimbabwe for reasons that are obvious.
Challenge the GOP! If they truly believe in trickle down theory, then they should be willing to embrace a tax program that will reward them beyond measure...if their theory works.
Try it!
Sorry but this Nation's enemies are right here, at home.
Under Reagan 20 million jobs were created, it continued under Clinton too, about 20 million for the term. But under Bush it changed, some say that 8 million jobs were created, other say 1 million.
Then came the Real Estate/Financial bust and the loss of 8 million jobs. More would have been lost if the car companies had not been given their loans.
So what does it mean? Twenty million jobs that should have been created weren't and 8 million more were lost.
That means 28 million jobs need to be created just to get back to "normal".
We will never get there doing what we are doing.
Stop sending American jobs overseas, change the law. The Republicans stopped it that last time it was put forward in Congress.
The Right may want Economic Suicide but I am sure the American People don't.
You CAN do it on your own!