Americans Are Hanging on by Their Fingertips

Today Congressman
Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH) made the following statement on the floor of
the House in support of legislation to extend emergency unemployment
benefits:
"In Cleveland, where I come from, unemployment is devastating our
community. People are demanding that their government, our government,
recognize the suffering of families who have lost jobs and can't find
work."

"Will Washington tell my constituents and people like them, all over
America, 'We have money for war but no money for the unemployed? We have
money for military contractors but no money for the unemployed? We have
money, billions, for corrupt foreign governments but no money for our
unemployed in the United States? We have money for tax cuts for the
wealthiest of Americans but no money for the unemployed? Hundreds of
billions for Wall Street but no money for the unemployed?'

"Instead, the out-of-work, poor, and middle class get lectures on
balancing the budget, lectures on pay-fors. What are people supposed to
do when they don't have budgets because they don't have money? When they
can't pay for food, shelter, and clothing? Yes, we need jobs, but
people out of work can't find a job and they have to survive. People
need unemployment benefits because they have to pay for their mortgage,
their rent, their utility bills. So many Americans are hanging on by
their fingertips. Some exhort our constituents, 'pull yourselves up by
your boot straps.' What if you don't have money to buy boots?" said
Kucinich.