CPUSA: The Why's, What's and Who's of Long-Term Unemployment

This week we look at the several aspects of long-term unemployment - contributing factors, who it effects and how. Also, some analysis of the election results in France and Greece as they pertain to austerity. And, some hope for job creation in Connecticut and from the labor movement.

All About Long-Term Unemployment

We know the Great Recession has been going on far too long already, and some of its casualties are people who have been unemployed for a year or even a few years. Ezra Klein writes about the psychological scars of unemployment in a recent blog post, which links to a helpful article detailing who the long-term unemployed are.

The GOP Response to Long-Term Unemployment

In short, the answer to those who want work is the trite and offensive, "get a job." That's what Republican Gov. Paul LePage of Maine said on Sunday. The GOP thinks that austerity is the way to go, but as the above chart (from this episode of The Rachel Maddow Show) illustrates, negative growth of the public sector is not helping workers recover from the Great Recession. France and Greece have learned this lesson, as pointed out by John Wojcik in the People's World and Paul Krugman in the New York Times.

Labor and the People's Fightback

In a recent People's World article, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka reminds us that Bush lost U.S. jobs during a good economy. Obama has created jobs during the disastrous economy he inherited - in spite of the fact that the Republicans in Congress have blocked nearly all efforts to create jobs. Meanwhile, in Connecticut, 2,000 marched in New Haven for jobs. And finally, something penned by yours truly on the Labor fightback during the Great Recession.

In solidarity,             

Scott Marshall

Labor Chair, CPUSA

Source: e-letter from CPUSA