Forgetting the Long-Term Unemployed | National Catholic Reporter

Forgetting the Long-Term Unemployed | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Long term unemployment is necessary when there are no jobs.  I should know, I have two of them and the one that is permanent is minimum wage - which pays less than the extended unemployment I did have - but which expired after week 77 (now 73).  No one is saying anything about what to do with the people formerly called the 99ers.  Nothing has ever been done for us, although those who are old enough retire and some seek either disability or SSI and SNAP.  At least that did not get cut, which is a triumph. Anyone who lost his or her job in 2008 or 2009 has long since moved beyond extended unemployment.   Obama knows this.  He knew that if he made it an issue, Congress would be shamed into acting on extended unemployment.  He did not know because there is not much he can do.  As far as the Great Recession itself, it will linger until those pockets who were supposed to be helped by TARP, where people owe more than their home value, need the most relief.  We are finding it today in bankruptcy court - at least for second and third mortgages (aka housing grants).  It is accurate to say that on the first mortgage, most are no longer under water.  It is also accurate to say that with the end of the sequester and a budget deal - many of us will find real jobs again, either as contractors or federal employees.  Boehner and Ryan do deserve some credit - for gettng out of the way.