Jeff Miron on Extending Unemployment Benefits

[objectivistathlete]

LOL at the host spinning Rand Paul's words waaaay out of proportion.

[brothermoon]

when times are very tragic and difficult like they are currently, extending unemployment benefits are important and need to be coupled with other measures that wean people off them when jobs are available. but the most important thing is that this should be PAID FOR... remember 'PAYGO' ?? some of the stimulus money is still available for this purpose, yet Obama continues to want to use deficit spending.

[elricmlbone]

The only problem with socialism is you run out of other people's money

Margaret Thatcher

[LOVE4MOZ]

WE GIVE THE DOLLAR MORE POWER AND VALUE THEN OURSELVES. JUST DO WHATS RIGHT WITH IT, KEEP THE INTENTIONS PURE. COME ON NOW I MEAN WE ARE ALL GONNA DIE SO DO WHATS RIGHT FOR EVERYONE SINCE WE ARE ALL A DROP OF WATER IN THE SAME OCEAN, WE IN THIS TOGETHER

[LOVE4MOZ]

NOW SINCE THIS EXTENSION BULLSHIT I AM LOOSING THE ROOF AGAIN OVER MY HEAD, THIS IS JUST A DESGUISE/ILLUSION OF THEIR INTENTION. mANY PEOPLE SUFFER INTO SUICIDE AND ILLNESS AND SO FORTH WHEN UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, NOT BEING ABLE TO BUY FOOD AND GO TO DOCTORS OR GET EDUCATION. THEY TAKE OUR MONEY TO ESTABLISH WEAPONS THAT KILL, WE BUILD A MISSLE TO EXPLODE, OR FOR CONTROL WEATHER PATTERNS LIKE HAARP. THIS PLANET IS DRIVEN BY ECONIMICS AND NOT COMMON SENSE. WE ALLOW IT TO FLOURISH

[LOVE4MOZ]

AND FOR PAST 6 MONTH I NOT ONLY LOST MY LOFT IN LOS ANGELES, I CANT AFFORD TO PAY MY MEDICAL INSURANCE AND SACRIFICED WHAT WAS MANIFESTED THROUGH MY INTENTIONS. I ALSO BEEN TRYING TO GET GUIDANCE IN HAVING THE SYSTEM, EDD, WIA, DOJ TO ASSIST ON THE FUNDAMENETALS OF ME BEING TRAINED IN A NEW CAREER IN THE MEDICAL FEILD. FOR 6 MONTHS!!! THIS IS BULLSHIT!! WE ARE NOT HUMAN BEINGS TO THEM WE ARE UNITS BUT THEY NEED TO REMEMBER WHATS IMPORTANT, RICHTEOUSNESS AND BEING NOBLE OR STATUS AND POWER.

[LOVE4MOZ]

MANY PEOPLE NEVER COMPLAINED WHEN OUR TAXES WERE TAKEN FROM OUR PAYCHECKS WHICH IS THE BIGGEST BULLSHIT HEIST IN ITSELF. I HAVE BEEN OUT OF WORK FOR NOW A YEAR AND SINCE THE AGE OF 15 I HAVE NEVER BEEN OUT OF WORK THIS LENGTH OF TIME. NOW I AM 32, AND FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS I HAVE WORKED VERY HARD IN MY CAREER AND NOW DEFLATION IN WHAT I DO.

[LOVE4MOZ]

THIS IS AN UNCOMFORTABLE ISSUE FOR MANY. SO MANY REASONS WHY, AND I DONT LIKE TO GET TOO WRAPPED UP WITH GOVERNMENT REINDEER GAMES OF ONE IN FAVOR AND ONE IN OPPOSTION, AND CONSTANT BACK AND FORTH. I DONT HAVE ANY EXPECTIONS AND ENTHUSIUM FOR THE SYSTEM WHAT SO EVER, I SEE REFUGE ONLY IN ME. AS THEY ARE IN EQUAL TO ME AND EVERYONE ON THE PLANET "RANKING OR STATUS" IS THEIR OWN EGO'S.

[Solarin1116]

I would honestly like see the math on how the government can take an earned dollar from an American worker, redirect it to dozens of pet programs after, of course, tacking on their administrative costs and claim its value to have risen to $1.60. Government budgeting is the very model inefficiency, and it goes beyond even a pragmatic layman's approach to economic practices to rationalize this assertion.

[bullsfan75]

How about this, let's bring back all the jobs that were sent overseas, let's end the 2 wars that are not paid for. Let's stop the tax cuts for the wealthy, let's take the money back from the wall st bailout. Since America is so fucking broke and can't pay for anything. But for these evil cold hearted republicans who only want Obama to fail to take it out on the unemployed is flat out wrong. This is not a united country you are either rich or poor.

[chevydriver1123]

Its quite obvious that when you just give money to someone they have no incentive to earn it themselves. The Welfare system creates nothing but a dependence and kills work ethic.

[Riselikethetide]

5 Americans looking for *every* job opening. The keyword for these people's arguments is "anecdotal". Focus on the facts

[633562]

Criminals in prison in this country has a better standard of living than the poor in the rest of the world.

[cheguevara1970]

@633562

Wow!!! How nice for the criminals. Wanna join them since it is bed of roses??

[UnderseaCaveman]

Statistics are so skewable..... IF every GOV $1 creates $1.6 in economics.... that's worse than PERPETUAL MOTION......then TAX every $ out there and have everybody go UNEMPL....and give them Compensaton that will produce the $1.6 (per $1)......

I hope no one argues the perpetual motion concept above....and everyone understands that STATISTIC just can not be truely honest.... someting was hidden (and that always comes back to bite hard).

[bullpcp]

It is a hard reality that many of the jobs created by the distortions of the real estate and real estate derivative bubble are simply not coming back. These lost jobs represent much of the high unemployment rate. These unemployed will have to take jobs in other sectors of the economy perhaps in other locations and at lower wages. Given this reality it is probable that some of the unemployed will use unemployment benefits to delay acknowledging this stark reality.

[NCMan28025]

@questions4me Are you fighting the war or waging your own from the almight keyboard. Nothing like a keyboard warrior ranting about wars he's against. Since you don't support our military, I think we know who the COWARD is. What I don't support is providing 99 weeks of unemployment 'benefits' for the 4th time. I'd suggest you take your anti-war rant to your feckless leader Obama. You know, he's the guy that is president and is putting the troop surge into Afghanistan. The ones the Dems support.

[imre1000]

@questions4me, no I'm not saying 'let them eat cake'.

I'm saying: let them move to where there are jobs instead of waiting around for a miracle, or for more handouts.

[imre1000]

@questions4me, I'm not sure if that was sarcastic or not.

What will old people live on if we take everything from them?

And what will 50-60 year old people do with their money if they see the Government taking it away from pensioners?

Please watch this video by Irwin Schiff if you have time: /watch?v=bFxvy9XyUtg

It's called "How an economy grows and why it doesn't".

He's currently in jail for his views.

It explains in simple terms where our problems come from and how to fix them

[imre1000]

@questions4me, his point was that the money given to the unemployed was taken from somewhere else in the private sector - and this desrtoys jobs.

Some people just need a few months of help, but for others it's encouraging to turn down job offers with low pay or jobs in other states etc.

Reality bites. But blindly sending out handouts to everyone will cause more harm than good.

[NCMan28025]

@questions4me I didn't vote for the extensions for the two wars, but I do support our military. However, this video isn't about the debate on funding the Iraq/Afghanistan Wars. I think you might want to look up what a traitor is before using the word to attack someone you don't know. Just for future reference, try to stay on topic during debates. The video is about unemployment benefit, not war funding. Notice you use this tactic alot to attack those in disagreement with you. Typical liberal

[vNorilor]

Miron is perhaps the best representative of moderate libertarianism I see getting TV spots.

[NCMan28025]

@questions4me Social Security was designed to supplement retirement, not fund people's entire retirement. Yes, we are going to have to put a dent in all these entitlement programs or we will end up like Greece. No more cradle to grave entitlements and no more Big Government spending our tax dollars with no concern. Americans are on a budget, so should the government be.

[bamatecangel7]

That spend $1 dollar thru the gov't and you get $1.6 back is complete BS. We are borrowing $ and the int on that $ is going to go up in the future. Taking that confiscated or borrowed $ out of the private economy to trickle thru the govt loses something and it is no longer a $ to excrete out the other end. Even if the gov't could spend / give $ effciently, it still does not create that multiple otherwise we could just throw money out of helicopters and our debt would disappear if we thru enuff.

[Thorbie]

0:19 Here we have Jeffrey Miron, a senior fellow with the Cato Institute and Christian Weller, designated Cato whipping boy.

4:26 Christian: Unemployment is good for the economy.

Overall, this bald guy is a much better host than Chris thrill up my leg Matthews. I might even consider start watching MSNBC again if they had anchors like this.

[sniper6081]

@questions4me You do realize without all this government people will be able to keep so much more that they'll be able to support themselves. I don't want people to become dependent on government because when that system collapses they'll have nothing left. You do know social security is a ponzi scheme, right? It works in the same way Bernie Madoff's scheme did. All entitlements are. None of it is sustainable.

[sniper6081]

@questions4me That doesn't even describe the stereotypical republican properly. Your accusations are absolutely bizarre. i never said any of those things and how condescending are you to think that once people run out of unemployment benefits they'll become roaming savages. Human beings are much more reasonable than that. Also, I never said that they's go away either. The only true economic stimulus would be to reduce the size of governments and slash all entitlement programs and the wars.

[sniper6081]

@questions4me You're starting to become nonsensical already. Why would they look for work when they're already being taken care of by the government? Where's the initiative? They already get unemployment benefits for several months. How would extending it help any? it's going to drain even more money from the productive sector of the economy. We'll all be worse off.

[cheguevara1970]

@sniper6081

these are reg working American who have been laid off or fire due to the economy.

You don't want to help them until they find work?? Seriously???

[sniper6081]

@cheguevara1970 First of all, there's a little thing called charity. It's run by human generosity, not government coercion. Second of all, there is a way for government to help; by reducing its size and lowering taxes. Until it does that things will only get worse.

[cheguevara1970]

@sniper6081

You think "charity" will suffice for the millions of unemployed ppl right now?? Seriously?? These aren't lazy ppl who don't want tow work. These are working Americans who lost their jobs b/c of the economy. Should we just let them east from the trash like we did during the Depression?? You can live w/ that??? I thought we were a "Christian" nation?? I guess not.

Also, your other points are well taken, & agreeable. But to turn our back on the unemployed is a sin. 

[sniper6081]

@cheguevara1970 Charity is far more efficient and effective than any government program could ever be. I'm not saying that we shouldn't help the unemployed. I'm saying helping the unemployed should be privatized. It wouldn't cost the taxpayer anything, it wouldn't be done at the point of a gun, and it wouldn't create an imbalance in the markets. Why do you have so much more faith in government guns than in human kindness? Why do you prefer that? I'll stick to charity and good will.

[cheguevara1970]

@sniper6081

Sorry, I am not a fan of ANY govt. However, I am realistic enough to understand that neither charity nor the govt alone can give enough at this time for the unemployed. And speaking of kindness, we could help these ppl before they start digging in the trash for food. Worse, let's help them before they turn to crime. As humans, that's our duty. So, why can't the private sector (via charity) & the govt help together?? That's too "commie" for you?? Labels are meant to divide us.

[sniper6081]

@cheguevara1970 The reason why government shouldn't do this is to prevent the economy from getting any worse. See, there is still lots of production going keeping things from getting any worse. Wealth is still being created. However, If the government reallocates capital from the productive sector of the economy to the stagnant part that's taking away capital from people that could use it to generate more wealth and create more jobs. It's called, "The Law of Unintended Consequences."

[cheguevara1970]

@sniper6081

Thanks for the explanation - & please, I mean no sarcasm - but I am a History major, so I am aware of such economic law. Now, do you realize that if we just boost the unemployed a little, w/ either financial, trade training, &/or academic scholarships, we can put them back to work? The key is that most of them will have to be re-trained, re-located, or simply change careers. Look, like you, I don't believe in permanent welfare. However, the circumstances demand financial help NOW.

[sniper6081]

@cheguevara1970 Another problem with the economy is that too many people have college degrees. Everybody has them now, so they're essentially worthless. Government subsidizing education will only intensify that. On a side note, the interference of the Department of Education has costs the cost of education to explode. You actually need a loan to go to school. These people don't need to be retrained. We just need to take the tax burden off the companies they work for.

[Tucanforpres001]

@sniper6081 Lowering taxes leads to more debt. You can't pay off debt if you don't have the money. And currently, the US is no where near the size as most other governments. The reason we keep ending up in recessions is because of less government. Every recession and depression in US history has been caused almost directly by deregulation of the markets. Currently taxes are low across the board, no where near what they were during the 50s.

[sniper6081]

@Tucanforpres001 Lowering taxes leads to debt? What? Spending leads to debt. You need to spend less and save the money you get to reduce it. And, are you kidding me? Our government is gigantic. We have bases in 170 countries and almost one hundred different agencies and departments, all amounting to over 60 million laws. By the way, if you honestly think that recessions are caused by less government you really don't know anything about history. Two words, federal reserve.

[Tucanforpres001]

@sniper6081 That is government alone, which Republicans are against cutting down. However, the US does not have universal healthcare, a extensive education system, etc like other countries. The Federal Reserve is not a governmental sector, that is a private corporation, it is capitalist. We've seen from the great depression that if you let companies and wall street do as they please it ends in hard times. The same as happened today and the only way out is government aid, history shows this.

[Tucanforpres001]

@Tucanforpres001 Military alone I mean, an accident.

[sniper6081]

@Tucanforpres001 The Federal Reserve and Wall Street aren't working on their own. They are the epitome of the merger of corporate and state power. This isn't capitalism. This is corporatism, or fascism if you're of an older generation. All these periods of prosperity you think you see are all phony. Every time a recession happens they either artificially lower interest rates or print money to keep extending the bubble. Can't you see that? They can't lower interest rates anymore.

[Tucanforpres001]

@sniper6081 Not exactly, through the FDR adminstration it was about giving money to the people. Through the several farm acts, bank loans, and government production for war did the economy come back. There was more regulation during this period, which stregthened the workforce, as standards were placed. It was government that allowed the country to survive with monuments, etc. The 50s alone were mostly government involvement with road ways, education, healthcare, etc.

[Tucanforpres001]

@sniper6081 We can see from lowering taxes there is less funds. However, cutting of social security, medicare, and etc would not have to occur. Ending Bush tax cuts alone would make social security solvent until 2075. What needs to happen is cutting down on military spending. An annual budget of over 600 Billion is crazy. We spend more money than Russia, China, the UK, and France combined, times two. I would like to see where in US history a recession has been caused by the government.

[sniper6081]

@Tucanforpres001 That FDR stuff is absolute nonsense. All he did was spend and spend which extended the Great Depression for 17 years. Money doesn't just come out of the tar in the roads and the metal of the rails. It wasn't until after WW2 when Truman cut taxes, reduced spending, and paid our debts did we get out of the depression. You're 100% right about foreign policy. But if you can't see how the recessions of the 20th century were caused by government you aren't even trying to look.

[NCMan28025]

@cheguevara1970 99 weeks isn't help, it's sapping the taxpayers. This money for these 99 weeks of unemployment 'benefits' comes from us taxpayers who are working. There have been 3 other extentions and now they want a 4th. If the stimulus worked, we wouldn't be extended unemployment 'benefits.'

[sniper6081]

@questions4me You're not making any sense. How would somebody who's unemployed increase production? Money doesn't come out of thin air. If you don't produce something you don't generate any wealth. By giving people lucrative unemployment benefits you're merely taking money from someone who has produced something to someone who isn't doing anything. You've just moved money around and once you spend money you don't get it back. You have to produce more.

[dweber66]

Miron, go fuck yourself. Now!

[sniper6081]

Every unemployment dollar generates 1.6 dollars? What sense does that make? Where does that .6 come from? We all might as well go on unemployment.

[goodatbasebal]

I like this bald guy. He seems to be a fair anchor and he doesnt seem to side on the left like everyone at msnbc

[ForTehNguyen]

so we should take more money from the private sector in the form of taxes to give back to the non producers to spur the economy?

talk about a divide by zero

[bigsteelguy]

This isn't about Unemployment benefits, the reason why people can't find work, is because of 3 reasons

1. Inflation

2. Outsourcing of jobs

3. Technological unemployment

This is all about keeping people in more hard Slavery while the Rich gets Richer.

We need to Revalue Human Beings not Jobs. People don't Money, they need the Tools, Resources and the proper education for bettering themselves and society.

In this system, people need money to buy food and water and people are denied that access.

[betodesign101]

@questions4me you're nothing but a liberal butthole sniffing troll and i will not feed you anymore.

[robertmike57]

This goes to show Republicans are all in favor of fucking Americans. Miron is a Moron talking out his ass.

[betodesign101]

liberals believe that freedom and prosperity are free.

[XCritonX]

@betodesign101 Or if, by some miracle they recognize that freedom has costs, they want someone else to pay for it.

[Tucanforpres001]

@betodesign101 We just believe that being morally correct is a good thing. And that you don't kick a hungry person.

[Leavon]

Would you expect any other opinion from MSNBC... End the free money and get America back to work.

[helltrackrider]

Nevermind who is right and who is wrong...

Unemployment is UnConstitutional...period.

It is a sad day in our Country when the Constitutional basis of the many, upon many social programs and military endeavors are never questioned on a Constitutional basis.

Remove all these wasteful programs, let the People keep their earned wealth and let the People decide to what charitable venture they wish to partake in...

[XCritonX]

The poverty level in America is higher than the average income of many countries, including the one I live in. In Portugal (part of the United Socialist States of Europe or the USSE) poverty means no running water, no electricity, 1 meal per day, 1 set of cloths. Yes, it IS a first world country.

Poverty in America is when you have only basic cable, and eat less than 4 times a week at McDonald's.

[TheLegalImmigrant05]

@XCritonX "The poverty level in America is higher than the average income of many countries" - That's exactly right!! Thank you for saying that.

[bigsteelguy]

@XCritonX

There is alot of people here homeless without running water, without a roof over they're head, and eating 1 meal a day. It's like that all around the World my friend, not just your country.

This is about the Rich getting Richer and the Poor getting poorer or becoming more like slaves.

[capitalist4life]

Not to dis Dan Mitchell, but I think I prefer Jeffrey Miron as Cato's guy to put up against Christian Weller.

[XCritonX]

Giving other peoples money away with out their permission is morally wrong. Its actually stealing with the help of the government.

(Spending money does not create wealth, saving money and hard/productive work creates wealth.)

[NCMan28025]

@XCritonX Agree but we live in the world where the Grasshoppers live off the Ants hard work. The Democrats generally are the Grasshoppers who demand others should support their lifestyles. Obama's spread the wealth economy has been a failure.

[BeantownJim]

$500 million going to the Taliban so they will not attack! But unemployment is a moral hazard for american families

[NCMan28025]

@BeantownJim We are giving Pakastan $500 billion to 'ease suspicion' of Washington (those damn pesty drones). We could pay endless benefits if we would stop policing the world and giving away money to countries who hate us.

[cheguevara1970]

@NCMan28025

See, now you are talking.