Obama's Senior Adviser: 'People Who Receive that Unemployment Check Go Out and Spend It and Help Stimulate the Economy'

[grlygrlz2]

This evening, speaking at North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina, White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett said that folks getting and spending unemployment checks is a healthy thing . . . because it stimulates the economy:

"Even though we had a terrible economic crisis three years ago, throughout our country many people were suffering before the last three years, particularly in the black community," Jarrett said. "And so we need to make sure that we continue to support that important safety net. It not only is good for the family, but it's good for the economy. People who receive that unemployment check go out and spend it and help stimulate the economy, so that's healthy as well.

[JakeandEmmasMom]

Do you disagree that unemployed people who receive an unemployment check turn around and spend it, and that spending it helps the economy?

[4kidz916]

Spending does help the economy but if you don't have a prospective job lined up, I feel it's better to be saving for a rainy day (like the day the benefits run out).  

[QuinnMae]

Not surprising.  Regurgitation of what Pelosi has said.  Didn't Reid say the same thing at one point? 

As disturbing as the comment itself, it sure does explain a lot.  *SMH*

[chelsieb84]

I've been unemployment and I spent it on food and what not.  I didn't apply for all the pa because I don't believe I needed it even though I qualified.  What are people supposed to do with unemployment?  I do know people that are on all that and carry a coach purse or things like that.  That crap irks me.  

[grlygrlz2]

Compared to the gallup poll released last year, they spend money on bills, rent, mortgage, utilities, food.  Not consumer related goods that help the American Economy (housing, furniture, tv's, automobiles, etc)..   Not to mention the previous Gallup poll that showed that more than half of American consumers have been forced to make drastic spending cuts in various areas of their life to keep up with rising gasoline prices. Are those on unemployment in a better place than the more than 50% Americans polled?

THEN, there is the cost to our Federal Government vs the TEMPORARY benefits by individuals.

Quoting JakeandEmmasMom:

Do you disagree that unemployed people who receive an unemployment check turn around and spend it, and that spending it helps the economy?

[JakeandEmmasMom]

I would say that it is helpful to the economy if the renter is able to continue to pay his rent because it allows the landlord to pay his mortgage or whatever else he does with the rent money.  It helps the owner of the grocery store if he is able to continue to buy food.  Did you see that article that JewJewBee posted in another thread last week about how Walmart is doing well, but much of the reason for that is that low income people (people on food stamps, unemployment, etc.) are shopping there?  Just because they aren't buying iPods with their unemployment doesn't mean they aren't helping the economy.

Quoting grlygrlz2:

Compared to the gallup poll released last year, they spend money on bills, rent, mortgage, utilities, food.  Not consumer related goods that help the American Economy (housing, furniture, tv's, automobiles, etc)..   Not to mention the previous Gallup poll that showed that more than half of American consumers have been forced to make drastic spending cuts in various areas of their life to keep up with rising gasoline prices. Are those on unemployment in a better place than the more than 50% Americans polled?

THEN, there is the cost to our Federal Government vs the TEMPORARY benefits by individuals.

Quoting JakeandEmmasMom:

Do you disagree that unemployed people who receive an unemployment check turn around and spend it, and that spending it helps the economy?

[grlygrlz2]

What % of Wal Mart's goods are imported from Mexico, China, etc?  So~ people can afford cheap stuff from other countries~ and that is good.  

Meanwhile jobs are going overseas, because US consumers aren't purchasing American made goods, housing, etc~ thus SHRINKING the work force~ that is bad....

Now, Obama wants to RAISE taxes on those producing overseas... Don't you think this will RAISE the prices of goods at Wal Mart?  

Yet, the number of people who have LEFT the work force is increasing...   

Quoting JakeandEmmasMom:

I would say that it is helpful to the economy if the renter is able to continue to pay his rent because it allows the landlord to pay his mortgage or whatever else he does with the rent money.  It helps the owner of the grocery store if he is able to continue to buy food.  Did you see that article that JewJewBee posted in another thread last week about how Walmart is doing well, but much of the reason for that is that low income people (people on food stamps, unemployment, etc.) are shopping there?  Just because they aren't buying iPods with their unemployment doesn't mean they aren't helping the economy.

Quoting grlygrlz2:

Compared to the gallup poll released last year, they spend money on bills, rent, mortgage, utilities, food.  Not consumer related goods that help the American Economy (housing, furniture, tv's, automobiles, etc)..   Not to mention the previous Gallup poll that showed that more than half of American consumers have been forced to make drastic spending cuts in various areas of their life to keep up with rising gasoline prices. Are those on unemployment in a better place than the more than 50% Americans polled?

THEN, there is the cost to our Federal Government vs the TEMPORARY benefits by individuals.

Quoting JakeandEmmasMom:

Do you disagree that unemployed people who receive an unemployment check turn around and spend it, and that spending it helps the economy?

[JakeandEmmasMom]

How did we go from discussing unemployment checks and whether or not they are helpful to the economy to raising taxes?

I'm certainly no champion of Walmart.  It was an illustration of how people having money to spend does help the economy.  Even if people are buying crap made from China at Walmart, their doing so keeps the checker at Walmart employed, it keeps the truck driver who drove the crap to the store employed, it keeps the store itself open which gives the management team of that store employed, it keeps their sales up which keeps the stock price up which is good for shareholders, etc...It was merely an illustration.

Quoting grlygrlz2:

What % of Wal Mart's goods are imported from Mexico, China, etc?  So~ people can afford cheap stuff from other countries~ and that is good.  

Meanwhile jobs are going overseas, because US consumers aren't purchasing American made goods, housing, etc~ thus SHRINKING the work force~ that is bad....

Now, Obama wants to RAISE taxes on those producing overseas... Don't you think this will RAISE the prices of goods at Wal Mart?  

Yet, the number of people who have LEFT the work force is increasing...   

Quoting JakeandEmmasMom:

I would say that it is helpful to the economy if the renter is able to continue to pay his rent because it allows the landlord to pay his mortgage or whatever else he does with the rent money.  It helps the owner of the grocery store if he is able to continue to buy food.  Did you see that article that JewJewBee posted in another thread last week about how Walmart is doing well, but much of the reason for that is that low income people (people on food stamps, unemployment, etc.) are shopping there?  Just because they aren't buying iPods with their unemployment doesn't mean they aren't helping the economy.

Quoting grlygrlz2:

Compared to the gallup poll released last year, they spend money on bills, rent, mortgage, utilities, food.  Not consumer related goods that help the American Economy (housing, furniture, tv's, automobiles, etc)..   Not to mention the previous Gallup poll that showed that more than half of American consumers have been forced to make drastic spending cuts in various areas of their life to keep up with rising gasoline prices. Are those on unemployment in a better place than the more than 50% Americans polled?

THEN, there is the cost to our Federal Government vs the TEMPORARY benefits by individuals.

Quoting JakeandEmmasMom:

Do you disagree that unemployed people who receive an unemployment check turn around and spend it, and that spending it helps the economy?

[JakeandEmmasMom]

And, I have to admit, GrlyGrlz2, I'm perplexed as to what your position on jobs being shipped overseas actually IS.  But I don't think this is the thread to discuss it because I wouldn't want to derail things further. ;-)

[grlygrlz2]

because, it's a vicious circle:  People have become dependent on the government to extend their unemployment benefits.  

They stretch their dollar by shopping at places like Wal Mart.

People blame the government regulations, cost of labor, etc for jobs going overseas.

Places like Wal Mart are dependent on cheap produce, goods, and materials from Mexico, China, etc.

The government wants to tax those who move jobs overseas

Which will result in higher prices (for places like... Wal mart), less production, and a continuously shrinking work force.  

Vicious Circle and who is involved in just about every point?  The Government...  

Quoting JakeandEmmasMom:

How did we go from discussing unemployment checks and whether or not they are helpful to the economy to raising taxes?

I'm certainly no champion of Walmart.  It was an illustration of how people having money to spend does help the economy.  Even if people are buying crap made from China at Walmart, their doing so keeps the checker at Walmart employed, it keeps the truck driver who drove the crap to the store employed, it keeps the store itself open which gives the management team of that store employed, it keeps their sales up which keeps the stock price up which is good for shareholders, etc...It was merely an illustration.

Quoting grlygrlz2:

What % of Wal Mart's goods are imported from Mexico, China, etc?  So~ people can afford cheap stuff from other countries~ and that is good.  

Meanwhile jobs are going overseas, because US consumers aren't purchasing American made goods, housing, etc~ thus SHRINKING the work force~ that is bad....

Now, Obama wants to RAISE taxes on those producing overseas... Don't you think this will RAISE the prices of goods at Wal Mart?  

Yet, the number of people who have LEFT the work force is increasing...   

Quoting JakeandEmmasMom:

I would say that it is helpful to the economy if the renter is able to continue to pay his rent because it allows the landlord to pay his mortgage or whatever else he does with the rent money.  It helps the owner of the grocery store if he is able to continue to buy food.  Did you see that article that JewJewBee posted in another thread last week about how Walmart is doing well, but much of the reason for that is that low income people (people on food stamps, unemployment, etc.) are shopping there?  Just because they aren't buying iPods with their unemployment doesn't mean they aren't helping the economy.

Quoting grlygrlz2:

Compared to the gallup poll released last year, they spend money on bills, rent, mortgage, utilities, food.  Not consumer related goods that help the American Economy (housing, furniture, tv's, automobiles, etc)..   Not to mention the previous Gallup poll that showed that more than half of American consumers have been forced to make drastic spending cuts in various areas of their life to keep up with rising gasoline prices. Are those on unemployment in a better place than the more than 50% Americans polled?

THEN, there is the cost to our Federal Government vs the TEMPORARY benefits by individuals.

Quoting JakeandEmmasMom:

Do you disagree that unemployed people who receive an unemployment check turn around and spend it, and that spending it helps the economy?