Self- Analysis Post

Unemployment is a very complex topic that requires vast amounts of research and data to fully grasp its entirety. From the very beginning my main goal has been to present both sets of solutions proposed by each political party, and then use everything that I learned to propose my own solution to fix unemployment. I also made sure that readers were supplied with sufficient information on both sides so they too could formulate their own hypothesis, even if it differed from my own.   When I first began my research, I went in with the conception that this will be an easy topic to blog about as there is an endless supply of information pertaining to it. Well I was half right. This issue is so large that it is easy to find information on it, but what makes it difficult is finding the "right" information and linking everything together.  Often I would come across articles plagued with bias, which makes sense as this is a major political topic. However, I learned to avoid politically biased sits such as the Rush Limbaugh website and the Daily Kos blog site. Rush is notorious for being a major conservative, while Daily Kos is filled with liberal blogs. Neither are truly helpful sources for researching unemployment as they only present one side of the story. The more I continued my research, the better I got at identifying biased sites and finding neutral sites that display both sides of the story such as Real Clear Politics and Politico. 

I also learned very quickly that there is not one, true answer to fixing the unemployment crisis.  Therefore, I started broad and then began to narrow my focus with each post.  I began by analyzing all the solutions proposed by Conservatives and Liberals, and then compared and contrasted the two sides.  From there I would dive into a deeper analysis on specific issues such as the Bush Tax Cuts, unemployment benefits, and outsourcing. By doing this I was able to gain a better understanding on each specific aspect and truly see how it relates to unemployment as a whole.  This method worked very well for me, as I was able to develop a deeper comprehension of the numerous aspects associated with unemployment because I had already some experience with them from my previous research. 

From this blog I have also learned to be more open to others' opinions and ideas. As I researched more and more, I found myself visiting other blogs more frequently. I found it interesting to read all the different view points and arguments on certain issues related to unemployment.  Reading others' blogs (even my classmates which didn't all relate to my topic) has made me more open to new ideas and different thought processes.  Even if I didn't necessarily agree with what the blogger was saying, I was able to appreciate their point and be aware of where he or she was coming from.  I don't mean to be lame or cheesy, but this blog really has changed me as a writer and thinker. I have developed a greater sense of awareness in recognizing bias in both others' writing, as well as my own.  I am also more open to others' opinions. There were countless times during this process when I would read a post proposing an idea I traditionally would not have agreed with. But after reading I would analyze the points and examples made, and a majority of the time my opinion would change. It truly is amazing how knowing the full side of a story or even just more information can completely reverse your way of thinking.  Blogs are an excellent mechanism for communicating a variety of opinions and ideas. This process has been truly beneficial to me as both a writer and thinker.

Links to Unemployment

If you have enjoyed reading my blog on unemployment in America, then I highly recommend visiting the links below as they will certainly quench your thirst for more knowledge on unemployment. Some of them I have used in previous posts and others I have not. They are intended to broaden your awareness and understanding of this complex topic that has caused so much grief for so many Americans.

usconservatives.about.com (unemployment)

This link is perfect for anyone looking into 2010 midterm election issues. The link provided lists numerous topics being debated in the upcoming election, and if you look through the list you will eventually come across "unemployment." Click this link and you will be a directed to a page that explains almost every plan the Conservatives have discussed to combat unemployment. I am aware that it is slightly biased toward their plans, but nevertheless it mostly just outlines their plans. This is perfect for anyone wanting to look at unemployment solutions from a broad spectrum.

usliberals.about.com

Well obviously I was not just going to throw only the conservative plans at you. Here you can see the outline of Liberal approach to fighting unemployment. It lists policies they have made and also ones they plan to make. Please visit both these sites on about.com so you can fully grasp the main ideas of unemployment before you analyze more specific ideas.  Also I encourage visitors to these sites to look at both sets of plans in an unbiased fashion and then try and formulate your own ideas based on everything you have read.

realclearpolitics.com

If anyone ever asked me where they could go to find unbiased information on unemployment, I would send them straight here. The article I linked to is one that discusses how unemployment will shape the upcoming elections. However, I encourage anyone who visits this site to explore it and look for other unemployment articles. Most of the searches bring up two articles that deal with the same topic, one that provides a Democratic viewpoint and another that will provide a more Conservative viewpoint. This is very helpful in analyzing specific unemployment issues.

washingtontimes.com

This article is one that is both informative and thought provoking. In the article it mentions proposed policies by both Democratic and Republican politicians, as well as economic data from the past (especially around the Great Depression). The main focus of the article is solutions designed to improve employment in America. It doesn't really favor one side over another, so the reader is left to form their own opinions.

bls.gov

The Bureau of Labor Statistics site is very useful for learning the cold hard facts about unemployment in America. This site is the employment summary taken for the month of September (the October summary will be out this coming week). It basically provides the true unemployment numbers and even breaks the numbers down into age groups, genders, race, etc.  You want the statistical data on unemployment then come here.

The links above are mostly recommended for increasing your knowledge on unemployment and its solutions as a whole. Below are links that deal with a specific aspect of the issue.

businessweek.com

What caused unemployment rates to skyrocket? This article has just the answer. It focuses on how the companies stopped hiring and expanding once the recession hit. Obviously this is not the only reason unemployment increased, but it is a main one.

money.cnn.com

One of the biggest aspects of unemployment I repeatedly mentioned over and over again was the Bush Tax Cuts. This article provides an in depth analysis with almost every piece of information possible about the tax cuts. It explores what would happen if they aren't extended, the pros and cons of extending them, who should receive the tax breaks, party views, and more. Also, I strongly urge anyone who visits this site to read the comments at the bottom. There were many that linked to other sites on the issue and most had very interesting things to say about the tax cuts.

usatoday.com and infotipguide.com

Unemployment benefits were another huge part of the unemployment solution debate. These two sites both discuss the pros and cons of continuing to provide idle American workers with benefits. This is a very difficult issue to take a true stance on as there are many concerns with both extending the benefits and cutting them off. Reading both articles will improve your understanding of unemployment benefits and will hopefully help you form your own opinion.

The links I provided will definitely increase your awareness and understanding of unemployment. It is a very complex topic, but hopefully the links will help you form your own ideas and possible solutions for fighting unemployment. Throughout my research these sites have been the most helpful and have really allowed me to dive deeper into the issue and its numerous aspects. For those looking to learn more about unemployment in America, I advise you to start with these sites.

Three Blogs You Must Visit

Over the course of my research I have come across many blogs here on Blogspot. These blogs were very interesting to read and I was even able to relate some of them to my topic. I hope you do take the time to visit these blogs as they are well constructed and spark an intense reflection with each post. (They are in no particular order).

1.  Algae: Powering the Future?

I bet you were unaware that modern scientists have started researching algae as a possible alternative energy source. Crazy huh?  This is a very informative and fascinating topic to read about.  This blog provides the reader with a complete overview of the algal research process and its benefits when compared to oil and other current energy sources.  While reading, time and time again, I would be able to relate this topic to unemployment. The government is looking into creating more public service jobs to increase employment, well look no further than algae. Spending money to research algae as an energy source would not only create jobs, but it would also develop the process of using algal energy.  This blog will not disappoint as this is such an original and interesting topic.

2. Who Would Give YOU a Job?

Of course I was going to direct you to this blog... it deals with unemployment as well. Honestly, what topic is more important than the unemployment crisis in America? This blog is always worth a visit as it provides a non bias look into such a broad topic that is filled with numerous debates. Solutions to unemployment are mostly bias, but in this blog, the bias is removed and the reader is left with just the cold hard facts on unemployment. What is also great about this blog is that it mentions college students and their troubles with the job market. This appeals a great deal to me because in a few years, I will most likely be in the same situation they are in. This blog is perfect for college students or anyone who is interested in unemployment because it provides non biased data and opinions and clearly illustrates the current unemployment crisis in America.

3. Gulf Oil Spill

One of the most well known and devastating environmental catastrophes during this year was the Gulf Oil Spill.  I am major supporter of national parks, so any environmental disaster quickly grabs my attention. This blog is well researched and provides the reader with a complete overview of the horrible effects that spill has had on local wildlife and habitats. It also incorporates detailed background information about the spill as well as, plans on cleaning up the oil and restoring the local environments. This was one of the most destructive environmental disasters of all time, and this blog really increased my understanding and knowledge on the multitude of problems caused by spill.

Unemployment by the Numbers

It has been brought to my attention that I have not provided enough statistical data to illustrate the severity of unemployment in America.  Well that changes right now. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a household survey indicated that the current number of unemployed Americans stands at 14.8 million. The unemployment rate itself has held steady at 9.6% over the past two months. Another startling piece of data is the number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) which is currently 6.1 million. These are obviously some very startling numbers, but what does the government say about the current situation?  In August, President Obama announced 67,000 private sector jobs were created, but the unemployment rate rose because not enough jobs were created to absorb the growing number of Americans looking for work. More jobs must be created if the unemployment rate is to be lowered, and Obama says he plans to meet with his advisers to formulate more ways to create jobs.  However, mass layoffs have become a major concern for most U.S. citizens. The BLS syas that 133,379 workers were seperated from their jobs during the month of September. However, on a positive note, "this number is 60 less than the number from last month, making this the thrid consecutive over-the-month decrease." These figures truly illustrate the severity of unemployment in America. Our government must act quickly if it is to successfully lower the number of unemployed U.S. citizens.

Mental Breather

Time for a break. Enjoy

Unemployment Implications

Obviously if nothing is done to help reduce unemployment in America, it will continue to increase until the economy collapses from not being able to support such a dangerously high unemployment rate.  This is clearly an extreme and worst case scenario, but it could happen if nothing is done at all.  Because Unemployment is such a huge topic, I think the best way to show its implications is to illustrate piece by piece what will happen if certain ideas are not implemented.  Unemployment benefits must continue to be made available to idle workers or else an estimated 3.2 million Americans would lose their benefits resulting in "financial, social, and psychological distress for millions of households."  Without benefits these workers will be unable to focus on finding a suitable job and go into a state of panic about how to support their family.  Not extending the Bush Tax Cuts would be a tremendous blow to the U.S. economy.  The current debate is over whether or not to include wealthier Americans and corporations into the new extension. I say include everyone. Not doing so would limit the expansion of larger corporations who would have the ability to hire more workers if they were given tax breaks.  Smaller corporations will be able to grow thanks to the tax cuts, but they will be unable to absorb as many unemployed workers as larger corporations would. Thus, by being selective on the tax cuts less jobs would be created and less money would be pumped back into the economy. Not extending the Bush Tax Cuts will hinder economic growth in America.  There are many other plans designed to fight unemployment, but these are the main two I have come across during my research. If nothing is done to help reduce unemployment in America, I am confident that we will witness increased job loss along with a quickly collapsing economy. 

Sending American Jobs Away

Outsourcing has become a heated issue in relation to the unemployment crisis. Basically American corporations are sending jobs overseas (especially manufacturing jobs) to countries that offer cheap labor, such as China, India, Panama, and many more.  This is has caused major problems for blue collar American workers, who have struggled to find work. Many of these workers received higher specialized education because they were told doing so would assure their job security, but apparently corporate America lied. While this practice continues to ship American jobs away, little is being done to stop it. However, President Obama has declared that he plans to introduce new legislation that will limit outsourcing and offer tax breaks to corporations that stay away from the practice.  This plan did upset some foreign nations, especially India, whose economy relies a great deal on American outsourcing.  When it comes to unemployment in the U.S. though, I have to side with President Obama because protecting American jobs should be our highest priority right now.  Having foreign outsourcing fuel your economy, is not steady or reliable thing to have. Sweatshops are often the result of outsourcing, and some even argue that they help boost a nation’s economy and decrease poverty. But having sweatshops or a poor economy are both horrible, so outsourcing is really not making these foreign nations better off.  Our main goal right now should be bringing jobs back to America and then we can worry about how to help struggling foreign nations boost their economy.  Outsourcing is a dangerous practice, and it is sad to see the government stand by and do nothing as it watched corporations send American jobs away. Something must be done quickly to limit outsourcing if we are serious about fixing unemployment in America.