fairphantom:

After a hard-fought political battle, President Obama signed legislation Thursday restoring benefits to the long-term unemployed, aid that had expired more than seven weeks before. Under the extension, unemployed workers can receive up to 99 weeks of income assistance. Helping the long-term jobless in a prolonged recession is generally a bipartisan issue, but this time, Republicans argued that the measure will add too much to the national debt. It’s a discussion that gets bogged down in myths about how to assist the long-term unemployed, and the economy, at the same time….

For those who want the short version the myths are:

1. Unemployment benefits make people less likely to find jobs.
2. Unemployment insurance doesn’t contribute to economic recovery.
3. We can’t afford to do this right now.
4. The private sector can take care of unemployment on its own.
5. The unemployment rate gives us a good sense of how many people are affected by the downturn.

This Washington Post article takes apart these counterproductive myths. But they must be communists, right?

That was sarcasm.