Long-Term Unemployment is a Crime

According to a recent survey of recruiters and hiring managers, it’s more difficult for someone who has been unemployed for two or more years to be placed in a job than it is for someone with a criminal record.

You read that right. Somehow, the stigma against the long-term unemployed — many of whom lost their jobs through no fault of their own — is greater than that against those who have run afoul of the law.

As a result of the lack of job creation, employers have been able to discriminate against those who have been out of work for a significant period of time. Each new opening attracts a massive pool of candidates — many of whom are either currently employed or only recently out of work. The long-term unemployed have been left on the sidelines.

Fortunately, several states have pushed for legislation that would prevent employers from discriminating against the unemployed when hiring new employees. President Barack Obama also supported legislation that would ban this practice nationally.

Unfortunately, Republicans have proved unwilling to help get the long-term unemployed back to work — and even downright hostile toward the less fortunate.

It was quite apparent last week, as Republicans lambasted folks who get government assistance. Not only was their estimate of the size and character of this group of people wrong, but in writing off half the electorate, the GOP has made clear that it simply doesn’t care about those in the middle or at the bottom of the income ladder.

If Republicans are so concerned about people becoming dependent on government for assistance, they should take a more proactive approach to creating jobs — and spend less effort trying to enact tax cuts for the wealthy.

In most cases, the only crime the long-term unemployed have committed is living during one of the most brutal job markets in American history.

The GOP has sat idly by as the clock continues to tick for the nearly two million Americans who have been out of work for two years as of this month — and for countless others who have already given up searching for work.

Come November, let’s remember which party is actually trying to improve the employment situation in this country and which one has left workers out in the cold. Be sure to join our new effort: Bee Mad @ the GOP! We’ve committed ourselves to pointing out the many ways that

Republicans are failing working Americans.