Republicans remained intransigent this week after dragging their feet to even negotiate for 10 weeks on the second unemployment package. Their primary concern was that people on unemployment will receive more on unemployment than at their regular job.

In a sense, there is a modicum of truth to this. But they failed to ask the essential question why? The answer is multi-fold.

1. The average worker targeted works on or near the minimum wage level. If minimum wage were raised to a living wage, I contend that this would not be a decider as whether a perdo chose to return to work or collect unemployment (I'll talk more about this below);

2. Many of the presently unemployeed work in non-essential dervice industries (food, alcohol, entertainment, travel, etc.). Either these jobs disappeared with the advent of the COVID pandemic or they came back, only to re-disappear as COVID re-spiked in key areas;

3. Many are still afraid of contracting the virus and bringing ot home yo their spouse, children, or older parents and grandparents. A reasonable fear given the lack of adequate testing and continued spiking;

4. Many are single parents and no longer have access to child care, which disappeared under COVID. Or with schools going virtual, they need to remain home with thier children because their children are stll home;

5. In an interview last night with Erin Bunett, Kudlow insisted that most people primarily worked for the paycheck. I contend that this is short sighted and myopic thinking. Of coarse a paycheck is both desirous and necessary to survive in this society(excluding the homeless, which are an exception by their numbers as opposed to the rule). I contend that there is a second stimulus for people wanting to work that is just as important.

I contend ( and studies exist to support) that most humans need to feel that they are being productive and providing something positive. Their self-esteem and self-worth is tied to this feeling of being productive. Even if they do not like their job there is a part of their well-being tied to this concept. In the past the cocept of a work ethic was a critical part of society and culture. It isnt always idrntified the same way between cultural grouos, but it still existed. I also contend that if the minimum wage were a living wage, many would eagerly and enthusiastically return to work, even if unemployment brought them a bit more than their normal wage.

So the question is this? Who are the Republicans kidding. No one desires this pandemic to continue and remain unemployed. Once it is under control, people will flock back to work, eagerly. The fiscal conservatives are standing on selfish ideology (afterall, all them are have a regular psycheck, health care, and regular testing) and depriving the most vulnerable a opportunity for having at the very least the basics for survival.

One final point. The question arises as to whether the work ethic has changed over thevlast four generations. Below is the abstract and URL for a resesrch study that looked at that very question. Enjoy.

[scholar.google.com]