Why is unemployment so high?

For weeks now Congress has done what they've done best for years...nothing. They are bogged down trying to decide how big of a stimulus package they want to offer the American people. Each side accuses the other of harming the American public by not compromising on their stand. Perhaps due to it being an election year neither party wants to do anything that would not be acceptable to their base voters. In the meantime, it could be said that their grandstanding is hurting the public and small businesses who have been hurt by the pandemic and the restrictions placed upon them.

However, I think another question needs to be raised. Why do we have such high unemployment when so many businesses are trying to hire people? Do we even need additional unemployment benefits? Before you write off these questions are mean spirited, let's look at some facts.

Yes, many businesses have closed their doors for good which caused millions of people to become unemployed. At the same time, I drive past many places every day with signs out front wanting to hire workers. Many of these are industrial jobs paying good salaries and benefits. A few months ago I spoke to the owner of a machining company who had a sign in front of the business seeking machine operators. I asked if he had been able to hire anyone. He responded he had not had a single application turned in since he posted the jobs two years earlier. I asked if it was because people were not qualified for the job, and he responded the company would train anyone willing to work. There are many, many jobs going unfilled while Congress is debating on how much extra money to give people not to work.

Perhaps in high unemployment areas these jobs are not as readily available as they are in my area. I cannot speak to that, but there is nothing stopping people from going to where the jobs are. When the car industry began to take off many people migrated from the rural areas to the larger cities where the jobs were. When the Great Depression hit many moved west looking for work. I can assure you that if I couldn't find a job where I lived I would move to where I could find one, and there is nothing preventing people from doing that today.

Taxpayers should not be expected to pay for people to stay home and earn more than they had been making when they became unemployed when jobs are going unfilled. As a nation we should provide for those who are unable to work. That is the right thing any civilized society should do. At the same time, we should also begin ending unemployment benefits to those unwilling to work. Businesses and companies are hiring. It's time people quit depending on their government check and go to work.