Republican Views On Unemployment

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Unemployment is at one of its highest levels in the history of this country, and each party has its own philosophy on how to combat the problem. Republican views on unemployment revolve around the idea that the best resolution to unemployment is economic growth. Republicans believe in pursuing free market policies that can grow the economy and therefore create jobs. They believe in supporting small business to allow these businesses to hire more employees, going both their own businesses and the economy in the process. When it comes to benefits for those that are unemployed, Republicans oppose increasing the budget for such programs. They believe that doing so simply adds further to the deficit in a way that will not contribute to any sort of economic recovery.

Decreasing Unemployment

Republicans believe that lowering the unemployment rate is by far the most important issue to the American economy. The best way to create jobs is to foster economic growth. This is not done, Republicans adamantly believe, though subsidies and bailout packages. Those types of assistance produce temporary jobs, not the permanent careers that unemployed Americans need to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. Republicans believe the best way to achieve this type of economic growth is by pursuing free market policies. These policies are the surest way to boost employment, creating job growth and bringing economic prosperity back to America.

These free market policies include competition in the workplace. While Democrats argue that the minimum wage must be raised to keep those that are employed living an acceptable quality of life, Republicans believe that increasing the minimum wage decreases competition in the workplace. This leads to under motivated employees, who do not perform as well. This lack of productivity causes businesses to suffer, and they are therefore unable to hire as many employees as they would be able to if they had a motivated and competitive staff that was able to increase profits.

Republican Views on Unemployment Benefits

Republicans have been combatting the extension of unemployment benefits for many years. This legislation, which Democrats argue would help 1.7 million people, offers little in terms of permanent aid to the recipients or the economy, Republicans reply. Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois states that this is largely due to the deficit. “The better way to go is to not add to the deficit in an irresponsible way,” Kirk said. “I obviously have people in my state who would benefit.” Kirk, like many others, doesn’t actually oppose the extension of these benefits, he simply wants to know how they’re being paid for.

In many cases, Republicans have been more than happy to compromise regarding unemployment benefits when it is clear that the money going into them is not going to further increase the deficit. Paying unemployment benefits helps families temporarily, but does not get them back in the workforce feeding themselves and keeping a roof over their head. That can only be done, Republicans argue, by fostering economic growth, which does not include increasing the deficit.

Many Republicans also believe that unemployment benefits also breeds unemployment. They offer a way for people to make money by putting little to no effort in. Rand Paul argued that unemployment benefits lead to recipients becoming “part of this perpetual unemployed group in our economy. And it really – while it seems good, it actually does a disservice to the people you’re trying to help.” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid agrees, stating, “What (Republicans) want is to know what the 57-year-old woman in Nevada is going to do to stop couch surfing.”

Alex Brill, scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, simply believes the system is ineffective due to its nature, stating, “Congress should recognize the inherent ineffectiveness of trying to help people find work through a program that has evolved into a poorly operating welfare program.” Brooke Hougesen, spokesman for the Senate Republican campaign arm, believes that it isn’t working simply because there’s no way to get people off of benefits and back to work, stating, “Here’s the dirty little secret: It isn’t working because people aren’t finding jobs. We need to focus on solutions to end long-term unemployment and focus on jobs.”

Donald Trump on Unemployment

While the reported rate of unemployment in the US is somewhere around 4.9 percent, Donald Trump doesn’t believe this for a second, stating, “Don’t believe those phony numbers when you hear 4.9 and 5 percent unemployment. The number’s probably 28, 29, as high as 35. In fact, I even heard recently 42 percent.” Many commentators often state that the official measure for unemployment is too low, and it is clear that Trump backs this opinion. This is because the rate does not account for involuntary part-time workers and people who’d like to work but aren’t looking. However, the Labor Department provides reports including these numbers, and reported the unemployment rate at 9.9 percent, making it clear that Trump believes that everyone is lying regarding the rate of unemployment.

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