It may be apocryphal, but during the 18th century famines that led to the violent overthrow of the monarchy — and mass beheadings of the royalty — in the French Revolution, upon being told that the people were starving and had no bread, a noblewoman replied, “Let them eat cake.”
Gov. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.), who is reportedly running for president in 2009, has indicated he may refuse federal stimulus money, including extensions of unemployment insurance, despite the fact that South Carolina, one of the poorest and most backward states, has the fourth highest unemployment rates in the nation.
Sanford channeled his inner aristocrat on a C-SPAN call-in show yesterday, when he took a call from one of his constituents:
CALLER: I hope you all are not playing politics with this. People in South Carolina are hurting. You know how unemployment rates are high right now and going up higher. We are running out of money in the unemployment bank … we need money for that, the people that need help. And I’m one of them, I can’t get no help. [...]
SANFORD: Well I’d say hello to Charleston because its home and I’d say hello to this fellow this morning and say that my prayers are going to be with him and his family because it sounds like he is in an awfully tough spot.
Like the rest of his party, Gov. Sanford had no alternative plan to offer the caller — not even cake — just prayers.
- Topic: News & Comment
- Topics: Campaign 2012, Congress, Film
South Carolina, of course, is a right-to-work state.
I am also speaking on behalf of the unemployed as myself. Prayer is a powerful tool (the most powerful) yet if you have the ability to help – then God would expect you to do so. Faith without works is dead. I have been unemployed this last time since April 2008. I’ve been on benefits since July 2008 and I am in the unemployment office at least 2 a week and on the computer everyday submitting resumes. I make phone calls and walk in places searching for work. I have submitted approximately 100 resumes since my lay-off. My benefit runs out the second week of April 2009. It’s been a juggle to keep my head afloat. I’m barely making my bills each month and if my benefits are not extended, I will be carless, homeless and have no money for food. I’m registered for college and won’t even have the gas to get there. I don’t know where to go or what to do. After 9/11, my life went on a drastic down-slide. I was laid off my job in 2001 and have been struggling to find decent work since. I’ve even moved to 2 different states. I’ve lost my home and had to file bancruptcy. Now – I can barely pay my rent and you’re not wanting to approve an extension on benefits at night. How can one sleep at night. We paid our taxes and the job entities have paid unemployement compensation taxes for this purpose. Find the money and help us out!!! Thank you!!