KATU news reported last night that the Oregon Employment Department is having trouble with their streamlined unemployment claims system. People filing claims are unable to get through on the phone or online; the only two ways to file a claim. (With the current system, claimants are unable to file in person at the unemployment office). The phone lines are forever busy, leaving people on hold for hours each day, day after day. The website apparently fails while in process of a claim, before it can be completed. Some people are going weeks before ever being able to successfully file their claim for benefits.
Ironically, this evening, KATU reported that the Oregon Employment Department will be hiring a number of additional staff to handle the overwhelming influx of unemployment claims.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Maybe they ought to hire some of the people who are trying to call them?
Ironically, this evening, KATU reported that the Oregon Employment Department will be hiring a number of additional staff to handle the overwhelming influx of unemployment claims.
I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Maybe they ought to hire some of the people who are trying to call them?
Mein Gott. It's insane.
ReplyDeleteI'm with JOn (or is it jOn? Or is it joN? I forget which one :). Let's start an alternative society, right slap bang in the middle of this one. We could hire people to man our employment agencies that actually look them in the eye and listen to them and stuff.
Of course, that alternative society has always been going down. It's just that in some ways the one we've got is so fruitcakingly bizarre, the alternative is gonna start shining harder :)
Insane. Moronical.
As soon as they create teleportation, or Wonkavison...let's do it.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, things are a mess. The really rich keep getting richer and the rest of us keep getting poorer. What's up with that? I mean I know why it happens, but why do we LET it happen?
My friend Sonja today posted about Ben & Jerry's (The ice cream? Do you get them there?) Anyhow, started in Vermont as a grassroots all natural ice cream co. and rocketed into the biggest best ice cream co. in America. Ben and Jerry (the real guys) made a deal that neither of them could ever earn more than 7 times the lowest paid employee. So think about what the stock boy or janitor earns...?
Of course in the end they sold out to big business. But it was fun while it lasted.
"But why do we LET it happen?"
ReplyDeleteI wonder that same thing, more and more. Why do we let it happen? I suppose we're taught that we don't have any choice, don't we?
No we don't get Ben & Jerry's here but wow, interesting story. How come they always sell out? Why couldn't they have ... I dunno, surely there would be an alternative though? Money always corrupts, don't she?
I don't know why we let it happen. The first time Jon talked to me about alternative society, I thought he was batshit crazy. Don't tell him I said that ;-) OK, not seriously...but it seemed so far fetched and impossible and dreamy that I didn't even know what to think about it and it turned my head in circles.
ReplyDeleteBut today when my health insurance (we don't have socialized medicine, in case you didn't know) robs me of hundreds of dollars a month and doesn't pay for a thing unless I'm practically dying, and the executives of said company are making 100 million dollars a year in salary and perks, something is really broken. I can't afford to go to the Dr, even WITH health insurance, because I have to pay 20% of everything and everything costs like 100 times what it should because everyone marks it up and takes a cut and people sue the Drs. for frivolous stuff and so the Drs. have to pay $100,000 per month in malpractice insurance and so on and so forth. It sucks. The system cannot continue to sustain itself, it's going to implode. Not to mention the mortgage companies, banks, oil companies, telecommunications and cable companies and the like. Same craphole.
Sorry to rant all messy on you, Sue. But somethin's gotta give.
I like it when you rant!!!
ReplyDeleteMiss you my friend!!! I got sick in Ar and am just now getting better...maybe next week we can get together???
Well, your idea makes sense...so it probably won't happen.
ReplyDeleteUgh.
Oh, rant away, Erin. Your rant is totally worthwhile. You know, that is one difference between our countries that I just dont understant. People recoil in horror with crucifixes and garlic at the thought of socialized medicine, as if going down that road will lead to a communist state and destruction within a week. I don't understand that reasoning, I really don't, and I feel for you guys because your health care system is in a total MESS!!
ReplyDeleteOkay, so we need some doctors in our alternative society :)
Donna - Thanks. I didn't even know you were in Ar. but I'm sorry you got sick. Let's hook up soon...the kids are off school all week so I'm not sure about this week...but soon.
ReplyDeleteBarbara - Isn't that how it works? The good ideas are cut by bureaucracy.
ReplyDeleteSue - When Ché was here this summer (from Canada) we talked about medical care and I was surprised by how good things are in Ca.
ReplyDeleteI don't know...people here are still fearful...but when it gets to this point something has to change.
Yes we will need Drs. How about Dr. Seuss? We'll have health care AND poetry! (Yes I know he wasn't an MD or even a Dr of any kind.)
I'd go to the doctors to see Dr Seuss. Or Dr Doolittle. Or Dr Pepper (even though that stuff tastes blergh yukky yuk), or Dr Strangelove (as long as he wasn't a gynaecologist heh)
ReplyDeleteI like Dr. Pepper. What's wrong with you?
ReplyDeleteHow about Dr. Zhivago?