We're doomed. Doomed I say!
The election is over... and not a damn thing has changed. The Federal government needs to cut its spending (that would include unemployment insurance) and raise revenues (that would include higher taxes). What do we get? Hypocrites on this side willing to let the hypocrites on the other side spend more if the other side agrees to tax less. That is, we are making the problem worse from both angles.
Look, I am for extending the "Bush Tax Cuts" (what a silly name for something even DUMBER... temporary tax cuts... come on, all tax cuts AND tax increases are temporary... for pity's sake!) only because I understand economics reasonably well and I know how to add and subtract (the left opposes the cuts, of course, but then again those folks don't understand economics and have no math skills whatsoever). Under no circumstance would I trade tax cuts for extended unemployment "benefits". The quicker people move in with each other contracting households, accept employment that they no reject, and get their own house in order... the better off the people will be. The Oil is not there for another bizzilion singe family homes where everybody and the family dog get their own room and bathroom. Got it?
The American people sent a message to D.C., a message that already seems to have been forgotten. I look forward to 2012 with great anticipation, even if the Repubs run the only person that can't beat Obama, because our elected officials continue to doing the same things over and over.... and expecting different results.