Texas Progressive Bloggers Withdraw Support from Proposed Spending Freeze

TEXAS – January 27, 2010: Top progressive bloggers from across Texas issued a statement today in advance of President Obama’s State of the Union address cautioning the President to avoid calling for a spending freeze. While these bloggers maintain their support of their President and their Democratic candidates, they reject the notion that a spending freeze is a valid solution for working Americans in this time of economic crisis.

The following individual statements were issued:

“The economy is still in a precarious and fragile state, even today. The deficit hawks in Congress have decided to willfully ignore reality and opted instead to play politics on the issue of the deficit. They’re making demands that, if the President accedes, will lead to a long lasting economic malaise.”
- Trey McAtee of McBlogger

“The spending freeze will likely affect those who need it the most during this difficult time in our economy. Throughout his campaign, Obama criticized his opponent’s calls for a spending freeze, calling it a ‘hatchet when we need a scalpel.’ The only difference progressives see now between Obama and McCain’s platform is that Sarah Palin isn’t standing next to him.”
- Rachel Farris of MeanRachel

“During his candidacy, President Obama promised to overhaul immigration early in his first term. However, many immigrant rights advocates fear Obama’s spending freeze will put a halt to any type of immigration reform. Any further delay to fix the broken immigration system, this nation will continue to see the devastation of thousands of families and neighborhoods.”
- Edmundo Rocha of Para Justicia y Libertad

“The spending freeze is both bad policy and bad politics. The last thing we need to hear about right now are ideas for what the government won’t do to get us out of the economic crisis that has crippled many American families. What we need instead is bold leadership, not efforts to satisfy the whims of obstructionist Republicans and cowardly Blue Dog Democrats.”
- “Xanthippas” of Three Wise Men

“A spending freeze is passing gimmick that does not address the long-term problems facing the American people. Instead of offering up a stunt, President Obama needs to discuss the realities of a changing global economy in an adult manner with the American people. Instead of retreating, government has a part to play in helping Americans with jobs, health care and education.”
- Neil Aquino of Texas Liberal

“President Obama is struggling because he’s allowing his political enemies to drive the public discourse, delay his agenda in Congress and slow-walk his nominees. By refusing to fight for the issues he campaigned on, his electoral majority from 2008 is disillusioned and unmotivated. Perhaps once we have a Speaker Boehner and a Leader McConnell, Obama will realize that abandoning his base in search of approbation from the right was a mistake.”
- Editors of Eye On Williamson

“Americans need to be reminded that Obama did not create this financial mess, he inherited it! The Republican attempt to erase the George Bush presidency is astonishing. Obama needs to remember that this time the mandate is his, given to him by the very people who will suffer most under his proposed spending freeze.”
- Sharon Wilson of Bluedaze: Drilling Reform for Texas

“Irresponsible leadership by George W. Bush and Congressional enablers left Americans on the brink of complete economic meltdown and we are far from out of the woods on that score. Why adopt the failures of the minority party, or pretend to for political cover? There is a very small window of opportunity before voters decide whether to let Democrats keep their majorities. Time to turn on the gas, not put on the freeze.”
- “Boadicea,” Managing Editor of Texas Kaos

“Although deficits and debt are a undoubtedly a long-term concern, we will have little ability to fix them and reverse course until our economy is fully back on track and unemployment comes down to a reasonable number. To that extent, the federal government ought to be looking at continued investment that will inspire confidence and leverage private investment. Any across-the-board spending freeze is counter-productive.”
- Steve Southwell of WhosPlayin.com

These members of the Texas Progressive Alliance, a coalition of progressive Texas bloggers formed in 2007, call on President Obama to reconsider his plans for a spending freeze and instead focus on restoring the confidence that businesses have in the future.

“A spending freeze is foolish,” said Trey McAtee, an Austin-based blogger who writes under the pseudonym of ‘McBlogger.’ “It is not in line with the ideals of President Obama’s supporters, and as progressive bloggers, we’re here to make sure he knows that.”

Media Contact: Rachel Farris, rachel.t.farris@gmail.com / 512-919-6051

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This is not only a major hit to the people working there, but this is just another after effect of Hurricane Ike. This is not good, because local unemployment rate for October is 5.4 percent, up from 5.1 percent in September, just below the national average, 6.5 percent.

It would be easy to blame Hurricane Ike, however, this is not the case. Last week, the Labor Department announced that new claims for unemployment benefits jumped last week to a 16-year high. If that is not bad enough, the Federal Reserve on Wednesday released projections that the jobless rate will climb to between 7.1 percent and 7.6 percent next year.

It is not easy to lose a job, sometimes it can be made worse when friends and family accidentally say something callous and ill-considered words trying to find some way to console you. Being let go from your job can be difficult, stressful and surprising all at once. Without a job to go to, you suddenly feel you have been stripped of one’s personal worth and identity; leaving a gap that needs to be filled. Days you look for that small glimmer of hope that somebody actually thinks you are good enough to work for them.

Since we do go through life labeling ourselves in terms of the work we do, the type of response we give – “what we do” – becomes the heart of numerous subtle judgments, ranging from a person’s worth, financial status, intelligence, education level, ambition, and social position.

So just imagine, if you no longer have that defining “label,” we are not only admitting to ourselves but to the world, “I don’t do anything,” which may seem equivalent of saying “I am nothing.” Depending on how long a person is unemployed, less value is put on you. Many presume if you are unemployed the person must be “lazy” or “a bum” because we are conditioned to think if a person who has been unemployed for a long period of time must seriously not be looking for a job.

Three years ago I was laid off and since then, I am still unemployed. Throughout these three years I have applied for literally every job I felt I qualified for, and nineteen times out of twenty, I didn’t hear back. We are talking about jobs for which I knew I was the ideal candidate. During the year, I have been a finalist for several, but never to get the position.

This year was a little better, unlike the last two years, I worked on a couple of contracts that paid me pretty well. Since Thanksgiving is suppose to be thankful, I will use this opportunity to do so. While being unemployed has its downside, I can’t not help but reflect on the opportunities that came my way this year.

Since 2006, the Latino/a blogosphere in the US has grown by leaps and bounds. I am thankful I had the opportunity to be part of it. As editor/publisher of this blog and co-founder of the Sanctuary, I and my fellow bloggers had the opportunity to collaborate with nation organizations such as, National Council of La Raza, America’s Voice, National Immigration Forum, Fair Immigration Reform Movement, and Voto Latino, this is just to name a few.

In response to the immigration raid at Action Rags USA in Houston, I am also involved with the Houston Raid Rapid Response Team. I have also been awarded the Texas Progressive Alliance’s Silver Star by the Texas Progressive Alliance and the 40 under 40 Award by New Leaders Council; invited to appear on a public access cable TV talk show, GreenWatch TV, to talk about the Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and to appear on HITN TV’s Destination Casa Blanca 2008: The Latino Voice in the Presidential Election, with fellow blogamigios to discuss the impact Latino bloggers have on this year’s election; and I also invited to part of panel discussion at Netroots Nation to discuss online strategies for Latino bloggers. Finally, I was fortunate enough to go to Denver, with my fellow co-bloggers at Scholars and Rouges to cover the DNC. There are probably a lot more that occurred I did have forgotten to mention.

I don’t know if all this would have occurred if I was employed. Even though blogging has help keep my sanity, but being jobless still weighs on my mind. Because the holidays are coming around again, an emptiness is slowly creeping in again. It is a reminder something is missing in my life.

All I can do is hope this Christmas I am able to find a job offer in my stocking instead of a lump of coal I have found in the past three years.