Make room for the unemployed

Employment is remaining at 9% +/- while the true picture is more than likely doubled that amount due to those that have given up the search for employment and those who are only employed part-time, like myself and my wife.

My part-time job is at a local College where I am teaching Business courses without a Ph.D. but using my 42 years of experience as a substitute for the terminal degree.  My Vita, as academia like to refer to my resume, shows 18 years of experience in upper management and 18 years of experience in middle management, with 3 years of full-time teaching experience, 2 years experience in the military, and for that last year; well, I simply cannot remember.

My wife and I are fortunate to have no debt and to be living in an area of the US where the the cost-of-living is substantially less.  While I turn 64 this month, I must work until 66 or quite possibly 70 because the Social Security income is all that I will receive.  I did not work at a company or in the military for 20 years so I can draw retirement from another source, nor was my income throughout those 42 years substantial enough for me to save money; and, what little money I was able to save, lost 2/3 of that money when the Stock Market crashed a few years ago, as we all recall.

Our two party political system, while working in the past, is not working for us now as our elected millionaire officials argue over what is the best approach to help us.  The large companies in America seem to be in a better position to influence politics than the general public, and find ways around the "laws" like the drug companies who are hiding medicines to inflate prices.  Since I have cancer and a heart condition, I need those medicines to stay alive.

Meanwhile, nothing seems to be getting better, despite all the political and non-political rhetoric from businesses, the news media, and protesters.  So, being somewhat naive here, let me propose a very simple solution to our dilemma.  Unlike Cain's  9-9-9 plan, mine is somewhat complicated.  I propose step 1 and step 2.

First step - have all those Americans and non-Americans who are presently working agree to help out their fellow workers by reducing their pay so that the employed can be hired.  This solution would not cost businesses additional monies at all because the additional workers would be working without benefits.  Instead of workers working 40 hours a week, they only agree to work a pro-rated 30-35 hours a week, so that the unemployed workers have have those extra hours.  Americans are famous all over the world for helping out in times of disasters, so now it is time for Americans to help themselves. 

Second step - America's religious communities are amassing huge fortunes that they use to pave parking lots and build bigger monuments to their success, and as they send missionaries to other parts of the world to spread the word to "non-believers."  Why not ask these churches to help out?  Share their wealth among the unemployed.  Instead of the Government paying unemployment insurance, why not ask these Churches to pick up the tab for this.  Monies can be collected later by these religious institutions to help our the world, but right now, we need their help here at home.

So, there it is...  my 2 step plan.