Unproductive

Listening to NPR this morning talking about jobs, economy, etc. One story was about unemployment benefits being extended in some states up to 99 weeks. Another story was about Bank of America eliminating overdraft fees and how banks have made tons of money in the past 10-15 years charging enormous overdraft fees.

What strikes me about these two stories - both "progressive" steps aimed at helping the less well off - ie unemployed and those who overdraft - is how completely and totally unproductive they are. Unemployment benefits are helpful insofar as they help keep people afloat when they are between jobs. But at this level and length of unemployment, the more worrisome factor is the loss of skills and affordability of these benefits. At a certain point, this has to be unsustainable. As for overdraft fees - this is how banks make money? What a crock. This is how Americans make a buck now - charging others for their own money. We should not mistake this for wealth.