"Speak Out" is an expression of opinion from the Editorial Board of WBTV, and is presented by General Manager, Nick Simonette.
Well, our SpeakOut Editorial suggesting people perform some community service in exchange for their unemployment benefits certainly struck a nerve.
Ms. Debbie Mero responds:
This editorial is a major insult to those who are desperately seeking work.…
Charles Horton of Olin, NC writes:
Your (unemployment) is based on work history…so the way I see it I earned every penny!! People that commit a crime do community service…unemployed workers ARE NOT CRIMINALS.
T. Clark of Rockingham puts it succinctly:
Give the unemployed a break.
And Don Higginson of Huntersville phoned in these comments:
I've been unemployed for three years, continuously.
And the comments you made on SpeakOut -- that made me sick to my stomach….
But Leigh Gabardini agrees with our stance:
I am on unemployment and (it's) very difficult finding employment.
I am ALL FOR the community service program….It's a great idea and (a) way to actually get out in the field to expand my search options.
As does Joe Shuster:
Why shouldn't people be asked to…help out at schools, work at some of the overtaxed government departments such as the DMV…or answering phones, picking up trash and making our country cleaner in return for collecting unemployment money from the government.
We thank all of you for voicing your opinions. For those of you who are unemployed, we truly wish you good luck in your job searches. But we stand by our earlier opinions.
Tell us what YOU think. SpeakOut@wbtv.com.
