I wrote an article recently that was critical of Congress’s action to pass a bill extending unemployment benefits. My primary objection was that our lawmakers chose to pass yet another deficit spending bill and used the “emergency” loophole that eliminates the need for Pay Go.

I got lots of feedback from this. Everyone hated my position. Some said that we needed a $500b deficit package (ala Krugman) and that my objection to a lousy $34b was misguided. Others said that there should be no extension of UI at all. A good number suggested that I was a heartless S.O.B. that had no idea what it was like to be unemployed in America today. The later group got to me. I have had an exchange of emails from one person that is facing a wall. She is from Cleveland. Her name is Wendy. Some comments from her:

I was wondering.... Have you ever been scared, really scared?

You speak about H.R. 5618 because it is adding to the debt of the country. My thought is you are so self absorbed that you would stop reading this email right now because "unemployed Americans are not worth it"

Have another martini in your condo in Miami and rest easy knowing you will never be me. Make sure your children and grandchildren know what you are and what you believe, maybe they already know dad is a selfish cruel Bastard who believes money is the most important thing. Thanks to people like you I will continue to go to bed scared of tomorrow. Sleep well

Wendy,

Children: Jessy and Parker

I live in Cleveland, Ohio and am the sole supporter of my children. We can't pay the mortgage, utilities etc. today. The point for those like me there is no future- we have to get through today- eat, clothing- I can't buy detergent today.

I am a Special education teacher with my Masters degree-- with out a job. I did what the President said, "go back to school". I took out loans and studied hard to fulfill the dream of being a Special Education teacher. I don't want a hand out, just a hand up.

I have to admit that this exchange got to me. There have always been people like Wendy who fall through the cracks.  But we have not been through times like the ones we are living through for 80 years. I feel sorry for Wendy, I wish she and all the other Wendy’s did not have to wake up feeling scared. I would like to help her get a job so she could get through this period. I know no one in Cleveland and I doubt that the great state of Ohio is hiring any teachers these days. So she is out of luck.

Possibly someone can help her. I would like to provide some inducement. Here is my proposal:

I will put up $6,000 in cash. $3,000 goes to the employer as an incentive to hire Wendy. No strings attached to that. If a job is offered and accepted they get the money. They can do with it what they wish. The other $3,000 goes to Wendy. She gets the money when she takes the job. This is no freebie.

There is a caveat to this. The job that is offered must provide compensation to Wendy that is equal to or greater than the unemployment benefits she is getting. I would like to see that there were health benefits available at some point. She needs that. The goal here is to get one person back to work and one less person unemployed. The goal is to minimize the fear factor. That is no way to live.

So Cleveland, do you have a job for Wendy? If anyone wants to see the color of my money I would prepay it to one of the Cleveland media to hold pending a job offer. I have nothing to gain here. Just trying to help someone out who clearly needs a little help.

I don't know Wendy. My guess, just from reading her words, is that she would be a good hire for someone. If an employer with a job wants to take advantage of this offer they should contact Wendy at kindnessmatters2010@gmail.com.  Alternatively you could contact me, BGK.WENDY@gmail.com.

There is a flip side to this proposal. What if no one makes her a job offer even with a $3,000 incentive to do so? That much money makes her a free hire for a while. If no jobs are forthcoming it implies that there is no work for anyone looking. Should that be the case we would have to conclude that we are in very serious trouble. It would imply that Wendy, and a few million others, are going fall off a cliff pretty soon.

I’ll let you know the results of this experiment.