Mhari: A woman named Wendy Shapiro from South Euclid read a blog post against a bill in Washington DC that would extend unemployment benefits. It was written by a former stockbroker in Westchester, NY named Bruce Krasting in early July.
BRUCE KRASTING: The House passed H.R. 5618 on Friday along party lines. This bill would extend unemployment benefits to November 2010.
I have two major objections to the bill. First, it is not "pay go" and second, this is all about politics and an election.
Mhari: "Pay go"is a budget rule that requires that new spending or tax changes don't add to the federal deficit. Proponents of extending unemployment benefits have argued exceptions are and have been made for jobless benefits when unemployment is high. The bill is now stuck in the US Senate.
Eric: And that blog post is what sent Wendy Shapiro to the keyboard.
Mhari: Yes. Here's Wendy reading an excerpt:
SHAPIRO: Have you ever been scared, really scared? You speak about H.R. 5618 because it is adding to the debt of the country. I see you are a banker, seems appropriate. How dare you place money above families like mine and millions of other hard working Americans - we want to work! Have another martini in your condo in Miami and rest easy knowing you will never be me. Thanks to people like you I will continue to go to bed scared of tomorrow.
Mhari: Wendy got an email response almost immediately.
KRASTING: Wendy, I have two children. Emily and Eric.They do not have the future that I had. That makes me sad and angry. One of the major reasons that we are in this mess today is that for the past 40 years we have been spending money that we do not have. It is killing us. Our leaders sign blank checks knowing that it will kill us, but they do it anyway so they can get reelected. I am sorry you are struggling. I do not want that for you or anyone. Where do you live in this country??
SHAPIRO: I live in Cleveland, Ohio and am the sole supporter of my children. I can't pay the mortgage, utilities today. You have missed the point. For those like me we have to get through today - eat, clothing - I can't even buy detergent today. No matter how hard I try and try to find a job that pays the bills the jobs aren't there. I am a special education teacher with my Masters degree - without a job. How about using your fingers to write about that? Do you deserve to make what you make? How many people were let go so you could keep your six figure job?
KRASTING: Wendy, I am retired. I have been for 10 years. We are doing things to the economy in the name of unemployment that are killing all people in the economy. I did not create the problems that we are in. But I, like you are paying a price for it.
SHAPIRO: How dare you speak for those in our Senate who have chosen to vote in a manner that helps those like me.
KRASTING: I would have no quibble with the extension of unemployment benefits if there was a way to pay for it. This bill just borrows from the future with no way to pay it back.
SHAPIRO: Bruce, I pray, apply and look every day to find a job. I want to take care of my children and the future of the rest of the children in America as a teacher.
KRASTING: Would you provide me with a copy of your resume? Trust me. I will not bite.
SHAPIRO: When I lost my job I did not feel sorry for myself, instead I listened to the voice that kept telling me to make a difference in the lives of others. 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.. My story is not unlike other unemployed Americans who I met in school. You have really overwhelmed me. If a resume is still part of your plan I will send it.
KRASTING: Okay here it is. Note the terms of my offer. You can tell me what you think. I am prepared to rewrite this to make it work.
Eric: Wait a second, Mhari. Is Krasting offering her a job?
Mhari: No. At this point in the email exchange he writes a new blog post about their conversation which he titles, "Wendy's Story: Cleveland Jobs Challenge."
Then Krasting posts this public offer.
KRASTING: I will put up $6,000 in cash. Three thousand goes to the employer as an incentive to hire Wendy. No strings attached to that. If a job is offered that is 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. 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 checks she is currently getting. The goal here is to get one person back to work and one less person unemployed.
Eric: What was Wendy Shapiro's response to this offer?
Mhari: She had really mixed feelings. On the one hand, she's not looking for a hand out. On the other hand, she wants a job. So, Wendy ultimately wrote an email back saying she wouldn't accept his money, but would go along with the proposal.
SHAPIRO: Mr. Krasting, I want to earn money, never take money. If I did get a job and the experiment works I can't stop the commitment you have made to an employer. I know you are doing this out of an act of compassion. When this experiment is over I hope to meet you in person and literally put my hand in yours and say, 'Thank you.' I will probably give you a hug too.
Wendy
Mhari: The pair are now waiting to see the results of their experiment.
Eric: Mhari, did she actually change his mind about the issue that started the whole email exchange: extending unemployment benefits for Americans?
Mhari: . No. The two did not change their political stances, but they did make a personal connection and a very unique business deal.