I am writing to express my disbelief at the comments coming from your office and your administration in regards to future extensions of unemployment benefits.

I am a 30-year resident of Idaho. I have worked, married, raised family, paid taxes and have been an active participant as a citizen. We have always, I repeat, ALWAYS lived within our means. We have never had credit card debt nor did we buy a house out of reach for our lifestyle. Fiscally, we are conservative.

I have been displaced from my career twice in the past three years. In 2008 I was earning a healthy salary when my position was eliminated with an employer for whom I had worked for nearly 15 years. I was shocked and unprepared as I had been a high performing, highly active employee for years.

In early 2009 I took a position with another family-owned company as VP Idaho for a food service brokerage. I took a 20 percent pay cut but was still earning above average. I stabilized the Idaho division and helped improve the profitability for the entire company which was then bought by a large regional brokerage. My position was then eliminated.

I have been actively seeking a career and have participated in many of the DOL workshops, trainings, professional networking groups.  I have applied to approximately 200 jobs. I have had some interviews. I have received no offers.

Your comments, and those of you Director of the DOL, are unbelievable. There are nowhere near enough jobs that pay a livable wage to put everyone to work and yet you wish to eliminate future extensions. By doing so, your administration will put more people in foreclosure, more people on welfare, more people in the shelters.  Your actions will not create any jobs but will further reduce the total employment numbers through a reduction in overall monetary exchange. Less money spent on groceries, less on fuel, less on clothing, less on utilities.

Certainly there are abusers to any system but I have always believed the vast majority of humans want to do the right thing and support themselves, better themselves and better raise their children and families.

I find your comments insensitive and unrealistic. Thank the Lord I am healthy and have not needed medical care as I am uninsured. I'll gladly send you my resume if you would help me find a position, I would greatly appreciate it. In the meantime, reconsider your stance on unemployment extensions and help those who need help.

Your responsible citizen,

Phil Carney
(208) 939-4424