Extending unemployment benefits is seen by some as a temporary solution to high unemployment rates caused by the recession, but others argue it may enable dependency and long-term unemployment. While extensions provide short-term relief, they are not a permanent solution and could discourage job seeking. The article argues that a better approach is for the government to invest in job creation by providing incentives for businesses to hire, acting as a venture capitalist to address unemployment at its root rather than just treating the symptoms.

1. Extending Unemployment Benefits
A “Duct Tape” Solution for a Long-Term Problem
With one of the greatest recessions our country has faced, many people hoped that the stimulus package
would follow through with its promise to help our suffering economy. However, there has been a lot of
criticism that the stimulus package did not create the jobs it promised it would. And with record high
unemployment rates, more and more people continue to be unsatisfied.
Since there has not been a viable recovery plan that has succeeded in getting people back to work,
many people think it's up to the government to extend unemployment benefits to help those who
continue to suffer. But is another extension really the answer?
Extending unemployment benefits is only a temporary solution and it may actually be
counterproductive. Instead of giving the unemployed an incentive to find work, the government has
created a culture of dependency, perpetuating long-term unemployment. In fact, nearly 40 percent of
unemployed Americans, or more than 6.1 million workers, have been out of work for six months or
longer. The previous peak in long-term unemployment was 26 percent in 1983.
Extending unemployment benefits is merely a “duct tape” solution to a serious problem facing many
Americans. While it is not permanent, it will do for now. But how long can the extensions continue
before enough is enough? Instead of settling for a temporary solution, it is time to implement a
permanent one.
The bottom line is that unemployed Americans need jobs, not unemployment benefits. Thus, it is
necessary to invest money in jobs creation by providing incentives for businesses to hire. By funding
businesses with growth potential and acting as a venture capitalist firm, the government will get at the
root of the unemployment problem rather than perpetuate it. After all, isn't time we ditch the duct tape
and get something that will stick for good?