Daryl T. Bowman: Unemployment payout

Regarding the May 6 news article “State pays off $2.8 billion unemployment debt a year early”: Gov. Pat McCrory and others are celebrating the payoff while the unemployed suffered.

Cutting unemployment benefits during a period of high unemployment is illogical. There are more merciful ways to pay off debt without making the less fortunate pay for it even if it took several more years.

It is obvious that our political leaders have not experienced unemployment, but true empathy requires one to feel for the less fortunate without having actually had that experience.

Cutting the unemployment tax a few years ago was certainly a big mistake by a previous administration and one I hope we learn to avoid again.

This story was originally published May 11, 2015 at 5:13 PM with the headline "Daryl T. Bowman: Unemployment payout."