Dick Robinson: Jobless get no respect from GA

Although I am disappointed by the superficiality and trivia that too often tends to clot the pages of The News & Observer, I occasionally am reminded of how important a free and independent press is.

With so many other sources of information degraded, some newspapers are now among the few reliable sources of in-depth information about the important social, economic and political issues facing us.

An excellent recent example of the critical service you continue to provide is Rob Christensen’s Aug. 26 column “Legislature to laid-off: Get off your duffs,” in which he carefully and thoroughly dissects the General Assembly’s unconscionable assault on the well-being of those who have lost their jobs in layoffs, downsizings and business closures.

He revealed that North Carolina ranks at the very bottom among all states, in terms of quality and quantity of assistance available to such unemployed persons.

I was deeply moved by the restrained but eloquent jeremiad with which he concluded his report, drawing on the life experiences of his own family concerning the terrifying experience of losing jobs, with little or no support from government while attempting to weather the storm.

Would that our estimable state legislators could be similarly moved, and induced, to do the right thing for a change.

This story was originally published August 27, 2015 at 5:34 PM with the headline "Dick Robinson: Jobless get no respect from GA."