Watching WalMart
- Thread starter 30ashopper
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I don't disagree. If you've paid into the system, it is an insurance program, you're entitled to make use of it.
These days though a lot of people don't seem to me to be too motivated in positioning the next move. The last unemployment extension pushed continuing benefits out over two and a half years for a large number of people.
CRimages: Extended Unemployment Benefits Sept 1, 2010
How does unemployment pay generally compare to minimum wage? If it's greater than minimum wage, then it's a no-brainer.
Max is currently $275/week...
Pretty darn close, 6.88 an hour. Enterprising individuals might work two jobs to get ahead, but the rest, they might as well collect a government check for as long they can.
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Shopper, everytime I think we are on the same page u present another soundbyte like this one.
You keep presenting these polar opposites-
The old school unemployed type who takes a minimum wage job (or two if he's "enterprising") because he's not too proud to feed his family
vs.
The rest who will just collect as long as they can.
These are only two positions on the continuum. I've never seen u think so simplistically.
Ever consider that for some people even working three minimum wage jobs isn't getting ahead but rather it's falling behind? What about situations where there are children involved- good childcare costs more than minimum wage. Ever considered the big picture ramifications if all the unemployed, white collar, highly educated technical types landed all the minimum wage jobs? Could make things worse for all those who are qualified only for those positions. Finally, have you considered that someone truly "enterprising" is wisely collecting unemployment while they put sweat equity into a new startup all the while they're applying for/interviewing for high paying positions in their field?
You seem to have this romantic notion that the best way to deal with unemployment is to work harder, not smarter. You seem to believe it isn't feasible to find new employment that pays equal to or greater than previous employment. And you seem to believe that a bad chapter in one's life results from poor planning.
I've never read a noteworthy success story that didn't include a tough chapter followed by a comeback.
Based on the numbers, the case for working two jobs is not very strong vs. staying on unemployment.
So, Shopper, do you know these people and know their stories? Or are you just looking at more charts?
During these times there are many reasons for people being in difficult circumstances and all the planning in the world or a decent savings account might not make the difference. If one has a family, if one has any health issues, if one has an accident..if one is a small business owner on the Gulf Coast; if one has no education or if one's skills have been outsourced to India or China and retraining isn't available.
it has been my experience over a good many years that at the heart of most people is the desire to be independent and to take care of themselves..for some this is easier than for others; especially when times are hard. It is well known that everyone does better when we are willing to offer a helping hand to someone who is down rather than accuse them of wanting to stay down.
The generalizations don't help anyone IMO.
Everyday I work with real people who are struggling to get a better education so that they can be independent--their stories are amazing and I have not met a single one who said they wanted to stay where they are. When I realize the obstacles many of them have overcome just to get where they are--I am in awe of their courage. And it is their courage that encourages me to help them as much as I can because they have had to come much further, many of them alone, than I ever did.
When one has been abused, or abandoned, or has not had the opportunity to learn to read; or never been in a place where the most fundamental of social skills were taught; when one has fought depression or endured domestic battering, gone hungry; had no proper clothes; it is more difficult to be enterprising in finding proper employment.
Until one has walked in the shoes of those who are struggling...it is difficult to understand their plight IMO.
My argument is that that independent spirit has broken down in the country, brought on largely by a sense of entitlement and the many bad examples set by our government in dealing with the current and past crisis.
This country just went through a period where some could pretty much have and do anything they wanted, even though they couldn't afford it. I think that sense of invincibility will last a very long time, and a lot of hard lessons will ultimately be learned when it falls through for them. But I also believe the reason it will linger much longer than it should is due to past and current government policies that have promoted the idea that people shouldn't worry, it's not their fault, and that government can save them.
Welcome to the real world, nobody ever said it was going to be a cake walk. We have "safety nets" (if current unemployment actually still qualifies for that description) to help. But in the end it's up to the individual to overcome adversity. I would hope everyone currently receiving unemployment benefits is doing exactly what you describe in the last sentence, but I fear that represents a minority at best.
I think we are discussing two different things here, see my response to Glenda's post.