I know "unemployment" and "welfare" are not the same thing, but I personally know people (friends of the family) who choose not to get a job (has their teacher license). They fail to seek employment because they would then no longer qualify for their welfare monies.

Also, my roommates female friend was bragging about the fact that she delayed getting a job for an extra month such that she would enroll for food stamps for another 6 months. Apperently you get food stamps for an entire 6 month period even if you are make $200k after being enrolled for the period.

[Edited on September 7, 2010 at 9:18 AM. Reason : a]

9/7/2010 9:16:54 AM

Im not saying scrap it. Im just saying its ducked up and set up to be abused and some people don't seem to recognize that.

9/7/2010 10:00:22 AM

Quote :

"Because I'm pretty sure I've already articulated these exact arguments in the past month or so on this board, with several of the responses tarted at you."

i never recall seeing those statistics nor a reference for them.

9/7/2010 10:27:30 AM

I didn't realize the max you could receive from unemployment was 500/week, so that makes the example I provided pretty awful. A better example would be someone making 50k a year getting laid off, and having to find work in the 25-30k range, and truthfully, that's happening a lot more often than my previous example. For that person, it really makes no sense to work. It would be better to hold out for a job paying 35-40k at least, and maybe work a job under the table in the mean time.

9/7/2010 11:28:17 AM

Quote :

"i never recall seeing those statistics nor a reference for them."

You've seen the same argument, but I shouldn't be surprised you forgot it. Most of the arguments don't fit your flawed world view (likely based on what the right wing media has pumped into you) so you probably reject them outright.

http://thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=598512&page=1

^ Hilarious, so you go from railing on those cheating the system by being lazy to advocating cheating the system.

[Edited on September 7, 2010 at 11:32 AM. Reason : .]

9/7/2010 11:31:19 AM

Quote :

"I didn't realize the max you could receive from unemployment was 500/week"

Imagine that
You should check out this site called google.com

Quote :

"For that person, it really makes no sense to work. It would be better to hold out for a job paying 35-40k at least, and maybe work a job under the table in the mean time."

What they should really do is just rob a bank, you can make a very good amount of money in an extremely short period of time, since we're suggesting that they break the law anyways.

9/7/2010 12:47:09 PM

so how exactly is my world view flawed? because I dont share your opinion on limitless unemployment benefits?

I believe in:
small federal government
strong military
strong local governments
caps on entitlements
merit-based advancement
individual responsibility


exactly where you differ from me that causes my ENTIRE WORLD VIEW to be flawed?

9/7/2010 1:08:58 PM

Quote :

"Imagine that You should check out this site called google.com"

Nice, man. You got me.

Quote :

"What they should really do is just rob a bank, you can make a very good amount of money in an extremely short period of time, since we're suggesting that they break the law anyways."

Sounds reasonable. Robbing a bank and working a job that pays cash is basically one in the same, come to think of it.

Quote :

"Hilarious, so you go from railing on those cheating the system by being lazy to advocating cheating the system."

Probably made sense in your head, but no. Avoiding taxes isn't really cheating the system; the system is immoral to begin with. If anything, taxes are cheating the people of their right to life, liberty, and property. You'll also notice that I'm not railing on the people "gaming" unemployment - I'm railing on the government that put that unemployment in place. I won't blame someone for acting in their own self-interest. What I will do is try to identify moral hazard where it exists.

[Edited on September 7, 2010 at 1:19 PM. Reason : ]

9/7/2010 1:14:16 PM

Quote :

"Nice, man. You got me."

Go ahead and brush it off, but I really can't understand why you would rather talk out of your ass and look like a fool than to do a simple 5 second google search for "maximum unemployement NC" and save some face and someone else the effort of having to call your stupid crap out.

Quote :

"Sounds reasonable. Robbing a bank and working a job that pays cash is basically one in the same, come to think of it."

Seems more reasonable than the idea that someone is too lazy to take a job that pays less but will instead work some other job under the table and continue to deal with the unemployment office. I don't even know what your point is anymore, it seems like your argument is "YOU CAN CHEAT ON UNEMPLOYMENT", which I'm sure is news to everyone, but unemployment fraud is really not that prevalent.

9/7/2010 2:35:36 PM

Quote :

"Go ahead and brush it off, but I really can't understand why you would rather talk out of your ass and look like a fool than to do a simple 5 second google search for "maximum unemployement NC" and save some face and someone else the effort of having to call your stupid crap out."

The Soap Box.

9/7/2010 3:03:11 PM

Quote :

"ahead and brush it off, but I really can't understand why you would rather talk out of your ass and look like a fool than to do a simple 5 second google search for "maximum unemployement NC" and save some face and someone else the effort of having to call your stupid crap out."

If I didn't know there was a maximum, there'd be no reason for me to google it. If I had a question about it, I'd google it. I'm not afraid to admit when I'm wrong about something, but the thing I was wrong about here doesn't invalidate my entire argument, just the bad example I gave. If you had a leg to stand on here, you'd move on and deal with the other points of my argument.

Quote :

"Seems more reasonable than the idea that someone is too lazy to take a job that pays less but will instead work some other job under the table and continue to deal with the unemployment office. I don't even know what your point is anymore, it seems like your argument is "YOU CAN CHEAT ON UNEMPLOYMENT", which I'm sure is news to everyone, but unemployment fraud is really not that prevalent."

I'm going to try to simplify the format, just because reading doesn't seem to be your strong point.

Idea 1: Robbing a bank and working a job that pays you in cash are basically the same, since they both violate laws
Idea 2: There are people that may collect unemployment while simultaneously working a job that pays in cash

And you're saying the first idea is more reasonable. Listen, I understand that the second is fraud. Your odds of getting caught are pretty bad, though. Do you think there are people collecting unemployment and dealing drugs? Do you think there are people doing odd jobs on craigslist and collecting unemployment? There obviously are. You matter-of-factly state that unemployment fraud is not prevalent, but I don't buy it. People are struggling to survive and feed their kids. You're full of shit if you don't think they'll bend the rules to make ends meet, and I don't blame them a bit.

Our system is riddled with moral hazard, though. The collapse was caused by it. Those of you that refuse to recognize it will continue to look dumb when the next collapse comes. Like I said before, I'm not suggesting that we get rid of unemployment without looking at other factors first. I'm pointing out the flaws of having unemployment at all, especially when it pays out for years.

9/7/2010 4:55:21 PM

Quote :

"Robbing a bank and working a job that pays you in cash are basically the same, since they both violate laws"

You really don't have an idea how half the shit you rail about really works do you?

9/7/2010 5:21:38 PM

Quote :

"If I didn't know there was a maximum, there'd be no reason for me to google it."

Ok, so you're just stupid and you assumed there isn't one, much better.

Quote :

"you'd move on and deal with the other points of my argument"

Fine, I'll drop it, I just see you assume a lot of things that could easily be looked up, and I wanted to let you know about it.

Quote :

"And you're saying the first idea is more reasonable."

You've conveniently dropped a lot of your previous statement, the more interesting part being that this person would rather break laws and illegally evade taxes and get a job that pays cash (which probably would pay less) than just getting a job that pays less or looking for a job that pays closer to what he previously made, I think this statement is quite unreasonable, thus the "rob a bank" statement.

Quote :

"Your odds of getting caught are pretty bad, though."

Really? Then why don't more people do it? You've already stated the financial reasons to do it, if it is so profitable and so devoid of risk, why aren't more people doing it?

Quote :

"Do you think there are people collecting unemployment and dealing drugs?"

It's possible, but unlikely. Have you ever been on unemployment? It can be quite tedious on it's own, and the temporary nature and increased risk of investigation over a few hundred dollars a month is probably more than enough to keep drug dealers from taking advantage of it.

Quote :

"You matter-of-factly state that unemployment fraud is not prevalent, but I don't buy it."

I'm not in the habit of making things up. After a very simple google search I was able to find that in NC there were about 4,000 cases of fraud out of 300,000 claims. That's a bit more than 1%, so I was more than comfortable stating that it wasn't very prevalent. You apparently didn't need that kind of information to make the opposite claim, again going back to the "you make shit up too much" point at the beginning of this post that I had promised to drop. It's really easy to find information, and it really makes you look significantly less stupid.

9/7/2010 6:19:50 PM

^ several of us have stated we know people who have basically committed fraud...none of which have been caught.

9/7/2010 7:08:52 PM

Well anecdotal evidence aside, the actual figure of 1% is fairly low. If this were an extremely widespread problem, don't you think it would be investigated?

9/7/2010 7:20:05 PM

Id like to think so but the shit I see on a daily basis leads me to question it.

[Edited on September 7, 2010 at 7:29 PM. Reason : yea, still just anecdotal]

9/7/2010 7:22:55 PM

Quote :

"You've conveniently dropped a lot of your previous statement, the more interesting part being that this person would rather break laws and illegally evade taxes and get a job that pays cash (which probably would pay less) than just getting a job that pays less or looking for a job that pays closer to what he previously made, I think this statement is quite unreasonable, thus the "rob a bank" statement."

When we're talking about taxes, pretty much everyone breaks the law. The tax code is rigged up to turn everyone into a criminal. In any case, you're missing the point. Of course the job that pays in cash (whatever the job may be) is going to pay less than the job they were laid off from. The whole point is that they're getting cash in addition to the unemployment. If they were making 50k, and now they can 1) Work a job getting paid 500 bucks a week or 2) Not work, and still get 500 bucks a week, while also doing under the table work with almost zero chance of getting caught, the choice is easy. Why do the "right thing" when the government that's fucking you in the ass never does?

Quote :

"Really? Then why don't more people do it? You've already stated the financial reasons to do it, if it is so profitable and so devoid of risk, why aren't more people doing it?"

Uh, they are doing it. It's not like the people doing it are going to show up to the statistics bureau and report in.

Quote :

"It's possible, but unlikely. Have you ever been on unemployment? It can be quite tedious on it's own, and the temporary nature and increased risk of investigation over a few hundred dollars a month is probably more than enough to keep drug dealers from taking advantage of it."

It takes about 10 seconds to fill out the certification form necessary to get your weekly check direct deposited to your bank account. It probably takes 5 minutes to sign up for unemployment, if that. I admitted where I was wrong, but I don't expect you to do the same. You'd probably benefit from taking an introductory class in Law and Justice, as well. Criminals rarely expect to get caught, so "increased risk of investigation" is unlikely to come into a drug dealers risk calculation. It's not as if the auditor is going to bust into your house and check for drugs, anyway. They're going to ask for a list of places you've applied.

Dealing drugs is just one example of many, though. Like I said, odd jobs on craigslist. More and more people are doing that to supplement their income. If you provide some service to someone on craigslist (or even TWW), you almost always deal in cash. That's a transaction that will never come up in an audit, save a few bizarre circumstances. It's just easier for all parties to deal in cash, and everyone knows it.

Quote :

"I'm not in the habit of making things up. After a very simple google search I was able to find that in NC there were about 4,000 cases of fraud out of 300,000 claims. That's a bit more than 1%, so I was more than comfortable stating that it wasn't very prevalent. You apparently didn't need that kind of information to make the opposite claim, again going back to the "you make shit up too much" point at the beginning of this post that I had promised to drop. It's really easy to find information, and it really makes you look significantly less stupid."

Back to the point I already made. You have no idea how much fraud goes on, because there's no way to effectively investigate it. There's no amount of googling that's going to reveal how many people are gaming the system when the system is so easy to game.

9/7/2010 7:29:02 PM

Quote :

"so how exactly is my world view flawed? because I dont share your opinion on limitless unemployment benefits? "

Thats just a small bit of your overall argument regarding unemployment, it's about the only one you have that is legitimately defend-able. Every other time you argued against it, it was always from the position that the system was being abused by the lazy people who would rather earn $500/wk than much more. Regardless, its brain dead to argue the "limitless" aspect of unemployment when it's certainly limited, when it isn't being abused, when there are 6 unemployed for every job opening, when there aren't enough jobs being created to keep up with population demand.

About the only thing you can really say that would ignore all those arguments for the present unemployment policy is "hey, the corporatacracy pushed heavily by the elitist right while it was in power and happily continued by the elitist left fucked the country...but umm, too bad for the little guy, he shouldn't get any additional help during this time period".

9/7/2010 7:47:59 PM

Quote :

"When we're talking about taxes, pretty much everyone breaks the law."

I sure as hell don't, and I would think most people don't. It's not really worth huge fines or even jail time over some nickels and dimes.

Quote :

"The whole point is that they're getting cash in addition to the unemployment. If they were making 50k, and now they can 1) Work a job getting paid 500 bucks a week or 2) Not work, and still get 500 bucks a week, while also doing under the table work with almost zero chance of getting caught, the choice is easy."

Putting imaginary numbers on your imaginary example doesn't make it any less imaginary. I doubt most real people are going to avoid getting another job just to so they can break the law and make LESS money.

Quote :

"Uh, they are doing it. It's not like the people doing it are going to show up to the statistics bureau and report in."

I've given actual evidence proving otherwise.

Quote :

"It takes about 10 seconds to fill out the certification form necessary to get your weekly check direct deposited to your bank account. It probably takes 5 minutes to sign up for unemployment, if that."

I looked it up and it seems fairly complicated, given your record in the previous two posts of outright making shit up, I think I'm not going to be able to take you at your word on this.

Quote :

"Criminals rarely expect to get caught, so "increased risk of investigation" is unlikely to come into a drug dealers risk calculation."

I'd be fairly certain it factors in, this is the reason many drug dealers take far less obvious precautions against being caught. So again, given the track record you have of making shit up, and the fact that you have no sort of evidence, I must again refuse to take you at your word on this.

Quote :

"Dealing drugs is just one example of many, though. Like I said, odd jobs on craigslist. More and more people are doing that to supplement their income. If you provide some service to someone on craigslist (or even TWW), you almost always deal in cash."

Then you should be aware that you can easily snitch on them, and even get paid to do it, but don't let me spoil the brool story co. you seem to be making up here.

Quote :

"You have no idea how much fraud goes on, because there's no way to effectively investigate it."

I wouldn't say "no" idea considering I just gave you a number indicating how many confirmed cases of fraud NC was able to find, so I do have some idea, you however, most likely have absolutely no idea, but that's not going to stop you from completely pulling shit out of your ass.

Quote :

"There's no amount of googling that's going to reveal how many people are gaming the system when the system is so easy to game."

But I can tell how many are caught, which makes my REAL numbers have the upper hand on your IMAGINARY numbers.

9/7/2010 8:39:33 PM

Quote :

"Thats just a small bit of your overall argument regarding unemployment, it's about the only one you have that is legitimately defend-able. Every other time you argued against it, it was always from the position that the system was being abused by the lazy people who would rather earn $500/wk than much more. Regardless, its brain dead to argue the "limitless" aspect of unemployment when it's certainly limited, when it isn't being abused, when there are 6 unemployed for every job opening, when there aren't enough jobs being created to keep up with population demand. About the only thing you can really say that would ignore all those arguments for the present unemployment policy is "hey, the corporatacracy pushed heavily by the elitist right while it was in power and happily continued by the elitist left fucked the country...but umm, too bad for the little guy, he shouldn't get any additional help during this time period"."

no, its obvious that you havent read shit about my overall argument.

I have posted, SEVERAL TIMES, that I was a beneficiary of the system. I am the "little guy." I received unemployment for about 3 months. I think the concept is good. It obviously helped me. but I know a lot of people abuse the shit out of it...your naivety is ASTOUNDING. Most of us know people who have/do abuse it. It is impossible to police.

We cannot stand by and allow that abuse to go unchecked because it encourages more abuse and more apathy. As does the continued extension of benefits without end because as long as it is made a political issue they will continue WITHOUT END. another great example of your inability to see things how they are. no way will the Dems, with all of the negative press they are getting will propose to cap the benefits. that is what I am against.

all entitlements have to have limits.

I think the program has a place. I think it needs more policing. I think people should have a limit. I thought the statistics you posted were positive. I would still like to see where they came from.

clear enough?

9/7/2010 9:08:19 PM

Quote :

"no, its obvious that you havent read shit about my overall argument. "

No, I've read it quite well, I'll reiterate it for you to offset the bout of amnesia you've had since making it.

Quote :

"many who are unemployed are because they are waiting for a better job to open up instead of taking something they consider 'beneath' them. there are some who legitimately cannot find work, but its time people lower their expectations and since of entitlement and take a job"

We don't know what you meant by 'many', but you stated

Quote :

"to me, the original 52 week claim period used by the state of NC before the recession is more than enough."

So you are certainly implying (intended or not) that "many" people are staying unemployed past this time period. And of course the stats don't bear this out.

You used this argument as some sort of evidence that the system must obviously be being abused

Quote :

"you can collect $500/week in unemployment if you made the "maximum." why would you take a job for $400/weeks? stop being so silly."

Of course, you're neglecting insurance (and possibly other benefits) a company gave you that you now have to pay out of pocket for. For families or for young kids with spouses dependent, this pretty quickly destroys any notions of being a bum. I can see young adults that were likely making right at the 50 grand being more likely to be bums on the 39k the government is giving them (and not paying for insurance) but I'd imagine this is an exceedingly small sum of the total unemployed pie.
Again,

Quote :

"Jesus. for society's sake they need to swallow their pride, get a job and realize the past is gone. just because you think you should make something doesnt mean you will. SIMPLE SUPPLY AND DEMAND."

People clearly can wave a magic wand and be hired if they'd just suck it up and do it. Also ignoring the length of time people are on the dole is barely over their employer paid 6 months.
Again,

Quote :

"4. yeah they are not hiring. meaning i could either suckle from the taxpayer tit or go find my own money. the thing that responsible people are trying to do. the rest bleed unemployment for all its worth."

The numbers don't lie. The anecdotes from our unemployed thread don't agree with you either.

Here you are completely divorcing yourself from the arguments you had been making

Quote :

"and unemployment sucked because I felt like a loser. it hurt my pride. i would wager that most professional/educated people would feel the same way."

I guess you went into a little place where you just assumed you were special? That 'many' other folks weren't like you and didn't get bored. That you somehow...deserve a cookie? Get fucking real dude.

I was going to go through and pick out all your stupid inane arguments again but after those few I think it's pretty damn clear where you stood and likely still stand on the issue. Why bother with facts, thought experiments, and an honest analysis and discussion of the situation when you can just echo chamber shit you heard on Boortz, read on Drudge, and malformed of your own ignorance. It's way easier.

Quote :

"but I know a lot of people abuse the shit out of it...your naivety is ASTOUNDING."

I'd love to know their anecdotes. What were they making before, what is their benefit, what jobs are they passing up? You're in construction. I'm guessing these guys were making well below the 50k threshold and the tops of jobs they are passing up are ones that would have them working like the dogs we've imported from Central America who likely know real poverty and make real sacrifices the people you're complaining about haven't been forced into making yet.

Quote :

"We cannot stand by and allow that abuse to go unchecked because it encourages more abuse and more apathy."

Well, obviously in a perfect world we wouldn't let it get abused. But guess what wise guy, it fucking costs money to monitor. Just how many more ESC workers do you want to hire (to the tune of probably 100k/yr total cost to the taxpayer) to ferret out the 1% abuse that Kris has mentioned?

Quote :

"As does the continued extension of benefits without end because as long as it is made a political issue they will continue WITHOUT END."

Just shut the fuck up. So long as people like you exist, we'll be sure to elect those just ready and willing to pull the austerity hammer. That will usher in the double dip for sure (like sometime in early 2011) along with a new round of layoffs, an unemployment rate back above 10%, only this time without promises of token monies to feed your damn kids with.

Quote :

"I thought the statistics you posted were positive. I would still like to see where they came from. "

http://bls.gov/

9/7/2010 10:27:20 PM

I am not going to pay a whole lot of attention to you after this post. you are acting like a tampon, only because I was encouraged by the statistics you posted and you became angry that I didnt know they existed before. well done!

1. at least one of the things you "quoted" from me were not posted by me.

2. do not pretend abuse doesnt occur. a perfect anecdotal example is my ex roommate, who lived off of savings and unemployment for 8 months while he traveled the world. I do not think he applied for one legitimate job. I know several acquaintances who have done similar things. Many on this board have posted similar experiences. but I guess in your utopia these things do not happen.

3. I will post, one more time, my clearly stated opinion and then I am finished with you.

Unemployment, in principle, is fine. Now, it has turned into a political issue for politicians on both sides of the aisle. This is dangerous. unemployment should not be used as a carrot to dangle in front of potential voters. The right shouldnt be threatening or accused of trying to "take it away." the left shouldnt warn against the evil cons arbitrarily yanking benefits if they are kicked out of office. you see these ads from both sides. it is disingenuous. to me, and your statistics agree, 52 weeks seems like a reasonable time period to find a job AND be supported by the government. if you are looking for a job for a year in your profession and you cannot find one there is a good chance that job, at your salary, does not exist anymore. its time to move on in that case. take a "lesser" job, and stop relying on tax dollars to feed your family. work at mcdonalds. work at a gas station. bag groceries. do both.

unemployment is not meant to fund a person's search for their ideal job. it is not meant to fund their search for a job within their "career." it is only meant to bridge the gap between employment.

Quote :

"I guess you went into a little place where you just assumed you were special? That 'many' other folks weren't like you and didn't get bored. That you somehow...deserve a cookie? Get fucking real dude."

i have no idea how you got this from my quote. i was only trying to communicate my experience and my feelings. go fuck yourself.

9/8/2010 11:36:56 AM

Every single one came from you from the "GOP millionaires that starve the unemployed" thread. You entered that thread with the opinion that the system was rampantly abused, likely based on a couple of anecdotes though you claim it is a lot, and you left that thread having your position completely trashed and you still maintained your opinion.

Quote :

"do not pretend abuse doesnt occur."

I haven't and never will. Your reading comprehension is as dead as your opinion. It's always been my contention that the problem isn't significant enough to punish everyone else because of the abuses of a very tiny minority.

Quote :

"Many on this board have posted similar experiences."

NAME THEM. Name the people in the unemployed thread who have fucked off? Then we'll compare it to the ones who have been steadily looking for work.

Quote :

"a perfect anecdotal example is my ex roommate, who lived off of savings and unemployment for 8 months while he traveled the world."

Hmm, so a guy who didn't consume above his means while everyone else was doing it was taking a likely much needed break to recharge his soul and wait for this shitter of an economy to come back around? Six of those months were paid into by his employer. What work did he do before, and what work does he do now?

Quote :

"I know several acquaintances who have done similar things"

So this is how your opinion was formed? You hang out with a few fuck ups who apparently saved enough to take a break from the real world before trying to get their share of the shrinking pool of jobs market and just assume this is how the rest of the world works, right? Even though statistics and plenty of other anecdotes stand in stark contrast to your opinion?

Quote :

"if you are looking for a job for a year in your profession and you cannot find one there is a good chance that job, at your salary, does not exist anymore. its time to move on in that case. take a "lesser" job, and stop relying on tax dollars to feed your family. work at mcdonalds. work at a gas station. bag groceries. do both. "

Fucking awesome dude. You're advocating a skills drain on society that will surely keep us competitive in the rest of the world. Solid fucking advice right there. I know more than a few engineers that have gone longer than a year looking for a job. All of them did things to keep their skills sharp in an effort to get re-employed. Who will an employer hire, the guy working at McDs but was patriotic and got off the government cheese or the guy who has been working with stuff in his field that his employer can immediately put to use? I was out of work myself for 9 months. After moving expenses and closing costs I took a ~17000 loss for a job with a 30% paycut, less room for upward mobility, and benefits that aren't as good. Doing that math, it will take me nearly a year to recover that loss. I took the job, and here is a shocker...BECAUSE THE UI BENEFITS AREN'T UNLIMITED AND I DIDN'T EXPECT THEM TO BE.

Quote :

"unemployment is not meant to fund a person's search for their ideal job. it is not meant to fund their search for a job within their "career." it is only meant to bridge the gap between employment. "

Well, no.

http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/

Quote :

"Now, as then, the program helps cushion the impact of economic downturns and brings economic stability to communities, states, and the nation by providing temporary income support for laid off workers."

Quote :

"i have no idea how you got this from my quote. i was only trying to communicate my experience and my feelings. go fuck yourself."

I'm just trying to figure out why you're being so cognitively dissonant about unemployment insurance and unemployment in general.

9/8/2010 1:43:42 PM

I've always wondered why people couldn't just work for unemployment. For example, let's say you get 52 weeks to try and find a job, to no avail.

To get any unemployment benefits past the initial 52 weeks, you have to work for it. Good ol' fashioned manual labor. Send people out to beautify our streets/parks/freeways. Have them clean up, help out in a soup kitchen, do something productive. Make them work 20 hours a week to get their 500 bucks. $25 an hour sounds like a pretty good deal to me. It still leaves plenty of time to search for a job.

The people that are capable of earning 500 per week will still struggle to be sustained with the money they make. They'll be in a rush to find a job, but maybe they'll be less picky knowing that they still have to work a little bit in the meantime. Those that make less will earn less and may not see any incentive in working for so little. They might go straight to welfare.

I'm sure there are plenty of holes in this line of thinking, but it always seemed like a good idea in my head.

9/8/2010 10:38:38 PM

^I agree to a point.

It's a great idea because it allows people to keep up that sense of self-efficacy despite a totally shit job market. (One of the reasons why we extend unemployment benefits is because unemployment is better than just having people switch over to other more permanent forms of aide and end up on them forever when they are totally employable but just don't know it.)

9/8/2010 10:46:55 PM