[Oneaboveall]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('BlisteredWhippet', 'O')n one hand, in America, we unquestionably laud "working", while, on the other hand, while looking for work, we are very judgmental and selective. Options are routinely rejected that involve "work" that is perceived as degrading, low value, low prestige, meaningless, etc.

One could very well survey the realities of most "work" and conclude that here is an occupation for a warm body wherein the activity is almost completely dedicated to wasting energy, wasting resources, or wasting one's time.

Once the job seeker has chosen (or by force or coersion had it chosen for him) the LEAST objectionable occupation, Society once again has Esteem for him.

This cycle is repeated until the person is dead. That is the promise of this society and culture. That you will be leaned on, coerced and otherwise forced to perform valueless, mind numbing labor that will take your time and health, in order to sink the proceeds into rapidly devaluing assets. This all of course depends on a steady diet of grist for the mill, ie. young people, who are indoctrinated at a young age by being forced, coerced, and brainwashed into respecting and obeying the contradictory personal and cultural values of the already acculturated parents. The truth is hidden from them as long as possible before they are thrown out into the world and they realize they have been lied to their entire lives, at which point alcohol becomes legally available.

[BlisteredWhippet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('deMolay', 'W')hat are you suggesting, Tip Toe Through The Tulips with a joint in one hand and a bottle in the other, start at a young age to secure yourself on the welfare rolls, live in the bush or under the freeway. Even in other times those without some form of training or education etc ended up working from daylight to dark, toiling in the fields or a smithy etc.

[Fiddlerdave]

People who write stories like this Forbes article are simply appearing ridiculous with their claims which make no sense, the the situation is quite clear.

There are 7 people minimum for every open job. While some on unemployment might not be looking real hard because they can get by on a fraction of their pay, it remains if whichever ones take a job, someone else will not get one.

The REAL policy objective in play in this country now is to have a permanent unemployment level of 20% or so, to depress the wages of the remaining workers, and increase their desperation even when on the job. allowing unsafe conditions and pleasurable management experiences for selfish and sadistic authorities.

Unemployment reduces the effectiveness of the attempted induced desperation and resulting profits, so it is opposed by the powerful, and whores like this "expert" are paid to publish laughably ridiculous missives on why we shouldn't have unemployment.

[Oneaboveall]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Fiddlerdave', 'T')he REAL policy objective in play in this country now is to have a permanent unemployment level of 20% or so, to depress the wages of the remaining workers, and increase their desperation even when on the job. allowing unsafe conditions and pleasurable management experiences for selfish and sadistic authorities.

Unemployment reduces the effectiveness of the attempted induced desperation and resulting profits, so it is opposed by the powerful, and whores like this "expert" are paid to publish laughably ridiculous missives on why we shouldn't have unemployment.

[Crazy_Dad]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Oneaboveall', '
')Looks like Brazil's drug gangs are learning from the Mexicans. Endemic poverty insures they have a steady supply of recruits...

[paimei01]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cog', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vision-master', 'T')he rich?

[Serial_Worrier]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mattduke', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Kristen', 'T')aking away unemployment benefits would be madness! I know having any sort of compassion for other people is out of style, but give it a try sometimes.

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Fiddlerdave', 'P')eople who write stories like this Forbes article are simply appearing ridiculous with their claims which make no sense, the the situation is quite clear.

There are 7 people minimum for every open job. While some on unemployment might not be looking real hard because they can get by on a fraction of their pay, it remains if whichever ones take a job, someone else will not get one.

The REAL policy objective in play in this country now is to have a permanent unemployment level of 20% or so, to depress the wages of the remaining workers, and increase their desperation even when on the job. allowing unsafe conditions and pleasurable management experiences for selfish and sadistic authorities.

[yeahbut]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ludi', '
')Sadly, even working people who benefit from good pay and good working conditions buy into the myth of the "welfare bum" and the "lazy unemployed." For some bizarre reason they support the wealthy class - not the working class or the underclass - every single time they get a chance.

[Fiddlerdave]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('yeahbut', '.').... Of course, it's not ok to tar all unemployed with that brush just because a few take advantage of the system- most people want to work. But some don't, and others lose heart and stop looking. This is the other, more insidious side of unemployment relief. If it goes on too long, some people really do become resistant to going back to work- I know, I've personally seen it happen to quite a few people. Too long on the dole is really bad for a person, it destroys self-esteem, motivation, engagement in society, the lot. I am well aware that there are not enough jobs for full employment(somehow, apparently a country can be said to have a 'healthy' economy and have 5% unemployment), but I am also aware that there are quite a few people out there who could be working and aren't, and that those people need a nudge to get them moving again. What form that nudge takes I don't know, but it is needed.

[Tyler_JC]

A couple of missing elements here.

1. What is the purpose of unemployment insurance?

2. Who pays for the insurance and how is the price of this insurance determined?

The purpose of unemployment insurance, and ALL insurance for that matter, is consumption smoothing. All workers have some probability of suffering a loss in income due to a lost job. Nearly all human beings are risk averse. Given the choice between $50,000 risk free and a 50% probability of getting $100,000 (or zero), nearly all of us will choose the safe $50K.

So we are willing to give up some of our wages in the good years to compensate ourselves for the risk that in one of the bad years we won't have any income.

You can argue that people should save money in a bank account and use that cash to protect themselves in a bad year. And this works out nicely if you know exactly how much time you'll be out of work or when you'll need the money. But you don't know that and you can NEVER know that. Some people are just unlucky. They might start work at age 19, lose their job at age 20 and not find another one for months because of a deep recession. Is anyone seriously going to argue that they should be able to save enough money in 1 year to compensate for 6 months of unemployment?

So we created unemployment insurance. Some people lose their incomes and other people never lose their incomes. But everyone is protected from that risk. Employers that continually lay people off pay higher premiums than less risky companies.

You can argue that unemployment insurance should be provided by private insurers and not governments or that we should reformulate the benefits structure. But a world without unemployment insurance of any kind would undoubtedly leave most people substantially worse off and exposed to unacceptably high levels of risk.

[yeahbut]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Fiddlerdave', 'H')ere I am totally confused your comments here. Everything you say in thir paragraph is true, yet the issue is completely missed.
You and many other conservatives use your logic as if unemployment is causing the problem!