And you are actually thinking this is a BAD thing?
The extension and availability of unemployment is what keeps millions on the dole. If unemployment was harder to get there would be a whole lot more people pounding the pavement and willing to take the jobs being offered without complaining about higher pay or more benefits.
People GRATEFUL for work is what we need. And lavish unemployment benefits will always keep that from happening.
I think unemployment has been massively used and abused for years.
There are people who need it, and have needed in this Depression (and that is what it is). However, too many have taken these "benefits" and stayed on them far too long.
During the "Fiscal Cliff" negotiations, the Republicans caved on extending unemployment to 99 weeks (again) to the tune of Billions.
If we had that money back, we could pay for the entire DoD Sequester cuts this year.
That is yet another reason the Sequester is such a terrible idea.
It punishes hundreds of thousand of Americans who are working for their living - including low paid blue collar workers who don't take Food Stamps or ObamaPhones.
Me, as a volunteer triage interviewer at a food bank to an unemployed mega taker looking for free food, “Are you looking for a job?
Taker, “Why should I? I’m livin’ on my unemployment checks.”
Unsaid by the Taker, “And all the free stuff I can get from places like this.”
Also unsaid, “And when my unemployment gets close to running out, I’ll apply for disability. Free money for life.”
Note: I did not make this up to make a point. This conversation happens on a regular basis.