[waterstraat]

You obviously dont know any men over 50 who are looking for work.

Not only do most companied discriminate in not hiring those over 50, if you are already there, the companies try to get rid of you, thru early retirement, or any excuse.

It has been my experience that most men who have been working since they were teenagers, WANT to work. They dont want to retire, they dont want to sit at home and draw benefits. Your fears are unfounded that it will be abused. Yes, certain classes of people want to live on welfare for life, but the rest of us were brought up on the work ethic, and want to work as long as we can.

There should not be any age limit to drawing unemployment or social security benefits.

[mabelkitty]

The people you speak of should farm out their skills on a 1099, or do temporary contract work. However, only if the skills are marketable.

Someone who worked in factory needs to return to school.
Someone who works in a field that is clearly moving off-shore needs to accept that do something else.

IT will no longer come back at the levels it was in the '90s, and that information is clear and cannot be disputed. It's over.

However, I predict manufacturing will go up as the SARS scare spreads in China. Not all of it, but I believe it will increase in due time.