800,000 Jobless Americans to Lose Aid

USA Today / AP ^ | 12/28/2002 | AP Staff

[Republic of Texas]

So should we extend unemployment? And for how long?

[Republic of Texas]

How long then?

[clamper1797]

I'm glad I'm self employed actually. I chose that knowing the implications

Then why are YOU complaining that you don't get UI.

[Republic of Texas]

You have quite an excrement thesaurus, I'll give you that!

[Republic of Texas]

These extensions are government mandated, and paid for by the government. The "insurance" premiums were set up expecting 13 week payout periods, when the payouts are extended, the premiums don't cover it. The government does.

[gcruse]

I can start drawing social security in less than two years. Training of any benefit wouldn't even be over by then. What's the point?

[Republic of Texas]

I wasn't. I'm glad I didn't have the choice. I'm glad I chose to work. I would've chosen to work regardless.

[clamper1797]

So should we extend unemployment? And for how long?

A fair question ... IMHO UI payment amounts AND longevity should be based on the amount and the length of contribution.

Someone who has paid into the fund a certain amount should get a certain percentage back. If someone paid in for 20 years, they should get a comparable amount back ... and it should be PRIVATIZED and OPTIONAL.

[Republic of Texas]

A better life than the one SS gives you?

[clamper1797]

and paid for by the government

guess again ...

[FITZ]

spintreebob says: Oh pity, they actually have to work and get dirty on those jobs. For them, that is macho.

Archangelsk says: children under the age of 10 will see the 22nd Century - retraining will become a fact of life.

So is it retraining to pick lettuce that we should be doing? High tech is apparently out now as well as manufacturing....and the garment industry....and soon driving a truck won't be an option....

I was and still am in retraining for high tech but I'll stick with what I have for jobs now ---but I have to figure out what my retraining should be in now. I guess I could start standing in a Home Depot lot and beg with the other day laborers for a job and have my kids on food stamps and in government housing and on Medicaid along with the others. And I notice most of those vote for democrats.

[Republic of Texas]

You mean it's NOT privatized? That means it's the government. That's not how you made it sound in post #219. So, like I said, when it's extended, beyond the amount of the premiums paid IN, the government pays. So, from the first extension, the government has been paying.

[gcruse]

My retirement investments plus social security will give me what I need to live on. No problem there.

[clamper1797]

The government doesn't pay for anything ... we the taxpayers do. I will guarantee you that I have paid a whole lot more in taxes than the measly $4000 the 13 weeks extension would provide

[Republic of Texas]

Why worry then?

[clamper1797]

You mean it's NOT privatized?

Onne more time ... It is paid by employers as part of an employees SALARY. Privatized means that you as an entity can go out and buy your own policy. That way the government does NOT mandate it.

[Republic of Texas]

Yes, you have. Unfortunatley, THAT money was all used up with OTHER welfare programs. That's why, SOCIALISM ALWAYS FAILS.

[gcruse]

I still have almost two years to go before retiring. I'm not mentally or physically ready to pack in my career...problem is I may not have a choice. Such a waste of expertise.

[Keith in Iowa]

You have quite an excrement thesaurus, I'll give you that!

It gets the point across without resorting to profanity, which my grandmother always told me was the feeble minded's way of expressing themselves with force. And it makes it harder for the moderators to spot and ban be for it.

As for how long to extend unemployment - I'm hoping the economy picks up before mine runs out in another 13 weeks - I'm half way thru my eligability - if the extension that expired gets re-upped, it would ease my worries.

[FITZ]

How is it that Mexicans illiterate in Spanish, with no papers, find jobs here at $20/hr.

The other advantage those guys have is they aren't expected to pay income tax on contract work they do ----they don't always earn $20 an hour ---sometimes only $4 or $5 but without Social Security, FICA and the all the rest stolen from them, they can live quite well and still have $1000 to send back to Mexico. Plus they don't mind having their kids getting a free lunch and since they don't buy health insurance they don't have to worry about medical bills either. I know an American guy that tried to set up his business as "contract" labor, he was self-employed and the INS came after him after a few years ----ironically he fled to Mexico to avoid being put into prison.