Unemployed Intentionally

[xoxoxoBruce]

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay says that Sen. Jim Bunning was "brave" for blocking an extension in unemployment benefits.
DeLay subscribes to the notion that people only try to find jobs when their benefits run out.
"There is an argument to be made that these extensions, the unemployment benefits, keep people from going and finding jobs," he told CNN's Candy Crowley Sunday. "In fact there are some studies that have been done that show people stay on unemployment compensation and they don't look for a job until two or three weeks before they know the benefits are going to run out," he argued.
"People are unemployed because they want to be? " asked Crowley.
"Well, it is the truth. And people in the real world know it," said DeLay.
The Senate passed a ten billion dollar stopgap unemployment measure late Tuesday, after including an amendment offered by Sen. Bunning that prevented further deficits.
Ryan Grim noted in The Huffington Post that "unemployment benefits are generally so small that much of it is often used to pay for COBRA health insurance, even when subsidized. The size of the benefits does not generally cover the cost of living and it would be hard to find a single person who would prefer unemployment to having a job so that they could get subsidized COBRA."

OK, all you unemployed people, you've been outed. Now get off your lazy asses and get back to work, 'cause you ain't foolin' Ol Tom Delay.

[Bluesky]

I am sure some are slacking but not all. I know people who have used up all the time on UI and even without it have NOT found jobs.

[classicman]

I actually know two people who waited till they had about a month left before looking and both got jobs in time. I also know a few more who have not yet. like anything else . . .

[xoxoxoBruce]

Most people can't afford to do that, unless their living in Mom's basement. Even two income families are usually stretched so tight loss of one income can ruin them.

[classicman]

Yup - no doubt. They fall into the "I also know a few more who have not yet."
category.

[lumberjim]

I know two people who could walk in to many places and get a j o b , but choose not to because it's not T H E job.

they both need a kick in the ass. or two.

[TheMercenary]

The bigger reality is that they are not being counted in the Obama White House Propaganda.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Who's not being counted?

[Juniper]

I don't have a job. Don't want one, either.

Pssst: self-employed . . . even if you don't work, it doesn't count.

[Cicero]

The general assumption here is that all unemployed are on unemployment......

[xoxoxoBruce]

Not at all, as explained here, there are lots of different "unemployment numbers".

[Cicero]

Not you Bruce.

[xoxoxoBruce]

He knows better too, just being a dick.

[Elspode]

DeLay, like most people who are in power (read: wealthy, or at the very least, quite substantially well-off), have zero clue about the lives of the rank and file, and what's more, could give a rat's ass. They care about holding onto the power and influence and money they have, and getting more. Period.

[SamIam]

I have a friend who had a good job as a cook until her Doc decided to put her on oxygen 24/7. In case you don't know O2 tends to blow up around stoves. She has been looking for other work, but nothing yet. Cortez is at the end of the world and has a very high unemployment rate. I counted 4 jobs in the paper the other day. Anyway, my friend is now on unemployment which pays for her oxygen and nothing else. Yep she's just lazing around living the good life. I hope Bunning roasts in hell.