with 99 weeks of unemployment benefits being handed out, do you feel people are sitting back collecting benefits or actually out working hard to find a job?

 

Only reason I ask is because I accumulated a job in 3 months on unemployment, and to me people maybe not all 2.1 million of them, but most of them are milking us into oblivion.

 

I know some of us have family on unemployment, what have they been up to for the past 2 years?

I think most are takin the free ride on unemployment... looking just enough to keep getting paid.

I think most of them had good intentions of trying to find work..... but I think it is discouraging to see what is out there....

 

Take a ride just around the tri-state area, and look at all the boarded up businesses .....

 

My parents were in town this weekend, so Mom wanted to head to cemetery in LI to pay respects...... IT was unreal at the amount of closed retail places there were....

 

I noticed the same thing on the ride a few weeks ago out to Cabela's ...... down thru Rt57, and Rt31, and out Rt78...... dozens of closed places.....

 

Home forclosures on the rise...... we are by no means out of this mess yet....

I know 3 people that were laid off that did not want work unless it paid more than what they were getting.

 

One guy was laid off nearly 2 years ago, and his bennies still haven't finished. He's working under the table part time, being a tax cheat and getting unemployment. He's taking more home now that he did while he was working a full time job.

I know 3 people that were laid off that did not want work unless it paid more than what they were getting.

 

One guy was laid off nearly 2 years ago, and his bennies still haven't finished. He's working under the table part time, being a tax cheat and getting unemployment. He's taking more home now that he did while he was working a full time job.

 

There should be a whistleblower hotline for this kind of BS. But then, I guess they would get all kinds of calls about politicians. :roll:

One of my friends just came back from a week trip in Alaska, spent a few weeks at home, and just left for 3 weeks in Dublin. Def seems like unemployment is nice!!

Who says it's a free ride......you pay into it...so does your employer.

Our society tells us it's ok to sit and let hard working people pay your bills. Our unemployment system even rewards people for not working and also punishes people for finding a new job.

Hypathetical scenerio: I get laid off as a paramedic today. Tomorrow I file for unemployment and start the job hunt. If my job hunt only gets me a full time job flipping burgers for minimum wage I have gone from a 45,000/year job to a 13,000/year job. Since the burger flipping job is full time I no longer qualify for unemployment so I have a job that pays less then a third of what I was making and have no way of making the difference. If the burger job is part time then I qualify for partial unemployment which will help make up some of the difference. OR: I can stay home, play with my son, swim in the pool and go shooting with the ammo I already own and make more on unemployment then I would at the burger job.

I think there are a good number of people who abuse the system, but these are the people who abuse every system and manipulate their circumstances for their own gain. These people have an un deserved and un earned sence of entitlement and there isn't much that will fix that.

I think there are a lot of people who are trying to get a job but are faced with circumstances beyond their control and are becoming very frustraited.

BUT: Mr. Obama will fix it all and none of us will have to work for a living, there will be free money to all and free healthcare to all.

:hope:

I know a few people and their attitude is that I will wait until it runs out.

 

Instead of extending unemployment, tell people to go on welfare. Lots of people that have no problem collecting unemployment would cringe at being on welfare. Social stigma is a real issue.

Good points made in this thread.

 

There are plenty of jobs out there, just not what the perfect jobs you want them to be.

 

All that available commercial property is priced way too high, which is probably part of the reason why the businesses went under.

hell... its becoming better to not even be a citizen. As long as there are other citizens out there voting for retarded presidents like Obama... you don't even need the right to vote! Just renounce your citizenship, start working under the table, get free healthcare, pay no taxes, and drive around in your uninsured unregistered car with your state issued alien ID. If the cops catch you they will just let you go. What are they going to do? Revoke your non-existent drivers license or take a percentage of your non-existent paycheck?

There goes another 200 bucks per honest hard working taxpayer out the window...

 

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/07/19/ ... l?hpt=Sbin

 

(CNN) -- President Barack Obama urged Congress on Monday to pass an extension of unemployment benefits, saying that Senate Republicans have allowed short-term political concerns to trump the needs of the jobless.

 

During an appearance in the Rose Garden, Obama argued that that the federal government has "a responsibility to offer emergency assistance to people who desperately need it" and an obligation to help families "make ends meet."

 

The Senate is set to consider a bill Tuesday that would extend the deadline to file for unemployment benefits through the end of November. The bill would cost $33 billion in additional deficit spending, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

 

Senate GOP leaders have blocked a vote several times, highlighting deficit concerns by arguing that any benefits extension should be offset by spending cuts. Democrats are counting on the seating of the replacement for Sen. Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia on Tuesday to break the logjam.

 

In his remarks at the White House, Obama said that three times in recent weeks, a "partisan minority" has used "parliamentary maneuvers" to block a vote on extending unemployment benefits. The Republicans are guided by a "misguided notion" that a new relief bill would discourage people from looking for work, he said.

 

"That attitude reflects a lack of faith in the American people," Obama said. People "aren't looking for a handout. They desperately want to work."

 

The Republicans should stop holding people "hostage to Washington politics," he declared. "There are times when you put elections aside. This is one of those times."

 

House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, immediately fired back, releasing a statement slamming Obama for fiscal irresponsibility.

 

"The president knows that Republicans support extending unemployment insurance, and doing it in a fiscally responsible way by cutting spending elsewhere in the $3 trillion federal budget. At a time of record debt and deficits made worse by Washington Democrats' massive spending spree, that's the right thing to do and the right way to do it. The American people are asking 'where are the jobs?' and President Obama continues to offer only disingenuous attacks, not answers."

 

More than a million Americans are estimated to have exhausted the unemployment benefits lifeline since the deadline expired in June.

 

The U.S. unemployment rate stood at 9.5 percent as of June. The jobless rate has averaged 9.7 percent over the first half of the year, and many economists expect it to remain elevated into 2011.

 

Before last month, out-of-work Americans were eligible for extensions once they maxed out at 26 weeks of state benefits.

 

Depending on the state, people could qualify for up to 73 weeks of federal benefits -- a total of 99 weeks. But, citing deficit concerns, Senate Republicans blocked the extension with a 57-14 vote before the July Fourth holiday.

 

Seventy-eight percent of Americans still believe the U.S. economy is in a recession, according to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll released last month. Forty-one percent believe Republicans are more responsible for the nation's current economic problems, while 28 percent blame the Democrats. Twenty-six percent blame both political parties.

How do I feel about this topic - I feel that you are a judgemental asshole, that's how I feel. Just because you managed to secure a job in short order, doesn't mean that everyone can. I have been downsized several times in the last three years. First two times, I was working again within three months. The last time - no go. I have worked, pretty much continuously in the automotive/commercial vehicle industry for 35+ years (probably longer than you've been on earth) - the last 11 for OEM's, directly and indirectly. Unless you are a car salesman or technician, there is nothing out there in tis industry.

 

The point was also made that this is "Unemloyment Insurance". This isn't welfare. The workers and their employers have paid into the system - it's not your tax dollars. At my age I have the added onus of ageism - believe me, it's real.

 

I am a realist, I know, given the state of the economy in general and the state of my industry specifically, that I am going to have to take a 35% to 40% hit salarywise, just to secure a job. You seem to think this is just the life of Riley - people just handing you money. Let me tell you, I cannot live on what they pay me on unemployment - I have constantly been dipping into my savings - and I don't have a big debt load - pretty much just a car loan (a new car was required for my last position, and while I'm not upside down with it, I would have so little equity that it does not make it worthwhile to sell) and a mortgage. I worked hard and long to get to where I was and now you think I should be flipping burgers? Bite me! Most low-wage jobs won't hire overqualified personnel because they know they will leave at the first opportunity of a better job coming along.

 

I think you are smug and self-rightgeous. Don't judge me (and others like me) until you've walked a mile in my shoes.

 

I recommend to the moderator that this thread be locked.

 

Rant over.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

Why lock it? Just because we know people taking a free ride on the taxpayers dime... and you are mad because you frequently and erroneously get put in that stereotype? I don't think we are saying unemployment = 100% lazy ass people. We're sayin that given the current provisions handed out by the government and the lack of good paying work... lots of people have zero motivation to get back into a job. Honestly... if I was fired today I would probably ride out out too until I found something paying similar. Ya know why go backwards in a job when you are getting paid by the government? As far as them not paying enough... you obviously cannot maintain the same lifestyle. Where things get dicey is if you overextended yourself in the first place with a mortgage/loans/etc and did not have a contingency plan for a job loss. I know a ton of people in the automotive industry on the engineering/design/production side that got laid off. With the new car sales as they are, lots of them had to seriously consider a change in profession. One guy in particular went from being a timing chain engineer to a helper at a local winery. Go figure. My dad was REAL worried for a while where he works... tons of layoffs etc. He's in a position that produces... so he avoided a lot of the middle management/fluff job layoffs. Tons of guys on the production floor were laid off, and the rest of them were asked to work extra hours etc. Cheaper to pay one guy to work some OT, than two guys with all the benefits etc.

I think it is %100 completely up to the individual.. Unemployment only pays a fraction of what regular pay pays.. I know people who are on unemployment and who are busting their asses to get employed again.. but then I also know a handful who would sit home on unemployment till the world ended and lack the motivation to even get off the couch, let alone go out and look for a job..

Yeah, so you can get a fraction of your old pay for no work, or take a job in a rush and get a fraction of your old pay for 40hrs a week. Or work under the table doing some random work and collect on both sides for a year or two. Just keep the cash outta your bank account! LOL!

If anyone thinks people are rolling around in that whopping $365 a week after taxes any laid off NY based employee is receiving there on drugs. It does cover most of my job seeking expenses like gas, tolls and a very small lunch while I go to the city every day to look for work with a little left over. As far as bleeding the system, I and many people I know in construction have never collected in the last 15 years.

Plus I had to wait 2-1/2 weeks to collect one check. The following week I found a job that will last about a week. It's easy to sit and cast stones being fortunate enough to be employed in this economy. But until you actually see whats out there I would not jump to conclusions so fast.

I have another friend who got laid off of a job that will require her to retrain and add some collage courses to help land her the same type job she once had(Office admin) she does this while raising a family. Her benny's ran out.

To ask her to give up retraining and collage to take a dead end job at Mickey D'S would be beyond stupid. It would neither pay her bills or offer long term meaningful employment.

How do I feel about this topic - I feel that you are a judgemental asshole, that's how I feel. Just because you managed to secure a job in short order, doesn't mean that everyone can. I have been downsized several times in the last three years. First two times, I was working again within three months. The last time - no go. I have worked, pretty much continuously in the automotive/commercial vehicle industry for 35+ years (probably longer than you've been on earth) - the last 11 for OEM's, directly and indirectly. Unless you are a car salesman or technician, there is nothing out there in tis industry.

 

The point was also made that this is "Unemloyment Insurance". This isn't welfare. The workers and their employers have paid into the system - it's not your tax dollars. At my age I have the added onus of ageism - believe me, it's real.

 

I am a realist, I know, given the state of the economy in general and the state of my industry specifically, that I am going to have to take a 35% to 40% hit salarywise, just to secure a job. You seem to think this is just the life of Riley - people just handing you money. Let me tell you, I cannot live on what they pay me on unemployment - I have constantly been dipping into my savings - and I don't have a big debt load - pretty much just a car loan (a new car was required for my last position, and while I'm not upside down with it, I would have so little equity that it does not make it worthwhile to sell) and a mortgage. I worked hard and long to get to where I was and now you think I should be flipping burgers? Bite me! Most low-wage jobs won't hire overqualified personnel because they know they will leave at the first opportunity of a better job coming along.

 

I think you are smug and self-rightgeous. Don't judge me (and others like me) until you've walked a mile in my shoes.

 

I recommend to the moderator that this thread be locked.

 

Rant over.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

 

 

I don't think you should take this as a personal attack Bob. I too was out of work for 17 months but was fortunate to get enough part-time contract work to help me until going full time.

 

There are definitely people out there who aren't even looking for a job because of the unemployment they are receiving. Agreed it is a very bad climate to be unemployed in and many people like yourself want to be working, but there are many who are "enjoying" not working and getting paid for it. I believe these are the people the OP was aiming his question at.

 

Yes, we do pay into the unemployment fund along with our employers, but 1, our corrupt politicians raided the fund so there was no where near enough that the state got a loan from the Feds, and 2, What we pay into unemployment doesn't cover benfits for years and the rest of the taxpayers start picking up the bill. Unfortunately it's a double edged sword, we all want people to get help, but at what cost? Especially when many of those people don't want to work, just collect.

 

It's a bad situation. Best of luck in finding a job Bob.

You are the minority living in or around the city tho. Of course you cannot afford to live on unemployment there cause the cost of living is absurd. The majority of people that live in low cost of living areas, sharing housing and bills with other unemployed people, are making out. I have unemployed friends sharing housing to keep cost of living to a minimum. Its not hard to live off 1500 when you only pay a few hundred a month in rent+utilities. You obviously aren't going to be rollin around in a new car with an iphone 4 and eating out 5 days a week... but you sure as hell can live. Its even easier if you pick up some side work and make a few extra bills a month off the books. All the while, you can keep putting feelers out for a new job. The city has got to be one of the worst places to live... IDK why people like it?

I have fired several people recently, and when I did they thanked me and said" I will collect for a while and take it easy" Well that pissed me off and via HR I had managed to get one guy no unemployment, (he was denied) because of the issues we had with him. They are all capable of working, but just want to milk the system. I have no problem going to enemployment and try to have them denied. I know in my industry there are jobs available, and if I have to work, then so do they.

I personally have been working since I was 16, been on unemployment once for a short period of time and found another job. I've worked through every recession there has been in my lifetime of working and there are jobs out there. I see Now Hiring signs all over the place, maybe not in any specific field, but jobs are out there.

 

Yeah I may be a judgmental asshole, but im witnessing these people with my own eyes. Sorry your unemployed, but not to be able to find work for 2 years, even if it means a rate decrease is highly unlikely. I've worked 9+ different jobs, and have a lot of experience in multiple fields, maybe that's why I can find a job when I need one.

 

I didn't post this to be rude, it just pissed me off seeing as some of my family works over the system on purpose.. Then they ask friends and family for money, and dry up their resources, it kinda makes me sick to my stomach. Since when has living off the government become the American Way? Aren't we suppose to work hard, earn what we get, save what we get, and manage our way through this life with this type of mentality. I feel like shaking my family members and telling them to go get a damn job and stop sitting home watching T.V. every day. It saddens me to see them so easily reluctant to live off the government.

 

I know unemployment would ALLOW you 6 months to find a job, to me that's plenty of time even having to take a crappy job until you find one your specialized in. 2 years to me sounds like your milking the shit out of the system, and Thursday they are suppose to vote on another extension for 2.1 million people.

Well... obviously move democrats out there voting than republicans... hope they are happy with what we ended up with! While I don't believe in everything a die hard republican stands for, I think the root belief of a republican starts with working hard and earning your keep. The root belief of democrats seems to be rape the suckers that keep working and give all that money to the lazy people that want to sit on their ass or live in the US illegally. Being a NJ gun forum... I doubt there are too many democrats in the ranks

its all over the news how things are getting better;;;so they should'nt be

thinking about extending benys right?..yet I get to work with a new guy on the crew today;;seems he's a union hv/ac $40hr guy that was working xanadu

till they shut down...he's been collecting $560 wk for almost 3yrs and all he did

today was wine about the unemployment checks...so I said" you'll get no

sypathy from me...you collect and have a day job to boot...then he left me alone.........he's my helper but makes more a week now than me with his

UE check and this job.....crazy

I know a few people on unemployment, and their deal is, when the unemployment runs out, then I will look for a job....Nice Huh !

i work at a shoprite currently and i cant tell you how many people i say use food stamps to pay for hundreds of dollars in lobster steak shrimp crabs and other luxuries and than pull out a wad of hundreds to pay for the non food items and than they drive away in a crazy expensive Mercedes, BMW, or Lexus and it pisses me off all the while they are also collecting unemployment i think they should be audited instead of them saying u live in an apartment and have no assets worth any value because nothing is in their name. i know people that were declined food-stamps that needed it because they were laid off and they could not get them because they had actually worked their whole life and bought a house and now they are paying for hard work because they cant afford to eat i think its a load of horse ****

The misses has been on unemployment since December. It's gonna be a tough Christmas this year since her 2 years are up. Things are gonna change fast.

its all over the news how things are getting better;;;so they should'nt be

thinking about extending benys right?..yet I get to work with a new guy on the crew today;;seems he's a union hv/ac $40hr guy that was working xanadu

till they shut down...he's been collecting $560 wk for almost 3yrs and all he did

today was wine about the unemployment checks...so I said" you'll get no

sypathy from me...you collect and have a day job to boot...then he left me alone.........he's my helper but makes more a week now than me with his

UE check and this job.....crazy

 

How is he collecting and working? Is he getting paid off the books?

every time I fill out the forms for unemployment I get another offer. Sure I have been up and down in the salary department but it makes no diff if you are living below your means.

 

Prior to the recession I had always been freelance so I always lived in the box of 'what if?'

 

Ya, I'd like to make what I made before, but you have to pay into the IRA's and the mortgage. Forget the fluff.

 

I really feel for those with kids. I have none but I can just imagine the financial struggle and the relationship issues in this climate.