[quote=FormerOwner]It’s funny. I can’t imagine not working – even if I didn’t need the money. If I didn’t need to work, I think I’d spend my time doing volunteer work or trying to do something for the greater good. Of course, I’d have a lot of time for fun but I’m doing that while working full-time anyway.

Somehow, it seems like a lot of people in our country no longer feel this way and would rather be “taken care of”. That is sad for everyone. It seems like a lot of people have given up on themselves, in a way. I think abuse of programs like Social Security Disability, Section 8, and Welfare are a lot more common than Unemployment abuse – that’s just my perception from people I know about. I know people that are living off the dole and I don’t think they’re doing themselves a favor at all. They now feel not only entitled but dependent on the system. Sad.[/quote]

I think it’s a few things that are going on.

1) Some folks are truely burned out and are using this time to rest, since they really aren’t missing out anyway. Some folks I know are in this boat

2) Some folks realize that in their specific situation, there is not much they can do. And if these folks aren’t in the financial bind, they rather use this time to other use.

3) Some folks that are financially in need are looking but for them, it’s also difficult

What I’m more concerned about is the affects on the government bailouts is having on people. Government bailouts (banks/auto/etc), have made a lot of people disgusted, and I’m concerned that in some ways we (americans) are increasingly getting callous to folks who have lost their jobs and in financial distress.

Once upon a time, the folks the got into a big financial mess were the ones that overleveraged, mortgaged their savings and future hoping for the quick buck, and ultimately got screwed. They created their own mess and theirs probably little room to sympathize for these folks who lose their “homes”. However, I think in the current situation, a lot of folks are unemployed who weren’t in this category..They didn’t overleverage, they were financially responsible more or less, who nevertheless got/are getting screwed also. I really hope we as americans don’t become so callous that we start identifying unemployed folks as being “lazy”.

Back during the great depression, one probably needs to remember the term “hobo” (look it up in en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobo). And there was a lot of contempt for these “hobo”s. It’s ironic, because they were ridiculed to some extent as I start seeing some unemployed folks now.

I sure hope as americans we do not repeat the same contempt for this generation of as tempting as disgusting and ridiculous as our government can be in terms of “bailouts”.

Americans are always so generous in helping others outside the U.S. when in need. When diaster stuck Haiti, there was outpouring support for those unfortunate people. I sure hope when it comes to some fellow americans in need, who just had a string of bad luck, that we have have the same compassion for them as for others we have shown.