It might not be "your fault", but it's not mine either and it's YOUR problem.

It's real nice that things worked out well for you, taskr, but I'm sure you're aware that being unemployed for only 3 months is not the norm. Most people, and especially working class families, don't have large savings accounts to fall back on when there's a job loss and relocating is not only expensive, it's a gamble. To answer part 1 of your last question first, yes, I know several people who have been unemployed for over a year down here in Florida and back home in MD. None of them have the attitude that they'll just cruise on through life collecting unemployment, all of them are struggling and have cut everything they can out of their budgets just so they can survive, all of them are out there and online trying to find jobs. The answer to part 2 of that question varies. Some of the unemployed I know are older...in the 40 to 55 age group and are routinely passed over for younger candidates because there is so much competition for every job...even on the coast. One woman I know only had general office skills so she went to school and got her CNA, believing that she would quickly be able to find a job since we have such a large population of elderly people in our state. She's applied for jobs as far away as Miami (over 2 hours away) and, so far, nothing has panned out. To answer your first question, I don't agree that unemployed people are looking to the government to "fix their problems". Unless I missed it, I haven't heard/read that the unemployment rate has dropped or that job opportunities have suddenly shot up with millions of jobs going unfilled because no one is applying. In fact, the opposite is what I have seen and continue to see. I don't agree that no one wants to take responsibility for their own situation anymore and, while I don't necessarily agree that you're a jerk, I do agree that you're being pretty uncaring and judgemental under the circumstances. It's great that you were able to afford to move your family 1,000 miles away and to survive for the three whole months it took you to find another job. Not everyone is in the same position.

Reminds me of one of my favorite sayings Your life is not my problem....my life is none of your business. People need to start realizing they need to start taking responsibility for their own lives and leave other peoples lives alone.

It's true, we might be living in a bad economy right now, but that is no excuse to complain about unemployment. There have been people who were laid off, and began looking for other jobs, decided to start their own business or go back to school and train for something else. I am in school right now getting my degree for my future career. I think that people should stop making excuses and just get out there and do something. I know a lot of people who are living off of government money right now as well, and it's ridiculous. Work! Start a business! Go to school! DO SOMETHING! Quit complaining, and just go out there and make something of yourselves. Life to short to sit around mope all day long about your situation.

Taskr, we have a high unemployment rate around here, as well as a high illegal immigrant problem. hhmmm could there be a connection? I work in a local bar and just off the top of my head I can think of three guys that come in with their unemployment checks to drink and gamble. All three of these men have families. All three have their homes in foreclosure. While they sit there all day, I have a very hard time thinking they are looking for work. Their benefits have all run out so they are all waiting for extensions. I have to wonder, what the heck? I believe that at a time like this, you have to be inventive, dont wait for some smoe to give you a little work. Create work. Find where there is a need and fill it.

I have a family member who has three children but will not marry the father as she makes too much money from the government for being a single mother. She has had unemployment benefits for a couple of years and when they ran out she got government benefits to go to college where she has a 4.0 GPA and is on the Honor Roll. She is very smart and knows how to milk the system for what it's worth. She is very proud of her accomplishments and cannot understand why I feel shame for her. She gets about $700.00 a month in food stamps but know how to work deal when she can trade covered items for products not payable by food stamps.

All i can say is i understand your feeling.I work hard and its pain to pay my 50% income in tax.I am trying my best to save tax.Thats the only way believe me.This anting on public forum doent work.People will vilify you for doing that.So go find out how not to pay tax in your country.There are way..

Well you are talking about socio-political problems and we seem to have them since the middle ages, isnt it? (^_^) Now I will talk about relationships.Everything is a relationship.A give and take agreement. Unless i become so humble and acknowledge my mistakes, problems will arise and remain unsolved. Humility is what the world needs and acceptance that we all fail somewhere sometime.

I became unemployed over two years ago. I have never pulled unemployment in my life. We care for our autistic son in our home. My husband is the only one with a job in this house. To move would be taking a short sale on our house. I live in a huge metro area. I am "pounding the pavement" looking for even a part time job. I am earning some money online and that income is slowly growing. I cannot stand the babys daddy syndrome created by the alternative income source to those ladies who use it to make a living. But the purpose of all the government programs is to keep us out of a depression. With your way of thinking we would be slammed into a depression that you couldn't even weather. You would be walking to everything, your basic services would be cut back or eliminated. You would not want to live in a depression no matter how "comfortable" you are. You would have to work around soup lines, wait in line in your doctors office because they can't afford the staff. Schools would shut their doors, and churches would close because no one could tithe. Much of your world would fall apart. PROUD TO CALL MYSELF AN UNAPOLOGETIC AMERICAN!!

I have been unemployed for less than a month now, but the day I got let go from my job, I found a little boy to babysit to fill in a little of what I was making. My husband is still employed so we are fine that way. The only thing we have EVER gotten from the government is food stamps. We are on those because we live paycheck to paycheck with paying our electric and water bills, my husband makes only $8.00 an hour, but its still work. I have been out putting out applications, and I'll be honest, I did apply for unemployment but I dont plan on being on it for over a year.