Anyway folks, here is my view on unemployment. I think it is a needless intrusion of government into our lives. If no employer had to pay unemployment taxes, prices would drop - that's how economics works, employers are satisfied with a certain profit margin and it will rise or fall to that value by itself. Barring a monopoly of course.
So, I think unemployment is bad. Get rid of it and things will become marginally cheaper. Once they become cheaper, people will be able to save more and plan for their own unemployment contingencies.
That's how it should be, private individuals pay for their own rough spots. I realize a need for welfare in this country, but unemployment should really be a matter of personal savings.
But, that will never happen.
Know why? People spend what they have. That's why you have people making $40,000 who barely make ends meet just the same as you have people making $12,000 who barely make ends meet. People spend what they have. Give people an extra $100 a week in savings from cheaper purchases and they will find a way to spend it, or spend part of it at least. Think about it, how much do you make? Why are you living like you do instead of living like a guy making $25k would? You like nice things? You enjoy your house? Well shit. That comes from spending.
So due to the fact that
most people won't save enough for their own unemployment, the government steps in and "saves" for them - in a completely unfair manner, of course. The unfairness being, I still pay higher prices (due to the unemployment taxes) and even if I am never unemployed, or if I save for my own unemployment, I still pay these taxes.
That's the inherent unfairness in a socialized system - you pay for what you don't use.
Now as I said, I realize that welfare is necessary, for people who have NO money and NO possibility of getting any, and who can't reduce their means any more because they are already at rock bottom. These people should not starve. But (and I'm going to "pick on" b fold even though I think he's a great guy and I respect him a lot), people like b fold aren't rock bottom. He could sell his weightlifting stuff, he could stop eating like a weightlifter, he could sell his car/truck and ride a bike, he could take down his internet site, etc. I.e. his lifestyle still has a bunch of room to give. That's the kind of person I think the government doesn't need to be watching out for. (edit: I should note, I've taken unemployment before - hell, I paid for it (indirectly) I may as well use it. And my lifestyle had a lot to give as well. Coulda moved to a cheaper apartment. Coulda stopped eating out. Could cut off my DSL line. I was not a person the govt should have been paying, either)
So to sum up, if you are on unemployment NOW, no, I do not want to take away your check... What I want to happen is:
1) Government sets a date about 3-5 yrs down the line and says "no more unemployment checks after this date". (call it date X)
2) Unemployment taxes stop in the months before date X, and prices start to drop.
3) People, IDEALLY, start saving.
4) The people who are in the crunch, who have not yet had time between the prices dropping and unemployment ending, to save, will have to cut their lifestyles down to a more manageable level.
NO, I don't think people who draw unemployment are "losers" or "lazy".
NO, I do not want 5 year old orphans to go hungry.
What I want is for people to pay for what they use - and since there is no fair way to do that in the current system, the current system should be changed to accomodate private investment for unemployment. Also, doubtless, unemployment insurance companies where you can buy it privately, will triple in number...
Anyway what do you think of my plan?
Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below 
What the fuck is that??? Doesn't even come close to covering the mortgage!!!
Yes Bigs, I am on the other coast, I don't know for how much longer tho! 
