Unemployment compensation is NOT welfare!

[BuelahWitch]

I'm sick and tired of people acting like it's a fucking handout! The person who gets unemployment had their job taken away from them, usually by a greedy company that knew it could get cheap labor overseas. They have to work x amount of months before they even qualify (and those who work part time or as "independent contractors" do not qualify no matter what, which is a crock of shit).
They shouldn't have to pee in a cup to get their UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE! For Christ's sake, just walking into the place and looking into the cold eyes of the people who work there is demeaning enough. Why should they have to suffer another indignity?


PS. This tirade is not a thumbs up for drug tests for welfare recipients. That's a crock of shit too. I just wanted to point out that unemployment and welfare are two different animals.

That is all.

[closeupready]

1. I know. What about the word 'insurance' do people not get?

Unemployment INSURANCE. Premiums are paid by employers on behalf of workers. Don't want to pay the premiums? Don't hire the workers, they don't get to collect, but you also don't get the benefit of their labor.

[BuelahWitch]

4. I can't understand why people are so greedy that way

They look down their noses at people collecting UI. This country seems to hate the worker.

[LeftHandPath]

2. Its called a BAILOUT...

when you are in the privileged class.

Its only called 'welfare' when you are poor.

Funny huh?

[omega minimo]

3. you're another one

[BuelahWitch]

5. Right, I'll bet none of those bank CEOs had to pee in a cup for their money

[guitar man]

6. I agree

I have heard the argument from the sycophants that "your employer pays for your unemployment insurance". On paper, that may be true, but in reality, no company I have ever worked for has ever "given" me a damned thing. I learned that from my Teamster Father and Union Grandfather. I remember Dad getting in a bit of a sticky wicket one time when a manager wouldn't stop using the word "give" in relation to what he got from the company. Dad warned him twice, and the 3rd time the 'ol man open handed slapped the guy so hard that it broke his jaw.

I don't advocate violence, but we do need to get a hard assed attitude as a working class about what we EARN. Enough of the BS that our companies are some kind of a goddamned benevolence society that showers with gifts. They're no such thing, and the only thing they shower us with is piss down our backs while they tell us it's raining. :grr:

[KharmaTrain]

7. And Benefits Shouldn't Be Taxed

Add insult to injury...most people who end up on "the dole" aren't there for the scenary...it's because they've been forced into a difficult situation and most likely that check is their only source of income. It goes to food, rent/mortgage and finding a new job. I've had to go through the system and I haven't met anyone who is proud of having had to do it.

But, as you say, this is not a hand-out, it's something we pay into. It's supposed to be "insurance"...isn't that what the I in FICA stands for? It's not income, it's savings...or should be treated as such and not taxed.

[Gormy Cuss]

8. And welfare IS NOT SHAMEFUL

either.

Social safety nets are there for a reason -- the belief that as a society we need to watch out for each other. That some assistance like unemployment compensation are partly funded through direct contributions to an insurance fund doesn't make them any nobler than those that come solely from general taxation.

[guitar man]

9. exactly

It's even in the Constitution as in "To Promote The General Welfare". I have to grade our govt. with a big fat "F" in that regard for a long time now. :grr:

[jdlh8894]

10. "To Promote The General Welfare"

Since when does "Promote" mean pay for?

[Gormy Cuss]

11. Since when does it exclude it? n/t

[jdlh8894]

13. Exclude what? N/T

[Gormy Cuss]

21. Paying for promotion of the general welfare. n/t

[guitar man]

12. It doesn't necessarily

But it certainly means that we should foster an environment where the welfare of everyone is taken into account. We haven't done that. Instead, we have created a culture where the greed of a few, priveleged citizens is put on a pedestal as sacred and untouchable, no matter what the cost to the majority of common people.

[jdlh8894]

14. Just read your tag line.

Lot of compassion there.

[guitar man]

16. it's a joke

you know, humor?

[closeupready]

17. Um WAT? Did you post this in the wrong thread?

It does not follow the conversation here.

[jdlh8894]

18. Quoted from Post #9 N/T

[CreekDog]

19. when "promoting the general welfare" means paying for it

duh. :eyes:

[BuelahWitch]

15. I agree, it's not shameful, and should not be seen as such

But our media tries to make welfare and unemployment insurance out to be shameful.

[JDPriestly]

20. I might add that Social Security is also not a hand-out. It is something

that recipients pay for -- for many years before receiving. It is an insurance plan, so those currently paying into the system pay for the benefits of those now receiving from the system. That is also how our insurance plans work.