OT: Unemployed? I need your thoughts

I'm working on an article/editorial about the myth of the "happily unemployed" that some in Congress have been discussing in the press:  the belief that people actually LIKE not having to work, that they LIKE getting that paltry check every week and "not having to do anything" to get it, that the unemployed are content and comfortable with their revised income and prefer it to working.

If you are (or were until recently) unemployed, I'd like to hear your experience(s). You can certainly skip any questions that you are uncomfortable discussing. You can post here or, for privacy, respond by PM. NO NAMES or identifying details will be mentioned in what I write.

- where do you live?
- how long have you been out of work?
- how long were you at your previous job?
- what was your job prior to losing it?
- are you happy being unemployed?
- how many jobs have you applied for since you became unemployed?
- how many job interviews have you been on?
- are you struggling (financially, emotionally, physically), and how?
- are you still carrying health insurance? What are you monthly payments?
- what was your income PRIOR to losing your job, and what it is now?
- how many people are in your family? Their ages?
- what are your biggest fears about being unemployed?
- what is the WORST PART of being without a job?

Bette, anything i can might is of little relevance as I am a Brit!  But the idea that the vast majority of the unemployed want to be in that position is downright nasty!! I am not saying that in the UK there are not some people who live very happily on benefits - there are! But most desperately want work. The welfare benefits people get over here are enough to live on but not in a way you would want to live! We don't have the issue of health care, of course.

My own SIL is applying for everything! Even stacking shelves in the supermarket. But guess what - they say he is over-qualified and don't employ him!

Good luck with the article.   Kate

Bette I hope u don't mind the comparison, but I find it insulting that they have the nerve to say that so many of those that are unemployed are so b/c they want to be! It is just as idiotic as some of the bandsters, that when someone posts a band problem on here...........they accuse the bandster of being to blame!

Yes there are a FEW that do want to be unemployed, but that is VERY FEW! Just as there are VERY FEW bandsters that are actually to blame for their own band problem!!!

There are so many ppl that need to learn to be less judgemental and stop making assumptions!!!

I also believe a vast majority of people WANT to be productive members of society.  They want to go to work and earn money and have benefits.  They don't want to jump through the government's hoops for their help.  Although, there is an exception to every rule. And there are a few (the saying one bad apple ....comes to mind here) that will take advantage of the system or down right lie to get what they can from the tax paying public.  I know of a couple of people that are doing this (my sister being one of them) and I don't know about you but I want my taxes going to people that actually need it...not lazy asses that sit around and don't even try. 

To come out and say that most people are doing this is a lie and the sad thing is people will hear our elected officials saying this and take it for gospel truth.  In no time there will be an unemployed backlash.

I was laid off last March...I have sent out well over 200 resumes....tons of applications...NO LUCK! Its horrible! In my area there are no jobs! I have had one extentsion of my unemployment and it runs out in 2 weeks so I am really stressing:(  I havent even been on it one year!