Overhaul

So I got some inspiration from a post on the facebook page yesterday when I posted a question, and I like it when this sort of inspiration hits. Yesterday I touched a little bit on some programs I think need to be overhauled, and today it's happening again. It's sad that military pay protection had to be a rushed bill in order to make sure the soldiers didn't go without pay -- it should have been under mandatory spending a long time ago in my personal opinion. However, do you know what is under mandatory spending? Unemployment. Yep, that's right, you can still collect your government paychecks for not having a job, but Congress had to mess around and pass a bill to protect military pay. For. Shame. I have never been a fan of welfare, I was in high school and would often have this chat with two of my teachers my senior year, and my thoughts have never changed despite being explained the economic necessity of a small (like way smaller than what it is right now) unemployed population. I will say that for the people who legitimately were fired and are on a serious search for a new job who collect unemployment, I have no qualms against you -- although you seem to be few and far between, I thank you for not abusing the system.

Abusing the system? Really? Yes, really. There are too many people who fake job search just so they can keep collecting unemployment. But that's just silly, why would anyone do such a thing? Well, for starters because they might be making more collecting unemployment than they would at a part time job they feel is "beneath" them. If you haven't heard about this, please pull your head out of the sand. While it seems that most states let you have six months, many of these states will allow extensions of another six months. There should be no extensions and you shouldn't be able to reapply year after year after year. Yes, that is something I have heard about -- someone will get a job right before they're about to stop receiving benefits and then once they can reapply for benefits will do whatever to get fired from their job and start receiving unemployment again. I know that the economic situation sucks, I'm not completely sheltered in my house, however I do know that there's something. The local Kroger had a laundry list of positions it needs to fill. Now I can also tell you a fun little story about a former crazy neighbor of mine. When we moved to our current duty station this neighbor felt it was her duty to tell my husband that she would talk with me concerning how I can get unemployment benefits. Um excuse me, but what right does anyone have to assume our work situation and educate me on how the system works without my asking for help? None. But yet she told me how I could obtain benefits and just live off that even though I knew I wasn't going to work but be a stay at home mom for a while. I wasn't going to actively look for work so why would I steal benefits from someone who actually needs them?

So how we do overhaul? Here's what I would do:
   - You can apply for benefits for no more than six months in a three year period.
   - You must be interviewed at least three times a week, if a job offer is made and you refuse it, no  
      more benefits for that three year period. (I know this seems insane, but just go with me)
   - You must have proof of citizenship
   - If you are found to be using your benefits for things other than housing, essential food,
     transportation, clothes necessary for interviews and potential jobs then you will be banned from
     collecting benefits-- meaning buying Xboxes, Louis Vuitton purses, expensive sneakers, etc.
     This will be a lifetime ban, not just wait three years and apply again. People who pay into the
     system don't work their tails off so you can use your unemployment benefits for unnecessary
     luxury items.

I know that seems sort of crazy, but the fact is we as a society need to help people become less dependent on the government and learn how to be dependent upon themselves and take personal responsibility. Who knows, perhaps this would help aid in our fight against illegal immigrants. If more American citizens were taking jobs that normally are held by that group, then there's less incentive to just come into our country, get paid (and in some cases collect other entitlements) and send that money back to their home country. The money that legal citizens could put back into the system would definitely help. The bottom line is, honestly, unemployment is a privilege, not an entitlement and people need to realize that -- there's no reason that we should have to pay anyone.