A few years ago, the company I worked for went belly-up and I was collecting unemployment for about 6 months.
If I remember correctly, during that time, I couldn't actually work or I wouldn't be able to collect that unemployment. And by work, I mean that even if I took on temp work or odd jobs, I would have to have that subtracted from my already meager unemployment check.
So basically, you're in a situation that makes it unnecessarily difficult. You're used to a particular standard of living . . . you have a certain amount of money you owe every month and certain living expenses -- those aren't going down any.
And here you are collecting unemployment, which isn't anywhere near enough to support and maintain that standard -- Unless you take on extra work on the side; temping, odd jobs, et. But of course, if you do that, you say goodbye to your unemployment.
On top of all of that, if you take on odd jobs or work meager jobs to support yourself in the meantime, that takes up a lot of time. Time that could be better spent
interviewing and looking for a real job.
That's actually how my whole studio thing got started in the first place. One day, I got called in to an "all-employee" meeting. The topic of which was "We're closing up, and all of us are out of jobs. So let's all go get drunk with what little is left of the petty cash fund, and wish each other luck."
And some of us have had trouble recovering. I'm doing fine, but some of my former co-workers are still, to this day, either looking for work, or accepting a lower standard of living. It all happened at a time when the economy just wasn't able to support a lot of the jobs that were lost during some of the closings and layoff rounds around the time of 9/11.
I'm not sure what my original point was
. . . oh yea, FDR and public aid. You're just not going to realize the necessity of it until you're put in the situation. And yes, bad things happen to good people, and you can't predict it. And although I was lucky, I can see where "the system" can use some minor overhauls.
And I can definitely see where someone can fall in to a rut and get caught up in a downward cycle they can't get out of after something like that happens:
If you can't find a job, you can't make money. And if you can't make money, it's hard to find a job. Looking for a job costs money: Phone line, internet connection (for emailing resumes), fax machine (for faxing resumes and references). Interviewing costs even more money; resumes, suits, dry cleaning, hair cuts, transportation to and from the interviews, and just looking healthy and respectable. Double all of these costs for women, because then you have to factor in the cost of makeup, perfume, hair stylist, etc. etc.
Quadruple or quintuple all of these costs if the economy is bad, because you'll likely have to go on four to five times as many interviews (maybe more) in order to land a job -- or even to get a bite.
And don't tell me this stuff isn't important, because as soon as you tell me
it's all about qualifications and not looks, another guy is going to walk through the door with similar qualifications
and he's going to look like a million bucks; with tan skin, a slick, expensive suit, a silk tie and a winning smile with perfect teeth (thanks to the dental work he can afford).
These are realities, guys.
