re: #18 ralphieboy

Deduct healt care insurance (most of those jobs have no bennies), deduct child care if you have kids at home and the cost of commuting and you often find yourself at about the same level and you still get to sit home and watch Oprah.

I was laid off a 40K/year job about 20 years ago and I think I would have received about $150/week. I foolishly decided to start my own business rather then live like a spoiled prince on my buck and half. I agree that skilled workers might pass up a job flipping hamburgers and try and live on unemployment while looking, but not many sit home watching Oprah.