I want to start this thought by stressing that I am fully respectful of the negative economic climate, and how hard it is for unemployed people to find new jobs in the current environment. That being said, there’s a math problem that I am struggling with, and am going to suggest a loose idea for a solution, which I will be happy to debate the merits of.
1) We have roughly 9.0% unemployment. One problem with unemployment rules seems to be that you are required to find a job with a “company” rather than starting something on your own. From my vantage point, I’d rather see someone laid off from a failing company use his/her brains, talents and drive to have the ability to try to build their own sole proprietorship rather than go through the fruitless exercise of applying for jobs they aren’t qualified for at companies that are laying people off. Why are we forcing people who were failed by the corporate environment to try to force their way back into the corporate environment? They should be given credit for making positive strides in the building of their own entrepreneurial efforts.
2) Why is so easy to get your benefits? I’ve been told by multiple friends who are in this position, that getting an unemployment is way too easy. A few clicks on a web page, and the money is direct deposited in their account. One potential reasons people get laid off is that their skills don’t always map to today’s employer needs. Why don’t we make people come in and train for their check? Let’s make unemployed people more skilled.
3) Along these lines, why can’t unemployment be renamed or re-classified, so that it’s not a check for $300 a week for doing nothing, but a check for $300 a week to do 15-20 hrs of work for the state? Maybe that work can include time for resume writing, interviewing and other job seeking activities. But really, if the state is paying them, why can’t we treat these folks as part-time employees. It may take some creative management, but shouldn’t we be looking for smarter solutions to today’s problems anyway?
Conclusion: Lumping #1, #2 and and #3 together solves the biggest questions everyone will have, which are, “What company are the people in #1 going to build, who is doing the training in #2, and what will these people in #3 do?” Well why can’t the unemployed Spanish speaker speak Spanish 101, the unemployed Graphic Designer teach Photoshop,the unemployed accountant can teach Small Business Startup, and the unemployed woodworker teach Home Repair? Doesn’t this solve a lot of problems at once – educating the unemployed, providing valuable services, and giving people a much needed boost fo self-worth?
I’m sure my ideas are naive and utopian, but shouldn’t we ask for something more from our unemployment tax dollars than just hoping WAMU starts hiring again?
