I own several businesses, and therefore, I have a pretty good idea how bad the situation is and how much worse it may get. Revenues are down, expenses are up, and there is definately a trickle down effect with the people with whom I do business. I have had to make difficult decisions over the last few months, including painful staff reductions.
With that said, unemployment insurance was never intended as a life-long safety net, as it is in England, Ireland, and other socialists states where people are "on the dole" for generations. At some point, the unemployed have to move from unemployment insurance to welfare benefits.
My argument remains that unemployment benefits, as distasteful as they may be, are required in this economy for as long as it takes. Not only does it keep millions of people from starving, I strongly suspect that terminating benefits (right now) will effect everyone, as a major stimulus to the entire economy will be gone.
I'm not saying that unemployment benefits should be extended for ever, just until the economy recovers, which contrary to the MSM beliefs, hasn't happened.
Government has created a huge mess. Through their over regulation and anti-capitalist policies, they have extended a recession which would have healed itself by now, and put us in a depression.
The criticisms of those who blame the victims here are misguided and should be instead aimed at the cause. For if the Government stays on this course, instead of 1 in 5 being unemployed, we could be looking at 1 in 2.