Raise the Hammer

Grassroots, I've volunteered in the system so I have a say. And that's exactly what I did say. I said there are too many of those establishments and the implication in that statement is that they are part of the problem.

Let's be clear here... I have been out of a job however I had learned to budget and found a job quickly enough so I didn't need EI or welfare. If someone is jobless for long enough to have EI run out, my question to them would be where have you gone to look for a job. I see "help wanted" signs in a lot of shops. It's Christmas time, there are all kinds of seasonal jobs springing up. People who have no job, need to look around and change the "pie in the sky" job for something thats may be more likely. There are many opportunities for retraining through employment agencies or EI as well as jobs that can be gotten with little or no initial skill required. We return to my original argument...that they're too lazy to do something about it and would rather accept a handout. There are always exceptions to the rule and it's probably those people who are speaking out (they're doing something rather than nothing) but until the system has a way of not supporting people who don't want to support themselves, they shouldn't be getting more money.

Life skills training is a must but it's not possible to force someone to take the training. Welfare recipients shouldn't be regular attendees at the local McDonalds. They also shouldn't be standing around doing nothing with their lives. Ok, you lost your job...get on with it! Don't live like you lost your job, live like a person who's looking for a job. You see the difference in perspectives? One's positive and forward thinking, the other is pessimistic and produces people reliant on handouts to get by. One accepts facts and moves on, the other wallows in self pity. One produces a desire to work, the other produces a desire to sleep in and blame others for their problems.

The amount of money (you say 572) is actually irrelevant. My argument was that if you can afford to smoke on EI you're either getting too much or sacrificing in an area that you shouldn't. And yes, I've lived off less than 572/mth but I wouldn't wish it on anyone. And that's the whole idea isn't it? If it's not enough, then get out there and find work. If you can't find work, become an entrepeneur... Motivation is lacking and giving someone more money reduces the motivation in those kind of people to get back into the workforce.

I think you're part of the problem as well, pointing fingers results in fingers pointing back at you. You lost your job, even if it's through no fault of your own, the onus is on YOU to get back up and move forward with your life... not those who you blame for your plight.

I'm all for EI reform, as long as it can be proven that the people who are on EI aren't on it for any other reason than as a temporary means to an end. I've heard the stories of way to many people I've worked with and it sickens me to think that it's those kind of people taking advantage of the system that ruin it for the people who really need it.

Lorne's piece was all about getting people involved in making the downtown a better place - volunteering or speaking out, not about the tiny part you're picking on. I fear you're turning into an ASmith with a more hip topic.