What a fucking asshole. THe people I know–myself included–who have found themselves in that situation are there not because they can “afford” not to work, but because they’ve reached the point where survival necessitates another strategy. Living in a friend’s basement and babysitting for food, for example. Volunteering at a soup kitchen because you’re too embarrassed to stand in the line but you need a meal. Selling and borrowing and finding whatever odd jobs you can do for people who feel sorry for you. I hope you reach that stage, Freejooky, so you can regret this OP.
You think it’s bad now. Wait until you’re over 55 and looking for work.
I haven’t stopped looking for work for 19 months, i put in at least 3 resumes/applications a week in. I would love a clerical position, but either I am too qualified or underqualified=\ I am now down to puting in for assembly positions that are not going to be too good for my fucked up back=\
I decided to become a super-villain.
Pay is good, and it’s all off the books.
Hey Freejooky, I noticed you are in the Washington DC area. You can’t find a job? What field are you looking in? In my experience, the DC area has been a pretty easy one to find jobs in. Where have you been looking for a job?
He was this close to landing a couple of really good jobs but they gave them to people that were not even looking for one.
I’m still curious as to how people who have given up searching for jobs are still “in the job market”…
I thought about trying that, but I don’t look good in spandex. Also I have the bad habit of shooting the hero outright, and not leaving him unattended in an inescapable trap, which (unbeknownst to me) has a fatal flaw.
They kicked me out of the union for that.
Dear Freejooky,
Enclosed you will find a copy of my finger. I’m sure you know which one. Kindly unfold this finger and point it at yourself for maximum effect.
I am currently employed, but it’s only a very short term contract, after which I will be unemployed again. Also, I don’t strictly need to work right now, as my wife makes enough for both of us to survive, but I do if I want to make any inroads into my monstrous debt and start having kids.
Sincerely,
sturmhauke, holder of a BSCS, just like half the people in Silicon Valley. The other half have something better and they can’t get good jobs either.
PS Quit your damn whining.
Personally I’ve been toying with the “Deposed dictator of a small South American country.” Heaven knows I already have the shoe collection required…
Well, gosh, I just figured that the OP was over my pretty little blonde head. I can’t figure out how people that have stopped looking for a job are in the way of those still looking either.
(it’s probably a math thing :D)
I’ll bet those jobs are going to people who spend more time on job re-education, updating their resumes, typing practice, ironing business suits and shining shoes and less time posting on message boards! 
Jeez, that was totally uncalled for! But I said it anyway.
Psst. Someone had better notify INTERPOL that we have found the dude who made off with “Scream” in broad daylight.
Or, the family resigns itself to downsizing their lifestyle…sell the house and move into a smaller one. One car to maintain. Dip into the college fund for groceries. Get rid of cable and internet. Live much below your previous standard of living.
But regardless, people have a right to live a more lavish lifestyle. Just because you’re broke doesn’t mean they are obligated to drop down to a lesser bracket. It’s the American way. This scenario is why I give to charities. I know I’m more fortunate than many (and I’m by no means well-to-do). I help where I can but I don’t feel particularly guilty for what I have.
Freejooky, if you’re “going into debt by the minute”, may I assume that you mean credit card debt, or that you’re borrowing money from friends and/or family? Because then, by your logic, you technically have the means (though undesirable and finite) to survive without a job, so available jobs should go to those unemployed people worse off than you, who can’t qualify for a credit card OR get loans from friends.
I once had a coworker who, when she quit her job to move out of state, kept insisting that her job should go to the person with the greatest need for a job, rather than to the person who was most qualified. I got where she was coming from, but reminded her that she was about to move in with her attorney boyfriend, and probably wouldn’t like it very much if all of her potential employers in her new locale said, “Gee, your credentials are great, but you live with an attorney in a relatively expensive neighborhood and it looks like you don’t really need this job, so we’re going to give it to someone else.”