# People are unemployed because they want to be, 'sez Tom Delay **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 8, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-are-unemployed-because-they-want-to-be-sez-tom-delay/531730 "2010-03-08T15:46:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mozchron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mozchron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mozchron)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-are-unemployed-because-they-want-to-be-sez-tom-delay/531730/1 "2010-03-08T15:46:05Z")
[Link](http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/20100307/cm_huffpost/489050) Not to hijack the Bunning pit thread. > [@](#): > > Crowley: People are unemployed because they want to be? > > Delay: well, it is the truth. and people in the real world know it Nice. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-are-unemployed-because-they-want-to-be-sez-tom-delay/531730/2 "2010-03-08T16:02:12Z")
Barring some physical disability, if someone wants to make money, there is money to be made. If you’re laid off from your $50k/year job, you’re not going to make that same amount of money by doing lawn maintenance (at least not right away), but there’s still money to be made if you want to make it. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-are-unemployed-because-they-want-to-be-sez-tom-delay/531730/3 "2010-03-08T16:05:58Z")
You still need to get people to give you the lawn maintenance job. I’ve offered to do jobs and had the person reject my offer because they didn’t believe it was meant in all seriousness (it was). ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-are-unemployed-because-they-want-to-be-sez-tom-delay/531730/4 "2010-03-08T16:07:37Z")
Or, as in DeLay’s case, you might be unemployed because the people want you to be. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-are-unemployed-because-they-want-to-be-sez-tom-delay/531730/5 "2010-03-08T16:54:07Z")
A ditty for Delay (R-Undead) Hang down your head, Tom De-lay Hang down you head and cry Hang down your head, Tom De-lay Poor boy, you’re a worthless sack of shit without a soul… OK, needs work… ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-are-unemployed-because-they-want-to-be-sez-tom-delay/531730/6 "2010-03-08T16:55:22Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Or, as in DeLay’s case, you might be unemployed because the people want you to be. 😉 I have an idea, let DeLay be unemployed for a while and let’s see how he likes it. By the way, wasn’t he in trouble for some sort of crooked dealings not too long ago? Wiki stuff: > [@](#): > > In 2005, a Texas court charged DeLay with criminal violations of state campaign finance laws and money laundering. DeLay pled not guilty, claiming political motivation for the charges. As of January 2010, the prosecutor has yet to bring the case before a jury. Two former senior aides to DeLay have been convicted in the Jack Abramoff scandal, and though the infamous lobbyist was closely associated with DeLay, the former congressman himself has not been legally implicated. … With the Republicans in control of both chambers in Congress, DeLay, along with Gingrich and conservative activist Grover Norquist, helped start the K Street Project, an effort to pressure Washington lobbying firms to hire Republicans in top positions, and to reward loyal GOP lobbyists with access to influential officials. Fox News: > [@](#): > > WASHINGTON — Rep. Tom DeLay (search), R-Texas, said Wednesday he would temporarily step down as House majority leader after he and two political associates were charged by a Texas grand jury with conspiracy in a campaign finance scheme. > > “In accordance with the rules of the House Republican Conference, I will temporarily step aside as floor leader in order to win exoneration from these baseless charges,” DeLay told reporters. > > The indictment charges that DeLay, 58, conspired to have corporate contributions funneled through his political action committee to help Republican state candidates. … “The defendants entered into an agreement with each other or with TRMPAC (Texans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee) to knowingly make a political contribution in violation of the Texas election code,” says the four-page indictment. “The contribution was made directly to the Republican National Committee within 60 days of a general election.” He was a crook. Sure he didn’t actually go to jail, instead his “buddies” did - such as Abramoff. Let’s call it the Al Capone effect - you know he did it, but you just can’t pin it down. So why is anyone listening to his blather about who wants to work, and who deserves to have what? Why do people still dignify him, like some sort of revered elder statesman? He isn’t even close. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-are-unemployed-because-they-want-to-be-sez-tom-delay/531730/7 "2010-03-08T17:01:30Z")
So what, if that is the case? Stop worrying about what your governments are spending on the unemployed and the ill, and have a microscopic look at where the rest of it is going. Our MP’s have been claiming expenses for duck ponds and moats; you’d be astounded at what your lot have probably frittered. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-are-unemployed-because-they-want-to-be-sez-tom-delay/531730/8 "2010-03-08T17:10:37Z")
We don’t “fritter”. We squander, high, wide, and handsome. We open the floodgates and let the money pour out like water from a busted dam. _Yee-haw!_ ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-are-unemployed-because-they-want-to-be-sez-tom-delay/531730/9 "2010-03-08T17:11:58Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > A ditty for Delay (R-Undead) > > Hang down your head, Tom De-lay > Hang down you head and cry > Hang down your head, Tom De-lay > Poor boy, you’re a worthless sack of shit without a soul… > > OK, needs work… _snerk_ ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-are-unemployed-because-they-want-to-be-sez-tom-delay/531730/10 "2010-03-08T17:26:39Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > A ditty for Delay (R-Undead) > > Hang down your head, Tom De-lay > Hang down you head and cry > Hang down your head, Tom De-lay > Poor boy, you’re a worthless sack of shit without a soul… > > OK, needs work… I daresay that with this offering, and with the “I Bunning your dog” witticism that you recently gave us, you are vying with Mark Russell as America’s Most Beloved political humorist. You probably have about the same Q score as he does these days. Do you wear a bow tie? ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-are-unemployed-because-they-want-to-be-sez-tom-delay/531730/11 "2010-03-08T17:28:14Z")
> [@](#): > > but there’s still money to be made if you want to make it. And where would that be? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-are-unemployed-because-they-want-to-be-sez-tom-delay/531730/12 "2010-03-08T17:45:21Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > I have an idea, let DeLay be unemployed for a while and let’s see how he likes it. > By the way, wasn’t he in trouble for some sort of crooked dealings not too long ago? > Wiki stuff: > > Fox News: > He was a crook. Sure he didn’t actually go to jail, instead his “buddies” did - such as Abramoff. Let’s call it the Al Capone effect - you know he did it, but you just can’t pin it down. So why is anyone listening to his blather about who wants to work, and who deserves to have what? > > Why do people still dignify him, like some sort of revered elder statesman? He isn’t even close. So you know he did it. But he’s never been convicted, or even brought to trial. Well, then, hang the bastard! Let’s not let all this foolishness about rights interfere with our righteous indignation. JUDGE: How do you plead, Mr. Delay? DELAY: Not guilty, Your Honor. JUDGE: Hmph. Sure, a likely story. Bailiff, you may fire when ready. I love how the deep abiding concerns for the rights of the criminal accused, so often the hallmark of liberal sensitivity, vanish in an instant when the accused is a prominent conservative. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-are-unemployed-because-they-want-to-be-sez-tom-delay/531730/13 "2010-03-08T17:47:20Z")
Well, technically he is right in that unemployment insurance does provide disincentives to find work. I will freely admit that I didn’t exactly pound the pavement as hard as I possibly could have when I was unemployed. There really was no incentive for me to take any job that payed less that $405 a week (NY max unemployment). Still sort of a bizarre thing for a politician to actually say though. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-are-unemployed-because-they-want-to-be-sez-tom-delay/531730/14 "2010-03-08T18:04:22Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Well, technically he is right in that unemployment insurance does provide disincentives to find work. I will freely admit that I didn’t exactly pound the pavement as hard as I possibly could have when I was unemployed. There really was no incentive for me to take any job that payed less that $405 a week (NY max unemployment). > > Still sort of a bizarre thing for a politician to actually say though. Yeah, that was pretty stupid. But if one is inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt, one would assume that he was talking about “some people”, and not all people. Here’s the context: > [@](#): > > You know," Delay said, "there is an argument to be made that these extensions, the unemployment benefits keeps people from going and finding jobs. In fact there are some studies that have been done that show people stay on unemployment compensation and they don’t look for a job until two or three weeks before they know the benefits are going to run out. Now, I’m not about to take his statement at face value, and I would like to see more details about these “studies”, but he fell for an interviewer’s trick question as if he were some unsophisticated bloke off the street instead of the seasoned pol he actually is. Perhaps it’s time for him to try “Celebrity Apprentice”. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-are-unemployed-because-they-want-to-be-sez-tom-delay/531730/15 "2010-03-08T18:15:38Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > $405 a week (NY max unemployment) :eek: I’ll spend the rest of the day being horrified by that. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-are-unemployed-because-they-want-to-be-sez-tom-delay/531730/16 "2010-03-08T18:26:56Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > :eek: I’ll spend the rest of the day being horrified by that. According to [this PDF](http://www.ushomepay.com/state_unemployment_payments.pdf) (released in 2006), Mississippi is the lowest with $210 a week, while Rhode Island is the highest at $596. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-are-unemployed-because-they-want-to-be-sez-tom-delay/531730/17 "2010-03-08T18:29:55Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Well, technically he is right in that unemployment insurance does provide disincentives to find work. I will freely admit that I didn’t exactly pound the pavement as hard as I possibly could have when I was unemployed. There really was no incentive for me to take any job that payed less that $405 a week (NY max unemployment). > > Still sort of a bizarre thing for a politician to actually say though. Unemployment can provide disincentives to work in some cases, but usually when unemployment is ~10%, people are unsure enough about their ability to find their next job that they will start looking immediately rather then live off unemployment. Of course, most people isn’t everyone, if you happen to be really confident in your ability to find work or are sitting on a large savings you don’t mind spending down if you can’t find a job, then you’re lucky. But I think its fairly safe to say that not too many people are in that boat in the current economy. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-are-unemployed-because-they-want-to-be-sez-tom-delay/531730/18 "2010-03-08T18:45:20Z")
So when employment levels and poverty rates fluctuate, it’s because people are lazy, then not, then lazy again? I find that hard to believe. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-are-unemployed-because-they-want-to-be-sez-tom-delay/531730/19 "2010-03-08T18:49:06Z")
I was unemployed and receiving unemployment benefits for about three months when I lived in California. I did nothing to look for another job … because I was moving back to Maine. I needed the benefits I received to keep myself afloat while I got my shit together. And, hey, isn’t that pretty much what it’s designed to do? Tom Delay is a cock. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-are-unemployed-because-they-want-to-be-sez-tom-delay/531730/20 "2010-03-08T18:52:48Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > We don’t “fritter”. We squander, high, wide, and handsome. We open the floodgates and let the money pour out like water from a busted dam. _Yee-haw!_ \ I’d be happy if all my representatives wanted was a _duck pond_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-are-unemployed-because-they-want-to-be-sez-tom-delay/531730.md?page=2)