Great quote!

https://ari.aynrand.org/issues/govern...

Well Said, Sarah! -- j
.

Michael: Ummmm Unemployement Insurance is NOT paid for by the person who gets the paid benefit. The premiums are forcibly confiscated from employers by the gov't and it is a totally self-contained court system feeding off of itself. It is handled outside of the normal judicial system. The ones paying the premium derive no benefit. But I agree with Ineil that the money is better used buying goods and services. I just wanted to clarify that it certainly is not the same as the other insurances you listed.

Unemployment is a system of compulsory state funded insurance. If you paid into it, either by force or freely you are entitled to its benefits. Think of it as a form of malicious compliance.

It is not the proper role of Govt. to provide unemployment benefits; and if one approves of that and other entitlements, he is not worthy of it. But those who agree with me and are forced to pay into the unemployment fund, then it is proper to collect it. Same for Social Security.

Ayn Rand answers this question in an article (it's been quoted below and can be found free on ARI Campus website). Her answer: yes, but with reservations. You have to vehemently oppose government scholarships and grants (and unemployment benefits) in order to deserve them. She says that government money in these forms is merely a reparation for unjust taxes and nonmaterial losses. So yes. Why add martyrdom to your troubles? The money is yours, at least partially. Take the unemployment, but stay true to your values and don't become indefinitely attached to it.

Ah, just noticed that CBJ beat me to quoting Rand's article. No problem, it bears repeating.
--Michael

This is an excellent question, one which Rand herself answered in The Objectivist, Vol 5, # 6, June, 1966. From her article, "The Question of Scholarships: "Since there is no such thing as the right of some men to vote away the rights of others, and no such thing as the right of the government to seize the property of some men for the unearned benefit of others—the advocates and supporters of the welfare state are morally guilty of robbing their opponents, and the fact that the robbery is legalized makes it morally worse, not better. The victims do not have to add self-inflicted martyrdom to the injury done to them by others; they do not have to let the looters profit doubly, by letting them distribute the money exclusively to the parasites who clamored for it. Whenever the welfare-state laws offer them some small restitution, the victims should take it . . . .

The same moral principles and considerations apply to the issue of accepting social security, unemployment insurance or other payments of that kind. It is obvious, in such cases, that a man receives his own money which was taken from him by force, directly and specifically, without his consent, against his own choice. Those who advocated such laws are morally guilty, since they assumed the “right” to force employers and unwilling co-workers. But the victims, who opposed such laws, have a clear right to any refund of their own money—and they would not advance the cause of freedom if they left their money, unclaimed, for the benefit of the welfare-state administration."

Collecting your unemployment "insurance" can pay for the traveling expenses needed to find another job. It can help you find a job faster.
Having any cash flow becomes all the more critical if you have kids to feed and care for.

Ayn Rand agrees:
"The same moral principles and considerations apply to the issue of accepting social security, unemployment insurance or other payments of that kind. It is obvious, in such cases, that a man receives his own money which was taken from him by force, directly and specifically, without his consent, against his own choice. Those who advocated such laws are morally guilty, since they assumed the “right” to force employers and unwilling co-workers. But the victims, who opposed such laws, have a clear right to any refund of their own money—and they would not advance the cause of freedom if they left their money, unclaimed, for the benefit of the welfare-state administration."
--Ayn Rand, The Question of Scholarships

Why not? You pay into it

Yes.
Even though unemployment insurance is forced upon employers, this is paid for usually by lowering wages initially.
Use the down time to start a business or build a skill set (like welding classes) or better computer skills, CAD classes, etc.

of course! if you lost your job due to the economy which makes the government responsible for you being out of work then they pay you what ever.

Michael why would you start your answer by telling someone they asked a stupid question? Yes use what the Gov gives, because, it is our money. Money is worthless without goods or service.

Yes, take the benefit.
Seek work with all the effort you would if there was no benefit - no doubt this is what you are doing.
In your mind, regard the benefit as a loan, when you are earning again your taxes will be paying it back, like it or not.

Thank you so much for this information. I've been grappling with this for some time, and you have lifted a great weight from my shoulders.

I'm with Mamaemma, as usual. Your unemployment insurance is part of the "salary package" she pays you, so I agree, you already got it, you just didn't get it yet. ok?

Sorry, I wasn't clear. I think it is something you have earned.

Rushfan, as an employer I can tell you that I pay for unemployment insurance on all my employees. It is required by law. I consider that to be part of the cost of having that employee, i.e., part of his salary. I think for you to draw unemployment is similar to Ms. Rand drawing social security payments.
Good luck finding a good job. You sound to me like someone who wants to earn his way.