Unemployment

It is tough to admit when you are wrong, but I have been on this one. There is a “free lunch” if you want to be unemployed. It must be clearly understood that employees pay no part of the unemployment insurance. The whole burden falls on the employer.

Up in Sacramento, our legislators who are overgenerous with everybody’s money but their own, raised the present $166 per week handout to the unemployed to $190 as of Jan. 1, 1990. If you can stay unemployed for another year, in 1991 you can get a handout raise to $210 per week. The more ambitious if they can stay unemployed for still another year, get increased to $230 weekly.

Any wonder that we have a mass of individuals who won’t work? Why U.S. productivity is hitting new lows? Do nothing and you get paid. Pity the poor small business employer, he gets to pay for it.

ROBERT M. GARRICK

Pasadena