A theory about how the jobless survive in America

Dear John: Here is a possible response to your question about how the jobless survive in America today:

I have to believe that there is a lot more “off the books” employment than anyone believes.

When you combine the estimate cited about 1 in 5 working-age people being jobless with the millions of illegal immigrants estimated by the politicians and the press, it probably means that there could be 40 million to 50 million people living this way — plus, as you rightly point out, their kids.

So, assuming someone has run out an unemployment claim and can’t get disability (although the number on that has risen dramatically), then what else can it be? People must be getting day labor, working for contractors, landscaping, cleaning job sites, cleaning houses or whatever else is out there. Combine that with local charity from churches and town-based organizations, and you have possible survival.

And all we hear about is how critical health insurance policies with $5,000 deductibles are to these same people. B.R.

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