>>I would be all in favor of kicking off the layabouts to make room for the new out-works who are truly victims of the changed economy.
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>>I was referring specifically to Britain, but the way, where it was my understanding getting 'on the dole' was a lot easier than getting unemployment here.
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>I don't know, but I suspect that to be true. I have a friend who has no physical or mental handicap and lives on the dole. She always has. She visits here for 30 days every year. It may not be easy, but she manages.
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>We have to separate temporary unemployment assistance from welfare though. I don't know if there are different programs in GB like we have here.

You might get "on the dole " easily but what you get is not a lot of money. Your "friend" is probably on some sort of long term disability benefit.
I can never understand why the UK is always the butt of these comments. The UK's welfare payments are some of the worst in Europe.
There certainly are a small number of people living in the margins who have never had work and are largely unemployable but its certainly not an easy or profitable life choice. Going from employment to benefits is I would imagine a huge shock for most people.