The local business owner is deeply frustrated.  He started a business several years ago, and through hard work and perseverance, now has a thriving operation.

An employee approached him early this year and said he had a chance to take a "union-job" at a local university.  The security and benefits were too great to pass up.  The employer agreed.  Wishing him well on the new endeavor, the owner said, "If you ever lose your job, you always have one available back here. 

In fact, the new job didn't go as planned, and the employee lost his position after only 25 days.  How did the old employer find out?
He received a notice from the Illinois Department of Employment Security stating that the former employee was now applying for unemployment benefits.  The owner tried to call the young man to tell him, he didn't need unemployment because his old job was still open.  The ex-employee would not return the phone call.

The owner called the unemployment office and said, "I didn't fire the individual.  He chose to quit.  I have a job available for him.  He doesn't need unemployment."  The response for the unemployment office?  "There's really nothing we can do."

Last word was the old employee is now working on his father's farm (being paid in cash), while he collects his unemployment check.

I've talked about the "tipping point" before, where the number of irresponsible citizens are quickly outnumbering the responsible ones.  While I used to think the tipping point was rapidly approaching, I'm beginning to believe we are now looking at it in the rearview mirror.