If the safety net in terms of unemployment benefits was increased to more closely reflect real employment wages and benefits, then I think we would only dampen many workers\’ motivation to return to work.

I could see maybe a downward graduated payment that would provide some hefty assistance in the period immediately after losing a job, but would decrease so as to motivate the worker to find a way to return to the workforce.

In the end, the goal is to get workers back into the workforce (assuming they didn\’t leave to pursue other ventures such as education or a small business), not to make their non-working existence more cushy.