It would appear we have a large supply of potential employees as well as a large number of job openings. I have heard a number of possible reasons for this: people getting paid for doing nothing seems to be right at the top of the list. However, there are two other possibilities that no one has talked about, leastwise to the best of my knowledge. The one that most readily comes to me are the masks. I am 73 and I find it very difficult to breathe in those things. After an hour or so I just have to take mine off regardless of any law.

I had considered taking on a part-time job to help with my Social Security income, but I know of nowhere that would hire me unless I wear a mask. Because of the requirement, I would suspect there are many that simply will not work because of the respiratory stress it causes. Maybe, now with the shots, this problem will go away. Still, I suspect there are places that will still require the masks.

Although I do not know of anyone who has the second reason, I suspect there are many. There are many these days that cut lawns for money, or simply provide landscaping services. If they are providing these services under the table, so to speak, they could have two sources of income. By the way, do not belittle landscaping as a method of income. Some people make a lot of money at it. If the truth be told, some or all of the money made doing this might not get reported to Uncle Sam. After all, many of those doing the work are not here legally.

And so, by not going back to the legitimate job, some just might be drawing from the government and making a dollar or two on the side. Am I wrong? I can’t prove my suggestion. Then again, I doubt there is anyone that can prove me wrong either.

Let’s face it, government regulations and laws do have a tendency to create underground economies, legal or not. The hitch in this for American citizens is that much of this trade is being taken from them by illegal aliens willing to work for less money.

So it would appear that those who continue to pay them to do nothing are also the same ones making it difficult for them to make a dollar or two under the table. Who’d guess. The democrats making it hard for the poor to make a dollar or three on the side, illegal though it might be.