Bottom line: 99 weeks is plenty long enough to find a job. That's almost 2 freaking years!
Sure, there's a lot of jobs out there. Lots of jobs paying $8 per hour flipping burgers. Of course it makes economic sense that people should choose those jobs over unemployment and searching for a job that would pay in the neighborhood of what you were making. I'm sure you'd become a Walmart greeter before taking unemployment right?
The common sense answer is that people would do whatever it takes to feed their family. If that meant being a walmart greeter, than so be it. Lower taxes mean that person gets to take more home from that $8. With a FairTax, those living in the lower income levels would get a prebate and essentially not get taxed on the basics.
One of the problems here is that government is paying people to be lazy. I guarantee you, there are many individuals that will become much more motivated to find a job or jobs when the gravy train runs out. I've been in that situation. It's amazing how the motivation levels increase.
The next problem is that individuals in a pinch are too picky about what they are willing to do. Think of any job in these situations as temporary and not the long term career job. If you have to work two jobs in the short term, then so be it.
Another problem is people are living beyond their means, acquiring debt that they think they can afford until Murphy throws them for a loop. Too many (a) car payment(s), credit card debt, HELOCs, buying/financing toys that all serve to put people in a crunch. Then they follow this by paying on their debts before taking care of themselves and their family. It's much more possible to save up for that rainy day while working and them much easier to live on less if you get laid off.