WELCOME TO DISABILITY NATION: “In the Age of Obama, Americans may be better off faking disability than trying to find a non-existent job. Obamanomics reached the bottom of the barrel last month, when more Americans went on disability than found jobs. That is, apparently, the end point of the welfare state.”

UPDATE: Reader Charles Gallo writes:

Back in 2009, I was working for a major media company, and got very very sick, and spent 3 months in the hospital then home. At the end of that time, I wanted to go back to work, and my MD said, “I am willing to sign you out on permanent disability”. I had long term insurance that would have paid me 80% for the rest of my life, but I wanted to go back. In Jan 2010, I was laid off, and the best paying job I’ve had since then pays about 72% of what I was earning, with no benefits. Would have been a lot better off if I had said “yeah, I’ll retire.”

Sounds like it.