Depends if you like your job. Some people would prefer to work rather than not. Maybe because they get fulfilment out of what they do. Maybe because they enjoy the money.
Depends on whether you are looking at it from the individual's perspective or, other people judging them. By the same token, is a brain surgeon 'better' than a dustman/garbage man? Both jobs are important. Both need doing. The dustman probably helps more people than the brain surgeon but, more people could do the dustman's job. What if the dustman has a Ph.D. in Neurosurgery? Are they then wasting their talent and education by not fulfilling their potential? Why? Does it matter?
Ultimately- it's not for us to judge them, although it might well bother them. In my experience, people in wage slave jobs who worked hard to get a degree in the hopes of getting a career, aren't all that happy.
I guess there is also the argument that most education systems are at least in part, publicly funded and, depending on where you live, we may also make use of other publucly funded services- healthcare, libraries, parks, emergency services. So- if we have and are taking out, should we be paying back in? Not sure... Ultimately speaking of course, we didn't choose to be born. Is it fair to bring a child into this world and expect it to work?
In terms of not working though. Some people are medically eligible not to work. For those that can- should they feel a duty to? I feel a duty to work. I was raised with a very strong work ethic. If I couldn't support myself, I don't think my parents would just abandon me but I'd be given such a guilt trip! So much so that, working any job seems more appealing to that.
That said, when I can do my prefered job ('career',) I actually enjoy my work mostly. That said, it's incredibly precarious and all or nothing. Last year, I went from working over a third of the year with no break- 7 day weeks. All long days to having over a month with no work. Which was honestly, kind of glorious. I think I would enjoy being a NEET certainly.
But, I guess I'll ask you this: How do you feel about part of your salary going towards people who could work but, choose not to? I suspect it happens... people/parents falsely claiming benefits. If it happens (and I'm sure it does,) are you happy to support another person's lifestyle choice- knowing you might actually prefer that yourself?
As an example, I went full time in my dreaded retail job to save some money to do a degree. I got chatting to one lady there who worked part time. If she worked more hours than she did, she would lose her benefits so- why would she? Seemed sensible to me. Most people hated working there. Why would you do more if you didn't have to? If you'd loose money doing that! It wasn't because she couldn't work. Clearly she could- she was! It was whatever rule there was. She was just sensible to know the rules and got out of the system whatever she could. I found it kind of ironic though. The rest of us in some way were hating every minute of our full time work their to fund her days off in effect. I suppose I can see why people do feel resentful over that.
Guess it depends really. If it's the bank of Mum and Dad solely financing someone then, that's their own business. If it's benefits though- that's money other people have earnt. Don't they have a right to question why they are funding people? Whether all those people are in fact eligible?
It comes down to I suppose- are benefit cases all genuine? By the way, I imagine an awful lot are. Or, are some people just lazy and unwilling to contribute to society but somehow, they still got approved? Is it ok to do that? Maybe but we can't all do that! So- it comes down to fairness. Why should people who also hate working. Who also find it detrimental to their health do it to support others they don't even know? Of course, the real tragedy is when people who should qualify for benefits, don't.
It's not actually the system itself I don't like. I love the idea of free healthcare. I think, being born into communities, being raised and given an education, the ideal is that we do give back. Preferably though- in something we enjoy and are good at. Plus- employers ought to treat us well. I also agree with helping people who genuinely can't work or, need extra support to do so. But- I think some people do abuse the system and honestly- no, I'm not thrilled about that! Who wants to work their arse off in a job they hate to fund someone they don't know who is just as capable or incapable as them (in some cases) to live a leisurely lifestyle?
