Would I take some menial job if it took that to provide for myself and my family? Yes I would before I turned to a life of crime, but I have gone for an extended period (about a year) without a job, and never once considered Wallmart or fast food as an alternative.

I had a friend that got laid off at the same company I had worked for and he was forced to take a job delivering pizza to provide for his family. I respected him for it and I hired him after I found a decent job, suited to my experience. He had to move from VT to LA to accept the job but it was way better than pizza delivery.

The lesson is that you need to have savings to carry you through the rough times. I read somewhere how long it takes to replace your salary if you are unexpectedly unemployed in an average economy. As I recall it was something like a month for every $5,000 to be replaced. In a recession, all bets are off.

Another thing to remember is that while sloth is one of the seven deadly sins, actively seeking a good job is not sloth, it is one of the most difficult things in life, and it is a 24/7 stressful occupation.