When unemployment fluctuates the bar for earning money is fluctuating. If you're the kind of person who is near that bar you need to take a good hard look at yourself.
Something external changed, and suddenly there's a problem with me? I need to look at myself, because someone else raised a bar?
I think your point is bullshit. It's not like people are capable of making money when the mill shuts down. There is literally no money left in the town then.
His point IS bullshit - if there is one to be gleaned at all. Its a classic cautionary tale in myopic argumentation - He's doing OK, so everyone else should be too, and if they aren't they aren't trying hard enough. Externality-free projection.
