OK, here is my problem with your assesment that Unemployment is "insurance". First we all agree that you are going to get more out of it thanwhat you paid it. Second you say "take advantage of every government entitlement that you can".
Then you go on to compare the government and the insurance company.
The Insurance company that insures my house is a private collective made up of people who pay into the collective, the company manages the money, invests it and has to make a profit in order to stay in business, in order to pay me for my investment.
The government is using a similar model, except they are making it mandatory. Second they do not regulate who can and cannot apply. They will accept even the worst bum out there, obviously a high risk pool. The money in that pool is collected from others who obviously cannot control their investment choices, therefore the "bum" is living off of those who do not necessarily want to invest in that risk.
Taking advantage of every govenrment entitlement, as you suggest, is the problem we have now. I too am self employed and you can bet ****ned sure that portions of my taxes (ie, self employment tax) go to fund those unemployment checks, which I would never qualify for. Too many of American businesses (small) are in the same situation and they have no one to fall back on, yet some of their employees can go down and draw a check for almost two years, while there are jobs out to tbe taken. of course most of those deadbeats, that are able to work but will not do so, are holding out for administrative positions.....that is why we will never climb back out of the hole we have dug for ourselves. We have given too much to too many for too long.