The Reform of the Welfare System

[SARID]

The item on the reform of the welfare system,on the BBC news today, included an interview with a single Mother of four
young children.She said she thought it was her duty to stay at home living on benefits and bringing up her children.She said,
if she got a job, she couldn't afford the cost of childcare, and provide for her family, on what she could earn.
I am not condoning people living off the State, but you have to face the fact that the majority of people on benefits are
unlikely,if they got a job, to earn more than the minimum wage. That might put food on the table, but there would be nothing left to cover the cost of having children looked after. So what's the solution? Any ideas?

[Sheik Yir Erse]

SARID - I've probably had my say on this one, over on the Shannon Matthews thread. I don't want to bore a whole new set of readers to tears

[gizmo]

From the bit I heard on the radio this morning, the Govts spokesperson was saying that people on benefits (not sure which ones) would be reqd to do some form of community service before getting their cash. I am sure we all know of some who are workshy or even bone-idle and this would appear to be a good idea, but surely the vast majority of people on benefits do not choose to be.

[Beachcomber]

I'm sure this won't be a popular opinion but if you can't afford to have children don't have them. Condoms are free.

[SARID]

"If you can't afford children, don't have them " I agree Beachcomber, and I'm sure that's the opinion of most sensible folk. I retired some years ago,and spent the final twenty years working in what was considered Edinburgh's most deprived area.(I was not a social worker ) and I had a great deal to do with young single girls when they had a baby.Never for one moment did they consider whether they could afford a baby, and anyway, having a baby was nearly a quarantee of getting you very own corporation flat.
Once they moved on to a new partner (frequent occurance ) another baby was the order of the day!

[Govangirl]

and I had a great deal to do with young single girls when they had a baby.

I hope you are paying child support for them all SARID!

[hugh]

Have any of you people on here condemning state support for kids actually refused or returned state support or benefits for your own kids? Just out of principle?

Just wondering, that's all.

[four eyes]

its easy to condem these people when you are in work etc,beware many of you may be needing benefits sooner than you think.judge not lest you be judged yourselves.

[LANDROVER ROGER]

The phrase"on benefit" now carries the meaning"scrounger"which is not necessarily the case.Regrettably all are tarred with the same brush.

[Beachcomber]

Have any of you people on here condemning state support for kids actually refused or returned state support or benefits for your own kids? Just out of principle?

Nope. But then I've worked and paid tax ever since leaving school 25 yrs ago and so feel I've paid enough in to the system to be entltled to something back.

It's the people who have consistently taken money out of the system, year after year, without putting anything back that these reforms should be targetted at.

[cgms310]

I left the UK 26 years ago to get away from the demise of the Social Security system as I believed that when I reached 65 there would be nothing in the kitty for me, after having worked since the age of 16!

Seems my prediction is sadly coming true and if the economy keeps sliding down the slippery slope of world recession, we are all going to be eating tinned dog food as part of our staple diet for the forseeable future!

We now live in a world of the professionally unemployed, many of whom will never earn a real paycheck in their entire life. So the question is who do we “blame” or hold responsible for this disaster? Was it the government of the 50’s and 60’s or was it simply payback for the British mentality of “ruling the waves” for the past 200 plus years, dominating countries, screwing with their culture removing their resources and then leaving them to implode, once the wealth of these countries had been exhausted? (not unlike Scotland when you think about it) The “gift” to these "Commonwealth countries" was a British passport, however I do not believe those who gave these “guest passes” away like coupons for a free bag of chips, could have envisaged the mass exodus from those countries to the “motherland” and the consequences that such a mass immigration has now caused.

Just my 2 cents and hey, I could be wrong!

Charles.

[SARID]

I get your drift, Govan Girl,but I can assure you any rumours along the lines you are suggesting, are completely without foundation!I have three grown up "weans", and that's more than enough for me.

[UP THE ROAD]

What are they going to do about the lazy folk who have made a career out of delibaretely bungle any interview they are sent to so that they can still claim their benefits

[cgms310]

"What are they going to do about the lazy folk who have made a career out of delibaretely bungle any interview they are sent to so that they can still claim their benefits"

I think the baseball terminology of “three strikes" and you are out is the best. If you go to that many interviews and do not get the job, then it's back to school, because something is terribly wrong and they may need some additional educational, a portion of which would be paid from their unemployment benefits.

I have a suspicion that these individuals would find work rather quickly!



Charles.

[ionnsaigh]

I think its an absolute disgrace - to suggest that if you don't have the money - you should not have children.
This appears to be ethnic cleansing of the poor. Taken to it's fullest conclusion - only the rich and middle classes could breed without fear. The Welfare System is something we should value - from child benefit to pension - although far from perfect - it represents a caring society. Who truly needs the system - the rich - or the poor?. Yet the rich take all the benefits going to them. Some workers in agricultural areas - still own and retain - their own means of production - down on daddies farm.
The job market is no place for the faint hearted - it's a jungle out there.
So please - in this season of goodwill to all men - stop attacking the poor.