So the Policy Exchange are at it again; they think "that the government should withdraw benefits from
part time and temporary workers who are not doing all they can to find a
higher paid or full time job" and they claim "the public’s attitude towards welfare has toughened over the past few
years. A poll for Policy Exchange found that 21% of the public thought
that claimants should lose all of their benefits regardless of the
hardship it would cause if they failed to comply with their jobseekers
agreement."
Lovely. Can't think why people's attitudes (even just 21% of them) might have changed; perhaps because of the spurious bullshit that seeps out of the press, the radio and the TV, endorsed by these odious fuckers, on a daily basis.
The point they want to make is that they believe people working part time and claiming what will become Universal Credit (IE people claiming tax credits or some form of top up from the state) will be forced to look for more hours, up to 40, in order to carry on claiming. The fact they are actually working - doing something - isn't enough. That counts for fuck all.
I will never understand the mentality of the right wing at all. This is entirely self defeating and just more populist crowd pleasing politics. It completely ignores, not least of all, that there are people who will need the part time workers they will have to give up. It ignores that there aren't the full times jobs available (hence all the part time work). Of course it also ignores issues such as the need for flexible work, such as caring or childcare responsibilities. But IDS and his Policy Exchange pals don't care. It even suggest that, once a month at least, the claimant should meet with their adviser, even at weekends or in the evening (just when you want to be shepherded by the DWP of course) to facilitate this process.
According to their website the "Policy Exchange is an independent, non-partisan educational charity seeking free market and localist solutions to public policy questions." My spellchecker is not fond of the word 'localist'.
I'd love to know who they help, other than right wing interests, as a charity.
Meanwhile the Work Programme continues to struggle, something the Policy Exchange ignore of course. Round and round the circus goes.
I'd love to know who these 21% are. It's so worrying to think how susceptible many people are to manipulative negative press - why don't people try harder to look behind the claims? Often that's when these arguments fall apart. It just goes to show how important it is to verbally battle each and every word put out by these odious free market fools.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised it's not more given how the press brainwash people.
DeleteReminds me of Yes Prime Minister, Sir Humphrey: "You know what happens: nice young lady comes up to you. Obviously you want to create a good impression, you don't want to look a fool, do you? So she starts asking you some questions: Mr. Woolley, are you worried about the number of young people without jobs?"
ReplyDeleteBernard Woolley: "Yes"
Sir Humphrey: "Are you worried about the rise in crime among teenagers?"
Bernard Woolley: "Yes"
Sir Humphrey: "Do you think there is a lack of discipline in our Comprehensive schools?"
Bernard Woolley: "Yes"
Sir Humphrey: "Do you think young people welcome some authority and leadership in their lives?"
Bernard Woolley: "Yes"
Sir Humphrey: "Do you think they respond to a challenge?"
Bernard Woolley: "Yes"
Sir Humphrey: "Would you be in favour of reintroducing National Service?"
Bernard Woolley: "Oh...well, I suppose I might be."
Sir Humphrey: "Yes or no?"
Bernard Woolley: "Yes"
Sir Humphrey: "Of course you would, Bernard. After all you told you can't say no to that. So they don't mention the first five questions and they publish the last one."
Bernard Woolley: "Is that really what they do?"
Sir Humphrey: "Well, not the reputable ones no, but there aren't many of those. So alternatively the young lady can get the opposite result."
Bernard Woolley: "How?"
Sir Humphrey: "Mr. Woolley, are you worried about the danger of war?"
Bernard Woolley: "Yes"
Sir Humphrey: "Are you worried about the growth of armaments?"
Bernard Woolley: "Yes"
Sir Humphrey: "Do you think there is a danger in giving young people guns and teaching them how to kill?"
Bernard Woolley: "Yes"
Sir Humphrey: "Do you think it is wrong to force people to take up arms against their will?"
Bernard Woolley: "Yes"
Sir Humphrey: "Would you oppose the reintroduction of National Service?"
Bernard Woolley: "Yes"
Sir Humphrey: "There you are, you see Bernard. The perfect balanced sample."
Exactly right.
DeleteWe are living in a madhouse with the fire exits locked while the tories throw lit matches around.
At a time when there is patently insufficient paid work to go round we need to think differently. Rather than punish part time work it should be encouraged. The more part time work there is - the less unemployment (or at least, unemployed) and the more people getting work experience. The present system encourages work/job "hoarding" with those in work often having to work excessive hours (paid or unpaid) whilst large numbers languish on benefits who would welcome and enjoy some paid work. Given a blank piece of paper no-one would come up with the present system. There ia a need for a radical re-think.
ReplyDeleteThe tories are all about self interest. Quite how people don't see this is beyond me. But they probably have similar interests. That's where the system of capitalism fails.
DeleteIn my case part time work is better, because i have so few bills. Money isnt a prime concern. So long as i get more than the dole i am happy..I had an interview two weeks ago i didnt get it because they wanted to hire someone younger to pay them less.. How do i know she mentioned this is a junior role.. and she asked my age.. i have one wednesday so will see if they want a older but qualified and skilled or if they want cheap
DeleteHorses for courses: for me P/T won't cover the bus fare in many cases. I'll not get more than the dole. Even then i won;'t be paying any NI which means out of that pittance i'll have to pay my own contribution. It's just not worth it, dependds on the job of course.
DeleteQuite frankly my head is so far removed from the required stte of mind for work that I don't know what to do, and as i get zero help or support that isn't likely to change. In fact it will get worse given how the tories like tightening the screws. Never mind competing with peopel that have way more experience and are way more suitable. It's hard work even thinking about it.
Good luck.
"Quite frankly my head is so far removed from the required stte of mind for work that I don't know what to do, and as i get zero help or support that isn't likely to change."
ReplyDeleteIsn't that the truth. I spent years working in offices and floors where all people did was sit or stand around chatting, back-stabbing, managers treating themselves to junkets and liquid lunches etc - yet this is "work" the great dignifier; work sets you free - to be petty, vindictive and holier than thou. One joins the great tide of envy, resentment and hypocrisy that seems to pass for graft these days. I think work is just a tool of the political classes now, just as it once was in the USSR when the ideology of it trumped the reality of it. The Soviet Union collapsed due to its contradictions - I don't think Capitalism is honest enough to pay attention to its contradictions. Hence no collapse - just more of the same, forever.
The JC+ won't care. I'm fearing the worst this friday, but there's nothing I can do about it. The WP is a joke.
DeleteWe're at a point now when there's two choices: either we carry one with this hopelessly broken system in the belief, presumably, it will get better. Or we stand against it. The former means being part of the problem, but unfortunately that's the choice most of us have made, thanks largelyto the media.
Choosing the latter also means rejecting the world of work as it stands right now. People are getting paid a pittance, worked like dogs and all in the name of competition and austerity. If we carry on supporting this, no matter how noble, we are supporting a slaveship.
So either we take a short term view: get a job, pay our taxes. Or we take a broader view: take the system apart and start again. It has to be the latter.