MrSmith Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 Re: The workhouse. Believe it or not I'm old enough to know someone who was once in the workhouse, and it was a travesty masquerading as a Christian institution. It wasn't Christian, it wasn't even humane. And once you went into it, it was almost impossible to get out of. So inmates gave up that last essential human emotion - hope. They just waited to die and frequently helped the process along. If we return to workhouses, (and I'm sure this government will consider it sooner or later,) I don't think we can consider ourselves a decent society. Thankfully no one is suggesting bringing that kind of thing back, but the past isn’t a good reason for not creating something better. Something that thousands of our young men and women already use could be provided throughout the country for anyone in need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna B Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 Thankfully no one is suggesting bringing that kind of thing back, but the past isn’t a good reason for not creating something better. Something that thousands of our young men and women already use could be provided throughout the country for anyone in need. I'm all for trying to find a system that works. I've often thought bringing back National Service for young people and the unemployed in certain circumstances might be a good idea. When Lo and behold, Cameron announced (Big Headlines) that he was doing just that. Not many people saw the small print that it would last precisely 2weeks, rather than 2 years...honestly - that man. Everything always falls apart when it comes to funding, and no method or system is going to be without cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthernStar Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 It has clearly revealed an issue. Some benefit claimants are incapable of spending the money they are given on what it's intended for. So it would be foolish not to recognise that and reinstate direct payments to their landlords. However it would also be foolish to continue to give these people any cash benefits as they won't be any more able to manage them. These people clearly cannot run their own lives, giving them cash is not helping them. That would indeed be an interesting experiment, I'm no expert on benefits but I have been very grateful that they exist on a couple of occasions. Now I was fortunate that I had some savings to subsidise the benefits I claimed and was only out of work for relatively short periods but I shudder to think how I would have made ends meet had I have been in genuine long term need of benefits. I reckon you're idea of micro-managing the money of the unemployed would probably cost more in the long run If the welfare of the recipients was taken into consideration, as far as I can see life on benefits is not easy and simply doesn't cover the true cost of a healthy life. All this re-iterated crap about flat screen TV's and the boosey life of Riley is frankly ridiculous from my out of work experiences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrSmith Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 I'm all for trying to find a system that works. I've often thought bringing back National Service for young people and the unemployed in certain circumstances might be a good idea. When Lo and behold, Cameron announced (Big Headlines) that he was doing just that. Not many people saw the small print that it would last precisely 2weeks, rather than 2 years...honestly - that man. Everything always falls apart when it comes to funding, and no method or system is going to be without cost. My system would save money, make people healthier and our environment would be cleaner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andygardener Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 That would indeed be an interesting experiment, I'm no expert on benefits but I have been very grateful that they exist on a couple of occasions. Now I was fortunate that I had some savings to subsidise the benefits I claimed and was only out of work for relatively short periods but I shudder to think how I would have made ends meet had I have been in genuine long term need of benefits. I reckon you're idea of micro-managing the money of the unemployed would probably cost more in the long run If the welfare of the recipients was taken into consideration, as far as I can see life on benefits is not easy and simply doesn't cover the true cost of a healthy life. All this re-iterated crap about flat screen TV's and the boosey life of Riley is frankly ridiculous from my out of work experiences. I'm not saying micromanage every claimant, I'm saying give them a choice. Direct payments and vouchers for those who need the help, cash for those who don't, but no recourse to public funds if they screw up. Help those who really have problems and give the tree a shake for the wasters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthernStar Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 I'm not saying micromanage every claimant, I'm saying give them a choice. Direct payments and vouchers for those who need the help, cash for those who don't, but no recourse to public funds if they screw up. Help those who really have problems and give the tree a shake for the wasters. Fair comment, could be a kind of safety net for people who fall through the first safety net too because I think that people who we turn our back on will be a problem in other ways. I don't want some desperado to mug my elderly mother or burgle me because they were starving to death in our land of plenty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna B Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 My system would save money, make people healthier and our environment would be cleaner. How do you work that out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeMaquis Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 It's no wonder we live in a nanny state, the problem is the recipients not the ideology of personal control and self financing. The next step is to build huge complexes for those people incapable of managing their free money, a bit like army barracks in which everything is provided leaving them with no need for money. Well it is time they learnt. If they can't manage their own money, how are they keeping alive. No doubt you were all saying the same things about bankers a few years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewheeldave Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 It has clearly revealed an issue. Some benefit claimants are incapable of spending the money they are given on what it's intended for. So it would be foolish not to recognise that and reinstate direct payments to their landlords. However it would also be foolish to continue to give these people any cash benefits as they won't be any more able to manage them. These people clearly cannot run their own lives, giving them cash is not helping them. Yet with housing, giving money direct to the landlord works really well and the tenants are happy about it and don't feel stigmatised. There simply isn't an equivalent for food- all proposed systems seem to be based on vouchers and people aren't happy with that, and, do feel stigmatised. ...So it would be foolish not to recognise that and reinstate direct payments to their landlords... Yes, I agree completely Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorisbrown Posted March 12, 2013 Share Posted March 12, 2013 what will happen with all the local councils, when the rent money doesn`t come in, will they go bankrupt and have to lay of even more workers, or am i missing something and the government will bail them out, and people that do work will they have to pay more rent to try make up the shortfall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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