A Step In The Right Direction.....?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29414565

[FrogNog]

Well paid jobs and decent childcare perhaps ladybirder?
From my time on this site it seems a lot of members grew up in a time where mum could stay at home and dad's wage would support a decent standard of living.
Those days are long gone. You need two incomes and more besides just to cover the cost of living.
Not only that, the parents are accused of not parenting their children properly, but how can they when they are at work for at least 9 hours a day, including travel.
I think it's dead easy for retired people to judge modern families. I wouldn't wish modern working conditions on them for anything.

[naomi24]

Yes, it is a step in the right direction. It's painfully honest but at least no one can claim that the Conservatives are paying lip service in order to garner votes. They're actually attempting to address a serious problem and they're being honest with the electorate. The Welfare State, which has created a culture of dependency and expectancy, cannot continue to sustain the long term unemployed, the addicts, or the lame ducks indefinitely in the lifestyle to which they have become accustomed and if the plan is for food and the necessities of life to take precedence over cigarettes. booze, the latest mobiles, and wide screen televisions, that's a good thing.

FrogNog, if you think the problems of hardship and of struggling to juggle jobs and childcare have just been invented, you're sadly mistaken.

[sandyRoe]

Don't the Americans call this, 'food stamps'? As has already been mentioned, people will sell them for much less than their face value.

[New Judge]

"...but how can they [parent their children properly] when they are at work for at least 9 hours a day, including travel. "

In my experience the people who parent their children badly are not those who go out to work. Generally they are those who do not work but spend their days roaming round the shops, visiting cafes and pubs for sustenence and moaning on Twitter and Facebook that they don't have enough time or money to feed their children properly.

"...people will sell them for much less than their face value"

Yes. And then moan that they don't have enough cash for food.

From the Chancellor's announcement today it seems that benefits might be frozen and those receiving them may have to do with a few less luxuries. This scheme may help them manage.

[anneasquith]

a scheme open for abuse, but if it keeps the right wing voters why not ?

[Canary42]

An undoubtedly expensive sledgehammer to crack a relatively tiny nut and one which will inevitably have damaging side-effects.

[Mamyalynne]

Can you stick this card in a gas or electric meter or use it on a bus? Pay your water rates?

[Slapshot]

More Tory extremism... smack the poor but make sure all your rich buddies pay less tax and have plenty of loopholes they can use to pay even less. IDS is a cretin, he should bever have been allowed back into government as for that obnoxious oik Osbourne.... bring down the deficit AT ANY COST, it really is a touch of genius for those that can afford it but stuff everyone else.

There has to be a better, politically acceptable way of managing the welfare state to ensure those who need help get that help and the scroungers in society get forced off their backsides to contribute. This method attacks everyone with a broad brush, that's not helpful in any way.

Seems a mighty sledgehammer approach to save 0.9% of the welfare budget, typically crass of Osbourne

[Obiter]

Listen to the expert...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29411685

[naomi24]

After saying //I don't think that's a bad idea of introducing maybe, like, a little card, where you can ensure people do get their groceries and their school uniforms// Deidre Kelly (from Obiter's link) says that jobs were not always appropriate, // Not everyone wants to work in an office or build a wall.//

Sounds to me like she wants the best of both worlds – those who refuse to take jobs they don’t fancy have no need to worry – the necessities of life will still be provided, so that’s alright then. Sorry to burst her bubble, but the Welfare State was never intended to be a lifestyle choice - there a millions of people in this country doing jobs they hate and they do it because they take responsibility for themselves.

[naomi24]

*there are*

[mikey4444]

I think something of this nature is definitely worth a try, but there remains a lot of work to do before it becomes a practical solution. Milk vouchers were widely exploited and misused years ago, and this could go the same way.

Not everyone on benefits is a work-shy dole bludger, and we have to careful not to tar everybody with the same brush.

If only this Government were to spend as much time and money getting people into jobs, Britain would be a much better place.

[Peter Pedant]

// it'll probably be most shops that sell groceries I'd imagine//

I love this tory bit of just filling in the missing bits with hopeful imaginatioin

[naomi24]

Mikey, //If only this Government were to spend as much time and money getting people into jobs, Britain would be a much better place.//

Isn't that precisely what they're trying to do?

[ToraToraTora]

Naomi and others sum it up very well. The state is a safety net not a lifestyle choice. Hard working tax payers money should be used on necessities only, utilities, accomodation, Food. It is possible to survive without waccy baccy, white lightening and athe latest smartphone.

[youngmafbog]

Food parcels is the answer, for all that need benefits.

No cash.

[lindapalmara]

Yes, it is a step in the right direction TTT. I'm sure they will find ways around it but I'm sure in this day and agethere must be the technology to do it. it reminds me of a discussion on one of the London radio phone ins a fewmonths ago when thisidea was being discussed. Some unemployed bloke rang in outraged saying he would spend his benefits money how he wanted and admitted to smoking and drinking heavily. He said he did jobs on the black economy 'to get by and was quite happy thank you. When questioned on his attempts to find a job he said he was offered one recently but it involved him starting work at eight a clock in the morningand finishing at 4. EIGHT A CLOCK he said, Who wants to start work at eight a clock. The female interviewer was almost incandescant!

[lindapalmara]

Yes, it is a step in the right direction TTT. I'm sure they will find ways around it but I'm sure in this day and age there must be the technology to do it. it reminds me of a discussion on one of the London radio phone in shows a few months ago when this-idea was being discussed. Some unemployed bloke rang in outraged saying he would spend his benefits money how he wanted and admitted to smoking and drinking heavily. He said he did jobs on the black ecomony 'to get by' and was quite happy thank you. When questioned on his attempts to find a job he said he was offered one recently but it involved him starting work at eight a clock in the morning-and finishing at 4. Eight Clock he Shouted, Who wants to start work at eight a clock. The female interviewer was almost incandescant!

[Gromit]

Of course this will never happen. The scheme is being trialed on a voluntary basis.

With the General election only 7 months away, by the time the trial is over and assessed, there will be no time to implement it during this Parliament. The LibDems would never support it anyway.

The Conservatives would have to win the General Election with a working majority, something which looks unlikely at the moment.

But it's the kind of thing to get thebeleaguered delegates in Birmingham wetting heir pants.

[lindapalmara]

Sorry about the duplication, don't know what happened there. tried to delete it.

anyway Gromit, things might look up for for the Tories. Looks like they might take some seats from the Libdums in the West Country