Orewa II Preview
Jordan at Just Left has written his preview of Orewa II, Don Brash's State of the Nation address. He outlines his picks for the National Party Social Welfare Policy.
I am a child of the DPB - it was used in my family for a year or so to allow itself to get back on its feet after a unpreventable disaster struck. Most beneficiaries are in the same posistion - they need to use it to cover them until they are capable of returning to independence. But the hard-core who have (more many reasons) allowed themselves to be dependent on welfare need to be moved off it, for their sakes.
Jordan's Policy picks (and my reaction) are:
Work for the Dole: Just say yes! Work for the Dole builds work ethics and provides motivation to get out of the unemployed low self esteem trap. It also prevents the Devil finding work for idle hands.
Benefit Reductions for Out of Control Kids: This ones a little tricky, but if the state is paying for you to bring up your kids you should provide proper parenting. Like to see more carrot in this one (Warnings, then parenting skills help and counseling, then reductions coupled with more help).
Making child immunisation and health checks compulsory for parents on benefit: Don't agree with this one. Some parents choose not to have immunisations for a number of reasons, not because of ignorance.
Single Parents Work Tested once youngest is six: Don't have a problem with this - if they can't organise proper childcare they won't have to look for work.
Work Test for Sickness and Invalids: Absolutely agree with this. I do volunteer work with a Intellectually Handicapped group. While some in the group are not capable of working, some are! Simply writing off people as not capable of working just because they have a mild handicap is being patronising.
Time Limits for Welfare: It would work if at the end of time limit for your benefit (e.g. six months) you are put into a education to work programme with a job at the end of it. Once you hit your lifetime welfare limit, you just go straight into the programme, instead of being starving in the streets. Otherwise it will not work.
The other policies I would like to see announced are:
Subsidised Childcare: For a one-year period after returning to the workforce, with income-related testing after one year. (Also available to non-beneficiaries.)
One-off 'back to work grant': A one time only grant for those who have been on DPB for over 3 years or unemployed for 2 years of up to $500 to help get workclothes, transport, etc. sorted. You could only get this once a life time.
I am a child of the DPB - it was used in my family for a year or so to allow itself to get back on its feet after a unpreventable disaster struck. Most beneficiaries are in the same posistion - they need to use it to cover them until they are capable of returning to independence. But the hard-core who have (more many reasons) allowed themselves to be dependent on welfare need to be moved off it, for their sakes.
Jordan's Policy picks (and my reaction) are:
Work for the Dole: Just say yes! Work for the Dole builds work ethics and provides motivation to get out of the unemployed low self esteem trap. It also prevents the Devil finding work for idle hands.
Benefit Reductions for Out of Control Kids: This ones a little tricky, but if the state is paying for you to bring up your kids you should provide proper parenting. Like to see more carrot in this one (Warnings, then parenting skills help and counseling, then reductions coupled with more help).
Making child immunisation and health checks compulsory for parents on benefit: Don't agree with this one. Some parents choose not to have immunisations for a number of reasons, not because of ignorance.
Single Parents Work Tested once youngest is six: Don't have a problem with this - if they can't organise proper childcare they won't have to look for work.
Work Test for Sickness and Invalids: Absolutely agree with this. I do volunteer work with a Intellectually Handicapped group. While some in the group are not capable of working, some are! Simply writing off people as not capable of working just because they have a mild handicap is being patronising.
Time Limits for Welfare: It would work if at the end of time limit for your benefit (e.g. six months) you are put into a education to work programme with a job at the end of it. Once you hit your lifetime welfare limit, you just go straight into the programme, instead of being starving in the streets. Otherwise it will not work.
The other policies I would like to see announced are:
Subsidised Childcare: For a one-year period after returning to the workforce, with income-related testing after one year. (Also available to non-beneficiaries.)
One-off 'back to work grant': A one time only grant for those who have been on DPB for over 3 years or unemployed for 2 years of up to $500 to help get workclothes, transport, etc. sorted. You could only get this once a life time.
posted by Michael at
1:37 PM
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