tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post954735412864985323..comments2024-03-29T06:40:58.606+00:00Comments on On Probation Blog: A Very Cruel GameJim Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-39099046552402206502013-04-05T19:03:00.986+01:002013-04-05T19:03:00.986+01:00hammer in the north - a good point there!hammer in the north - a good point there!Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-77621945316966594332013-04-05T12:12:01.749+01:002013-04-05T12:12:01.749+01:00Most people on benefits I know are desperate to wo...Most people on benefits I know are desperate to work. The problem is lack of jobs to go round, plus low wages for many. A tiny handful might abuse the system, which does not deter Tories from portraying all claimants as scroungers. The richest 1% could pay off the deficit so benefitting the 99%. Where's the problem in this? hammer in the northnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-28866442792718301382013-04-04T11:02:11.981+01:002013-04-04T11:02:11.981+01:00Why does Duncan assume that if clients have money ...Why does Duncan assume that if clients have money it's more likely to be spent on alcohol and drugs? The majority of probation clients do not have drink and drug addictions, but the stereotypes persist. And in terms of the general population, it is estimated that about 4% of recipients of welfare have addictions. <br /><br />And it's no wonder, therefore, that the populace are generally unsympathetic to those on welfare, when stereotypical thinking is the order of the day. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-59274699193838593142013-04-03T18:58:28.875+01:002013-04-03T18:58:28.875+01:00Duncan,
You pose a very, very difficult question ...Duncan,<br /><br />You pose a very, very difficult question and I've struggled with the issue for years. As you imply and as I alluded to, clients do not always seem to spend as wisely as you or I might, but we're not in their situation and it's wrong to overlay our probable middle class values and beliefs on them. <br /><br />Very limited incomes often means very limited choices. Remember also that 'colour' tv, cigarettes, drink or drugs provide a degree of release or amnesia from very depressing lives. <br /><br />Of course living on £53 a week is nigh-on impossible and to say anything else is to be grossly disingenuous. Clients are expected to live on this sort of amount for years, not a token week or two.<br /><br />In the end as a society we have to decide what is a reasonable level of subsistence to pay people, irrespective of the fact that they might 'misspend' some of it according to middle class values.<br /><br />It's a big issue and probably worth a post of it's own.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Jim Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-80499928320273982432013-04-03T15:47:02.550+01:002013-04-03T15:47:02.550+01:00"A majority of the populace support the gover..."A majority of the populace support the government's welfare changes"<br /><br />A majority of the population can be convinced to support most things by their government. History will tell you that.<br /><br />My question for Jim is that if these clients can't manage their money (for reasons that could easily be considered not of their own making I'll freely admit), then is giving them more money going to make any difference, other than allowing them slightly more access to drink & drugs? Duncanhttp://www.example.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-29442078519324384862013-04-03T12:15:31.294+01:002013-04-03T12:15:31.294+01:00Thank you, Jim, for this searingly accurate accoun...Thank you, Jim, for this searingly accurate account of the likely effect of the latest welfare reforms on the most vulnerable in our society. I have not read anywhere else such a genuinely understanding analysis of the cumulative and pernicious destabilisation of claimants, who already struggle to keep up with the deliberately cruel and demeaning treatment to which they are subjected by those "in authority". Your revelations about the "botheration" tactics of JobCentre+ staff are sickening. That this comes from a professional who deals on a daily basis with the fall-out of spurious suspensions of benefits only adds to its pertinence. I am in despair at the thought of the damage this will cause, and the perverse knock-on effects this policy will have. Man on the Village Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02420025319687905046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-75116005039797796982013-04-02T10:22:34.099+01:002013-04-02T10:22:34.099+01:00A majority of the populace support the government&...A majority of the populace support the government's welfare changes. I find that a bit depressing, but that's the price of democracy which allows the ignorant as well as the spiteful a vote. I image a YouGov vote would favour the return of capital punishment. If only there was such a thing as a benovolent tyranny...<br /><br />The tabloids have done a good job scapegoating and the so-called official opposition has been mealy mouthed and anyway I think they are secretly onboard. They recently colluded with the government in changing the law to prevent those who won a court case on compulsory work to receive compensation. The church of England did not lend its name to recent criticisms by four other churches and so I see the Archbishop of Canterbury as no real friend of the poor. How much of the church of England is still the Tory party at prayer? <br /><br />The poor must play less bingo, smoke less and watch less Sky television, such was the advice contained in a newsletter issued to tenants by a housing association in the north-west. The housing asssociation quickly put an apology on its website when it weighed it words following criticisms from tenants. So much for diversity. But the less advantaged are easy meat at the moment!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-57006239194382004642013-04-02T09:43:16.141+01:002013-04-02T09:43:16.141+01:00The Strivers can't survive on the pay they ear...The Strivers can't survive on the pay they earn, so they receive various benefits. Now many of these benefits are being cut. The argument about incentivising the poor doesn't work with this group. They will be impoverished by the changes and no use saying they should work more hours as there are hundreds of thousands who are under-employed. <br /><br />And why can't the Strivers survive on their pay? It's not a living wage. Their employers don't pay them enough, so the state sets in and subsidises. The employers gets his workers on the cheap. Quite perverse. I agree: we need decent wages and then fewer benefits would be needed to live to a decent level in this deeply unequal society. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-63764422953695782122013-03-31T23:03:53.052+01:002013-03-31T23:03:53.052+01:00The reason people who work struggle is not excess ...The reason people who work struggle is not excess taxation or the consequence of high benefits, it is low wages paid by big multi-national companies who maximise their profits at the expense of employee terms and conditions. Fight for better wages not lower benefits.Rob Palmernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-53319283799283211552013-03-31T21:19:23.786+01:002013-03-31T21:19:23.786+01:00The Income Tax threshold is increasing next week t...The Income Tax threshold is increasing next week to £9,440 per annum from the present level of £8,105. It will rise again to £10,000 from April 2014. These are facts too.Jim Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00258147767051200157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8578343158425987632.post-90053575152595243102013-03-31T20:59:01.627+01:002013-03-31T20:59:01.627+01:00What about the unfairness of the excessive taxatio...What about the unfairness of the excessive taxation on those struggling in work to allow generous benefits to be paid.<br /><br />It really is time to call a halt to the benefits gravy train.<br /><br />Sorry, but that is the fact. One fifth of all UK government expenditure is for benefits.Frasnoreply@blogger.com