Delicious LiveJournal Links for 11-8-2010

[andrewducker]

• Why Coalition plans to force people into unpaid work will flounder
  (tags: welfare uk government politics)
• I'm not unamused that Labour originally came up with the plan to make unemployed people work for their benefits.
  (tags: politics benefits uk)

Comments

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Ha, yeah, I was just reading about how this 4 weeks labour thing was all Labours idea anyway, and basically what the system already was.

The media presented this one *very* strangely.

[iainjcoleman.livejournal.com]

It suits the Tories to make a big noise about getting tough on workshy scroungers, despite this being a minor change to the existing system.

It suits Labour to whip themselves up into a froth of synthetic outrage, despite these being Labour proposals in the first place.

It suits the Lib Dems to keep their heads down on this one.

So all three parties are doing what is best for them politically, and the media is meekly playing along as usual.

[marrog.livejournal.com]

...and the media is meekly playing along as usual.

That's an... interesting perception of the media's 'usual' behaviour...

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

I was really lead astray by the news media on this one, they totally failed to present the facts of the story. Thank the gods for the internet.

[cairmen.livejournal.com]

The FT article linked from LC is worth a read (arguably "more worth a read"):

http://blogs.ft.com/westminster/2010/11/the-questions-for-ids-in-his-plan-to-give-hard-labour-to-workless/

Key interesting points:

- This is essentially intended to be a punishment measure for those who JSA advisors consider are "not working at trying to find a job". (Basically, if your JSA advisor doesn't think you're trying hard enough, you get sent on community service).

- There are a number of unanswered questions. The question of exploitation is the big one. There's also no answer as to how often people who aren't in work can be forced to do these jobs.

[marrog.livejournal.com]

I'm interested to know how it will impact struggling artistes - people who are on benefits and using the time while they job hunt to attempt to make a freelance career for themselves being shafted by JSA Advisors who don't like scummy artists and decide that that constitutes 'not trying'. Is this sort of career choice protected anywhere?

[cairmen.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking it'll teach them the valuable career skills of persuasion, charm, and total lack of shame...

(I don't think there's any protection for that at all, unless you were to somehow frame it as starting a business).

[missedith01.livejournal.com]

I agree with Liberal Conspiracy's point 1 especially. And I'd also like to make the point that a person who works should normally be paid for that work. To force people to work for no return is immoral.

[princealbert.livejournal.com]

I'm not unamused that Labour originally came up with the plan to make unemployed people work for their benefits.

Oh c'mon Andy did you sleep through Blunkett?
Thankfully twice before Blunkett went completly apeshit on us he got sacked for fuckin around.

[missedith01.livejournal.com]

What is it about Work and Pensions that it always gets these people? James Purnell anyone? Norman Fowler? Peter Lilley and his blodoy list.