Thread: 45 minutes at CENTRE LINK

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

crapped their pants as benos vote.

You have been using the term beno - never heard of it before - neither has google - I can imagine what it means but never heard it before - is a Qlder thing?

Garry

Originally Posted by frantic

So to try and thwart the 10% the Govt has cut 6months support to 100% of those under 30.
What's the next step?
First some push to cut welfare to long term unemployed as "their all bludgers".
Next is the push to cut help to lower income earners as"they should work harder,longer, get a degree"
Following that is the push to cut the pension as "they have worked for 40-50 years and should have saved enough to retire on"
Then there are the pollies who are pushing for pay your own medical bills on self inflicted illnesses caused by smoking and eating high fat or sugar. " you have known for 50 years ciggies cause lung cancer and circulation issues etc, along with high sugar causing diabetes and high fat= numerous organ issues, alcohol causes kidney and liver issues and if you have a DUI prang pay your own medical. "
How far do we go?

Dare I say, until they carry their own weight. I think Darwin explained it quite well.
I have a mate, very well paid, who smokes, drinks and loves to gamble. Why should society have to pick up the pieces. Normally, it's me, not society.

Originally Posted by garrycol

You have been using the term beno - never heard of it before - neither has google - I can imagine what it means but never heard it before - is a Qlder thing?

Garry

I'm guessing beneficiary? probably a term used in the department.

Departmental jargon. BeNo used to be at the top right of the computer screen, Benefit Number, changed to SSR, Social Security Reference Number, then to the current CRN, Customer Reference Number. Also an abbreviation for beneficiary. Commonly used by staff in a derisive manner. As in "there are people on benefits, then there are benos".

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

No money is given, food vouchers only and rent assistance paid direct to the landlord.

This is the sort of form true welfare should take. Made out to individual names (non-transferrable - or sellable/tradable) rent assistance, food stamps, public transport vouchers (to get to job interviews) and other necessities.

Originally Posted by frantic

pay your own medical bills on self inflicted illnesses caused by smoking and eating high fat or sugar. " you have known for 50 years ciggies cause lung cancer and circulation issues etc, along with high sugar causing diabetes and high fat= numerous organ issues, alcohol causes kidney and liver issues

Well, the political influence of the RSL managed to get diseases of aging and indulgence recognised as war caused so vets get TPI pensions for prostate cancer, lung cancer, diabetes, obesity, cirrhosis of the liver, alcoholism and so on. Wounded at the Battle of the Beer Houses and Brothels.

Originally Posted by AndyG

Dare I say, until they carry their own weight. I think Darwin explained it quite well.
I have a mate, very well paid, who smokes, drinks and loves to gamble. Why should society have to pick up the pieces. Normally, it's me, not society.

Problem is at the moment we punish those who do plan and prepare. Then we reward the gambler.
I do shiftwork, a few years ago the plant was cut so vol redundancy was given to the older blokes. The guy who lived at the club, smoked and slapped the pokies got a full pension and is still getting rent assistance, a lot of others who invested, saved and put extra into their super get little or zero pension and now we pay extra tax on any extra super contributions even though it will save the Govt in the long term.

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

Or do what the Americans do. Unemployment Insurance that has a finite time limit. Payments stop after a given date. Some give 12 months, other states give 24-26 weeks. In 2011 Michigan was in budget stress and cut the maximum period of ue insurance down to 20 weeks from 24. Others permit taking half rate for double the period. When the money cuts out, yanks go to what is called "welfare". This has to be voted for by the local citizens and usually jointly funded by the three tiers of government if voted for. No money is given, food vouchers only and rent assistance paid direct to the landlord. Many local option polls fail because the locals see a welfare system as attracting undesirables (read ethnic groups).

USA sounds like the system used in the UK prior to WW1. People and their families without work were a burden on the local community who had to pay for their up keep. The community would seek out where there was work then bundle up a group of people and send them off to their new life.