Why are young people not lining up to work for free in the muffin mines? | First Dog on the Moon | Opinion | The Guardian
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Problem is, people think it’s funny.
5% unemployment is unnoficially mandated by our growth capitalist economy to keep inflation in check. Problem is, it’s no longer working. The current housing market ‘correction’ is just a little sprinkle of icing sugar falling off...it doesn’t mean people will embrace low wages.
In many ways minimum wage is effectively working for the dole...because you can’t get ahead on it!
Combine this with severe casualised under employment and the expectation that the ‘unemployed’ will work for (often less than) minimum wage by industry, no wonder young people see through the BS and go to the beach.
The Protestant work ethic doesnt work in a market dominated by a widening gap between rich and poor...the middle road is getting too hard in the face of rising living costs. Working for the sake of it doesn’t work because minimum wage is too low - it’s no longer aspirational.
We're copying the Americans and producing a generation of 'working poor'.
There has ALWAYS been a "Working Poor", Nothing new about this.
Buggering off down the beach is NOT actively looking for work whichever way you can "Spin" it , It is "Bludging" pure and simple.
I have done heaps of "Crappy" work for crap pay in my lifetime because that's all that was available at the time, You can even put me in the "Working Poor" basket But at least I WORKED and provided for my family from the sweat off my own brow and didn't expect the taxpayer to fund my leisure time.
The experience I gained from doing those various CRAP jobs lead to better jobs with higher pay Eventually NOT only because I had learnt new and useful skills But because I had gained a Good Work "Ethic" as well, NOT "Trying" or just giving up isn't an option IF you sincerely want to improve your lot.
The World doesn't owe anyone a living and going through life expecting everyone else to carry you is Pathetic.
The carrot or the stick? The carrot always works better IME.
There is nothing "human" about the Department of Human Services.
If it gained me useful skills or it was benefiting the community I would have a crack at it, Much better than sitting at home pulling lint out of my naval.
Also for the long term unemployed it would help to "Wean" them off the tit of the public purse and give them some ambition/incentive to get out there and find a job (any job)
pretty sure thats slavery.