Thread: Work for Dole?

When you have entire families that are all on welfare living in the same house say 6 people all on newstart that adds up to more than $3500 a fortnight plus rent assistance and other benefits.
I had to raise 4 kids and look after my wife for a lot less by working my arse off.
It is worrysome that a lot of the income (welfare) that is recieved by some is wasted on drugs, booze, smokes ang gambling instead of feeding and housing a familly.
Roll out the welfare card Australia wide

Proverty or the fear of proverty, to many people, will be the only drive for them to work.

I think welfare should provide the bare minimum that is the level of help to keep one alive and very uncomfortable.

Universal income? The rise of Communist Australia?

Originally Posted by martnH

Universal income? The rise of Communist Australia?

nothing to do with communism

it's about keeping a civil society ie lower crime rates, public safety, better health outcomes etc leading to less pressure on the public purse

it is well proven fact that the money spent up front equates to a fraction of what needs to be spent later esp from the health and policing aspects alone

an effective model just needs to be found it seems

is a very interesting subject to delve into

Originally Posted by incisor

is a very interesting subject to delve into

it is.
time change. 100 years ago income tax was just bring introduced.

The country we live in is called the Commonwealth of Australia because we all are entitled to share in the 'common wealth'. All of us do share in that common wealth. Every time we drive on a road we enjoy a share of that common wealth. Every time someone gets a tax cut, or a superannuation concession, or a Medicare rebate, or goes to a library or receives numerous other benefits they get a share of the common wealth. Those free prostate cancer test kits are a share of the common wealth.
It is calculated that the concessions granted to wealthy people cost far more than the welfare received by the about 5% unemployed, age pensioners and others. For example, six billion dollars alone is paid out as tax rebates to investors who didn't actually pay tax. Our politicians and the royal family all live on state welfare.
The only difference with a universal basic income is that it would be an actual straight out payment of a modest amount to all entitled to share in the common wealth. It would be a return to people of their share of the total wealth.
Technology is reducing the need for workers to do routine manual jobs. That's just a fact of life, a by-product of technological innovation. It's not a reason to claim the people who can't get a job because those jobs have vanished have suddenly become lazy bludgers. Human nature doesn't change just because the nature of work has changed for reasons beyond their control.
Demonising ordinary people for ideological reasons to make ourselves feel superior is just rubbish and unacceptable, I think. People are just people.

The core measure of a civil society is caring for others, especially those less fortunate than oneself.

Whether one is generous towards others in their heart or not, the ruthless competition of growth capitalism actually requires it, otherwise we would be communist, or very quickly descend into civil unrest. If one wants to take the ruthless minded selfish approach, the commonwealth is looking after your civil responsibilities for you, so you don’t have to.

Sharing the common wealth is too often presented as ‘welfare’, when actually it’s something everyone benefits from. It’s predominantly the wealthy who dodge taxes, not the needy.

Also, no one ever knows when or if they will fall on hard times.

I remember the saying, 'Taxes are the price we pay to live in a civilised society.'
I've lived in low tax societies which were less civilised, and I prefer our way. Street crime is certainly a lot lower and there is far less need to fear burglars, carry guns for protection, or postpone going to the doctor when sick because of the cost of health care.

Due to the way "unemployment" is classified, 5% is well below the real figure. I a person works an hour or more a week, they are counted as employed, for statistical purposes .
I know a number of people who work four, four hour shifts a week. Each of them would love more hours and take any extra shifts available. Sixteen hours a week is far from easy street.

Why are battlers, legitimately receiving Social Security payments called dole bludgers yet big businesses and wealthy individuals who don't pay their workers correctly and avoid tax, are considered smart?