The BIG National WELFARE REFORM Poll!

[Gary L]

With all this thing about welfare reform in the news. I thought I'd have a poll about it.

I've been reading lots of comments from both sides. some saying that it's what the country needs. some saying that it will cost the government more money than they're saving.

how will any changes affect you?
Do you have any thoughts?

Is 13 not enough options?

[danielf]

I can see this being closed pretty quickly. But in the mean time:

[Gary L]

Why?

"A place to discuss topical issues and news"

It's topical, and it's in the news?

[danielf]

Nearly a hundred views and no real comment so far...

I'll stick my head above the parapet then. I consider myself well left of centre, and I don't mind paying in taxes for a fair benefits system. A fair benefits system however means that it'll need the support of the general public, and I can't for the life of me see how the general public will support a benefits system that allows people to receive the equivalent of a £35k (before tax) in 'support'. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to have their heads examined imo. Having five kids and needing a big house is no excuse for not having a job that brings in less cash. There's too many people working for a lot less than that.

[spanna]

I'll 2nd what danielf said

[AndyCambs]

The options for answers do seem a little biased.

[Alan Fry]

Why the government is wasting time with this, there are hardly any jobs around, and there are no well paid job at all!

If the government wants to save money, then crackdown on Tax avoidance and evasion!

[Taf]

They'll cut their teeth on the weak and poor, then move up to the tougher groups, but not up to the level of their lords and masters (the rich).

[richard1960]

Originally Posted by danielf

Nearly a hundred views and no real comment so far...

I'll stick my head above the parapet then. I consider myself well left of centre, and I don't mind paying in taxes for a fair benefits system. A fair benefits system however means that it'll need the support of the general public, and I can't for the life of me see how the general public will support a benefits system that allows people to receive the equivalent of a £35k (before tax) in 'support'. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to have their heads examined imo. Having five kids and needing a big house is no excuse for not having a job that brings in less cash. There's too many people working for a lot less than that.

+1 totally agree i do all sorts of rubbish shifts at work (the NHS) for a lot less then £35k before tax.

Most of the benefit in London at least is to pay for ultra high private rental property with rents possibly being kept artificially high by high levels of housing benefit, which makes it all the more harder for people working to be able to afford anything unless they too can get housing benefit a vicious circle of sorts.

[chris9991]

I guess this could be a way to reduce price of houses and make them more affordable. (Though not necessarily in a desirable way)

[Rob]

Welfare was supposed to be a safety net, not a way of life. However harsh it may seem there is no way that anyone should be better off on the state than they would be if they were employed. There do need to be proper safeguards so the vulnerable are protected, and care must be taken that unwitting victims are not made out of children in larger households if the overall benefits are capped. Somehow we have to encourage people to take some responsibility for their own circumstances rather than just expecting handouts.

[Gary L]

Have to say, this isn't just about the £25,000 cap. it's about the intention of taking thousands of people off the DLA. that in itself will affect people and their carers. it will mean a lot of them will lose their independance that they had from being able to get out and about by means of being able to afford taxis, or from their mobility car.

you could look at it as they weren't so much a burden because they didn't need looking after. but by taking the funds off them, or even the car they had. then they will now be a burden.

some will throw in the towel if you like. some will give up and go into care homes. it will cost the country millions to look after these people. unless the government and the public (who incidently the government have already stated are with the government on this) as predicted. are prepared for this.

no effects have been seen yet. but when they do start I think it's going to be really messy.

as it is now, the government are cutting services left right and centre. they are taking things away. in some cases some people are suffering the effects of multiple things because they apply to them. whilst some are only suffering none or one or two.

it used to be the case that the government would provide for the needy, and we expected it as the norm. but overnight we and the government are very capable of taking it all away.
overnight we are capable of turning into a selfish and non caring society.

I personally don't think we will ever recover from this mess that's about to hit Britain. and I really believe that Dave will go down in history as the man who broke Britain and turned it into what it will inevitably become.

You can say it's all about money if you like. but if it was really about money we know they'd go for the rich, and they wouldn't be throwing it all away on trains and stuff.

is Dave going to reduce our taxes from the savings? is all this going to make us better off?
I doubt it. you probably already know that too

[martyh]

Originally Posted by Gary L

I personally don't think we will ever recover from this mess that's about to hit Britain. and I really believe that Dave will go down in history as the man who broke Britain and turned it into what it will inevitably become.
.

We will recover without a doubt but Britain won't be the same country it was before which isn't necessarily a bad thing .We may look back in 25yrs time and think it was a good thing the recession hit because it was the kick up the arse we needed to sort out the welfare system ,if the recession hadn't hit then we would just keep plodding on giving people more and more benefits and employing more and more public workers.

[richard1960]

Originally Posted by Gary L

Have to say, this isn't just about the £25,000 cap. it's about the intention of taking thousands of people off the DLA. that in itself will affect people and their carers. it will mean a lot of them will lose their independance that they had from being able to get out and about by means of being able to afford taxis, or from their mobility car.

you could look at it as they weren't so much a burden because they didn't need looking after. but by taking the funds off them, or even the car they had. then they will now be a burden.

some will throw in the towel if you like. some will give up and go into care homes. it will cost the country millions to look after these people. unless the government and the public (who incidently the government have already stated are with the government on this) as predicted. are prepared for this.

no effects have been seen yet. but when they do start I think it's going to be really messy.

as it is now, the government are cutting services left right and centre. they are taking things away. in some cases some people are suffering the effects of multiple things because they apply to them. whilst some are only suffering none or one or two.

it used to be the case that the government would provide for the needy, and we expected it as the norm. but overnight we and the government are very capable of taking it all way.
overnight we are capable of turning into a selfish and non caring society.

I personally don't think we will ever recover from this mess that's about to hit Britain. and I really believe that Dave will go down in history as the man who broke Britain and turned it into what it will inevitably become.

You can say it's all about money if you like. but if it was really about money we know they'd go for the rich, and they wouldn't be throwing it all away on trains and stuff.

is Dave going to reduce our taxes from the savings? is all this going to make us better off?
I doubt it. you probably already know that too

I have no problem whatsoever paying taxes to support the less well off in society in fact i would go so far as to say its a must.

As for DLA that has been scammed now for some time and needs an urgent reform sure there are people who need it and i say they must have it,but far too often where i live i see people whom i know to have Motablity cars who have no problems walking around, only a few weeks ago my cousins partner got the Motability component of DLA,her partner my cousin promply sold his car and uses the DLA car for work. My taxes pay for their cars whilst i use the Bus,which i have no problem with if they genuinely need them but the system does need an overhaul.

I believe in the welfare state for the less well off i may even need it myself one day but not in its current form.

Those people on a low wage look on and see people they know on benefits that are better off then them how can that possibly be right.

[Alan Fry]

I hope the people affected by all this will not vote for the Tories or Lib Dems next time round!