Bag's Rants

Is it April the 1st already?

Reading this article about a government commissioned paper which is going to say 'Private firms and voluntary groups should run schemes to get people off welfare benefits and into work' Read here.

I almost fell of my chair laughing. I wish we had thought of that. It's almost as if we don't like investing funds to get a return on our money over and above the bank rate. It makes it seem that they have done something spectacular with the money they were given to investigate and provide this report when all they have done is define the basis of capitalism and free trade. Although it does seem that the real agenda is to reduce the welfare state.

Now does that mean they will get out of the way and reduce the sky high taxes and bureaucracy that means that the profit you make is taken away in taxes although you take the risk, with your money, and do all the work? Nope. It doesn't look like it.

The good news though is that clearly the bill for the welfare state is getting too much. Something must be done. The climate changes taxes won't be here in time. Although to give people money to provide jobs is another example of sleight of hand. Perhaps a better way to do it is if the dole was where people had to turn up and do something. Make blankets or something that meant they were not sitting watching the TV all day or out causing mischief.

Put to tell private companies that they should take people off welfare is a bit much. All firms would so it if there was money in it. That's what they do. I don't think these civil servants actually understand how business works.

Changes are clearly afoot though. Interesting times are ahead.

posted by Bag @ 12:51 pm