today the con-lib or should i say iain duncan smith have put out proposals to reforms of the benefit system
we are all in the dark as yet
but what are your worst fears or shouts of hooray
let us know
here is the bbc page
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-10807098

Ministers to set out 'radical' welfare reform options
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith Mr Duncan Smith has argued that work is the best form of welfare

Ministers are to set out options for reforming the benefits system and moving people from welfare into work.

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith says he wants radical reform to tackle a "culture of worklessness" and help the least well-off in society.

Proposals set to be included in a green paper include combining existing benefits and tax credits and tailoring support to parents and the disabled.

I'd love to think it will happen but to radically change the welfare system will cost money at first at least and there isn't the money in the economy to do it at the moment. I live in an area of high unemployment yet many migrants get placed here and find work. I heard a story recently from someone that works at the post office in my local town, a woman came to the counter screaming at the member of staff "why have you stopped my pay". Of course her "pay" was in fact her benefits payment and the woman acted like it was a working wage. I'm sure there are area's in the country that work is harder to find though rural area's and the like, but another example I have is my partner has friend who lives in London and claims she can't find work this to me is a load of nonsense as London attracts work from other areas of the country and if you really want a job there you will find work!

I can understand people who have gained qualifications in a certain field not wanting to take a job outside of their chosen field, that said I still think they should even if just for their own benefit. What is more impressive to a potential employer I couldn't get the job I wanted so I signed on and stayed home or I couldn't get the job I wanted so I took a basic job while I could find something better.

I have a neighbour who is perfectly fit and able to work and yet I never see him off for a job interview or attempting to find work and yet he continues to get his benefits paid in my view this is very unfair to taxpayers in this country, after all the benefit system is by far the most costly expenditure to the government coffers.

The fact that an able person can be better off on benefits than someone getting paid minimum wage and paying tax is disgusting and change is desperately needed.

I better take my right wing cap off now or I'll break my keyboard

I'd agree with most of the above.

From what I gather the basic thrust will be to create a situation where it is financially advantageous to work rather than stay on benefits, unlike the current bizarre situation whereby in many cases if someone takes a job they actually find they have less income than when they were on benefits. To rectify this situation will cost the government initially, but will be beneficial to all concerned in the long term. The treasury is poised to allocate some billions to initiate this program, and I think it will go ahead.

This kind of reform is long overdue. NuLab, under the auspices of Brown when he was Chancellor, created a labyrinthine benefits and tax credit system as part of the drive to create a client state. Unbridled immigration was another part of this plan to keep NuLab in power ad infinitum and to consign the other parties to permanent opposition. Fortunately they managed to screw it up (same as they did most things) and hopefully the current administration will unravel the nightmare of bureaucratic red tape and over-complicated legislation that is the legacy of the last government.

thanks for your very interesting points of view
it's a shame we will have to wait till autumn before we get to see the final plans for the welfare reforms,
I have always held the view that benefit system has been open to be abused for many years,
far too much is paid in benefits thus making it the better option than working for a living
maybe people will start to take responsibility for their lives .
I personally take great um-bridge at having to contribute towards providing a financial buffer to people that have children and cannot afford to care for them financially,
I would much rather see my taxes used to invest in manufacturing and industry thus creating real jobs and wealth to our outlying towns and cities and hopefully better lifestyles,
I wait with baited breath for the autumn and the reactions of the nation once we know the full impact the reforms will make
thanks

edited
as I made a few spelling mistakes

Either way; and no matter what reforms are made. The individual is going to lose out, and the Government is going to be into pocket. It's always been this way, and always will be.

Who was it that said:

Probably a bloody tory....

Although as far as the coalition is concerned, I prefer the Con-Dem alliance..... Seems to sum them up.

Whoever got in, it was going to be a nightmare seeing as 'New' Labour spent the money on consultants and spin, plus letting Mandelspoon back in.

I vote we take them all outside Downing Street, put them up against the wall, and...........well, you know the rest, without me needing to finish the statement.

Well if the reforms in the U.S and EU countries like germany or france are any example it will not work. for the first time since WW2 there has`nt been this much poverty,children and people have actually starved to death or froze to death(because there benefits were cut)do to mistakes made by the bureaucrats.who dont have to worry about going hungry.(with the trillions of dollars and euros and pounds given the finance market and the jobs being exported too developing nations workers in these countries dont stand a chance)its the fault of conglomerates and mega firms and there greed for profit(and bailouts)that were in this mess in the first place so of course the politicians(managers for the rich)are going to squeeze ther workers even more some has to be blame and since politicans and there wealthy constituents cant be too blame some one has to take the fall. nothing wrong with capitalism when it works the way it should(company messes up it pays the cost)bailouts are not apart of capitolism,at the same time there nothing wrong with socialism(its not communism)you work and pay into the system you receive those benefits when you need them.I know the argument about why should my taxes pay for these people.because you are those people,if you work(labor to earn your wages) it can happen to you,you could lose your job.then your one of those living off taxes paid by some one else. you either except a new contract or your fired(wage dumping,less benefits,more hours worked less pay)if it got to be reform (tax the companies and the wealthy equally as the workers and countries could pay the bills again)REFORM WONT WORK FOR A WORKER ONLY FOR THOSE WHO ALREADY BENEFIT FROM NOT BEING REGULATED.that my 2 cents

"People shouldn't be afraid of their Governments, Governments should be afraid of the people...."

One of my favourite quotes of any book ever.

And:

"A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where 51% of the people may take away the rights of the other 49%." Thomas Jefferson

If things keep going the way they are, then the UK could soon have trouble, brewing.

To be honest Tre, they've been saying that for years, closest we ever got was an interesting Saturday in '90, unfortunately, the message was lost and people started to enjoy just causing trouble instead of actually making a stand against tyranny.

It never ceases to amaze me that people slate Thatcher (with good reason, I'm not trying to defend the old hag) for being a dictator in all but name, but seem to forget Blair was worse for trying to control everything.... Talk enough cr*p and you can fool the public. Thatch was too straight talking, if she'd have employed Al Campbell, she might not have got binned off in favour of a trapeze artists' son.

Agree whole-heartedly, on this, mate. Thatcher, was probably one of the first mistakes in British history, to be swept under the carpet, with the spin: "she had done the country a great service"....Blair wasn't much better, nor the last idiot, either. Brown, the bloody name makes my blood boil.

Our King-and-Emperor, His Tony-ness, was worse, you KNEW Thatch was going to stab you in the back as soon as look at you, at least the old bat didn't smile at you and tell you she was doing you a favour while she did it.