When writer Charles Murray last visited NZ talking about the incentives inherent in any state welfare system and the problems with benefits for single mothers, then Social Development Minister, Steve Maharey said this;
I do not support the view that the dpb is a lifestyle choice for many young women. Nor is there any research that supports it.
Reasearch? The fact that thousands of women continue to grow their families courtesy of the taxpayer is all the evidence I need. Here are the latest figures;
27,219 DPB 'clients' had added one or more children to their benefit at June 2006.
At October 1, 2004 the number was 23,160. The habit is catching.
Don't tell me that's not about lifestyle choice.
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2 comments:
Yes. Isn't it a fine example of political correction. I too think a client buys services and a customer buys a product.
Now you have prompted me to look 'client' up in my Concise Oxford and guess what? There is an archaic definition listed ; dependent, hanger-on.
Actually the word is used so as not to discriminate. But that's exactly what we need to do. Make a distinction between those who are in genuine need and those who are not. Which is why govt isn't the ideal provider. They can't discriminate by law. What a pickle we are in.
Lindsay, have you seen that Blair wants to intervene in the raising of benefit recipients children? The article doesn't say whether he only intends intervening in certain cases such as teenage mothers. This is a clear admission that some benefit recipients' raise children that are a menace to society. It would be interesting to know what percentage welfare families/teenage mothers recipients raise little horrors. I suspect the figure must be high for Blair to take such drastic steps.
Gloria
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