NUMBERS ON DPB INCREASING
The number of people on the unemployment benefit is dropping, but numbers claiming the sickness and domestic purposes benefits are increasing at an alarming rate, according to Margaret Bazley, director-general of Social Welfare. She told delegates at a youth justice conference in Wellington last week that an extra 5,000 people a year were signing up on the DPB.
Other stats from her speech: 268,000 NZ children live in welfare-dependent homes, 30% of children live in sole-parent homes, and 76% of children in sole-parent families were in the lowest income group.
Source -- The Daily News 1 November 1996 "Welfare Boss: Dependence increasing" by NZPA
RUTH RICHARDSON'S SOCIAL POLICY RECIPE
Former Finance Minister Ruth Richardson has been on the campaign trail to promote her political memoir, Making a Difference. She believes that NZ is suffering from policy paralysis. Her prescription: A dose of social reform including a six-month time limit on the unemployment benefit, the abolition of the domestic purposes benefit for those unmarried mothers who had not been in an established relationship, a rise in the age of eligibility for superannuation to 70yrs, a voucher system for education, and further privatisations including the sell-off of all state houses and health care. Ms Richardson doesn't believe her proposals would be difficult to sell politically, but "they would need leadership".
Source - The Dominion 30 September 1995 "Cut dpb and limit dole, says Richardson"
Nearly fifteen years on, my oldest child's lifetime, and nothing much has changed....
Ruth was right. NZ is suffering from policy paralysis.
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The paralysis is crippling us (pun intended), but also the utmost imbecility and lack of brains shown by politicians of all parties.
Point in case, the spineless National Party and John Key. They are unable to dismantle Working For Families, incapable of any serious welfare and tax reforms, and always keen to maintain the status quo to avoid political fall-out.
Our "leaders" are troughers and parasites utterly bereft of ideas.
Each country get the government it deserves.
Except the urgency of NZ adopting these policies has increased 10 fold
then it was about improving efficiency
now it it about whether NZ can survive.
Ruth's entire policy prescription must be implemented overnight. If the "electorate" will not vote for it, well then it must be done without voting.
John Key's has about a 70% approval rating - what better things could he do with it than this?
Yep paralysis by analysis
you're right about the paralysis, but if you are implying Richardson's proposals will make a difference, Id be keen to see you elaborate as to how.
Well key has just scotched any chance of change tonight by saying that they were elected on policy that wouldn't make drastic change and he is not about to go back on that.
Fortunatley I don't subscribe to Richardson policy either as I consider that there are better things to do. Her last effort destroyed the lively hoods of many good people,just like the finance companies have.
We can do better than that.
Her last effort destroyed the lively hoods of many good people,just like the finance companies have.
Her reforms destoryed many unproductive uncompetitive people - but once again this is a desired side effect of any reform
If the reform doesnt throw the best part of 1,000,00 labour voting beneficiaries and "civil servants" into the gutter to starve, then it isn't real reform. It really is that simple.
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