Shopping trips to tempt jobless off dole

bo_drinker

So where will they work when they are tempted ???

Shopping trips to tempt jobless off dole - Exclusive

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By Bob Roberts Political Editor 23/03/2009
The jobless could be taken shopping in a bid to get them off the dole.
The "affluence tasters" will show the unemployed what they could afford if they earned a working wage.
It aims to break the isolation of those living on benefits for long periods of time.
Many unemployed people lose the will to work because they forget what it is like to take home a regular income.
Although they will not be given money for purchases, it is hoped the trips will remind them of the lifestyle they could fund with a salary.
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A senior Westminster source said: "Affluence tasters could show them what they can achieve for themselves.
"This works a lot better in many cases than threatening them with sanctions and the loss of benefit."
The plan will be pioneered by private firms who have been hired by the Government to take over from Jobcentres in some areas.
It comes after the jobless total soared to more than two million in the three months to January.
Work minister Tony McNulty yesterday admitted the future looked grim and added: "We have not hit the bottom yet."

tomterm8

There are more idiots in the world than you would expect, and apparently they are all MPs.

mewbie_2

What an extraordinary story.
"Look, here's a shop which sells things, and if you had money you could buy them."
"Really, wow. I'll get a career then. Until you pointed this shopping thing out to me I had no idea"

Are we really a nation that is so stupid we need teaching about money and shopping?

lana22

The National Lottery could do a similar thing - they could take me shopping in posh shops, buy me handbags, and then I might be convinced to buy a ticket now and again.
Oops I just realised that they don't actually give them money to buy stuff. Shame. That is called "window shopping", something which I already have a rather large amount of experience in.

weegie.geek

That'll be this Tony McNulty then?

Link in OP is wrong, should be this.

I don't see the point in this at all. Being unemployed and on a limited income doesn't mean you stop wanting things. You realise you can't afford them, and you do without until you can, or you take the less sensible path and go to Vanquis or Brighthouse or whoever.

What percentage of people will this encourage to get back into the workplace, and what percentage will get themselves into crippling debt, and lose what little they currently have?

I doubt it'll have any effect on most people mind you. People who are unemployed for genuine reasons are trying to get back into work, and will do so whether they're shown the "splendour" that employment brings. People who are quite happy being unemployed, which seems to be the demographic this is aimed at, are probably financially better off on the dole.

bo_drinker

mewbie wrote: »

What an extraordinary story.
"Look, here's a shop which sells things, and if you had money you could buy them."
"Really, wow. I'll get a career then. Until you pointed this shopping thing out to me I had no idea"

Are we really a nation that is so stupid we need teaching about money and shopping?

Somebody obviously thinks so. They'll want to hurry up though as the shops are closing in droves.

Cleaver

mewbie wrote: »

What an extraordinary story.
"Look, here's a shop which sells things, and if you had money you could buy them."
"Really, wow. I'll get a career then. Until you pointed this shopping thing out to me I had no idea"

Are we really a nation that is so stupid we need teaching about money and shopping?

I think it's a great policy*. We could also try the following government sponsored initiatives:

• Taking vegeterians to Burger King to show them what they are missing
• Trips for gay men to 'gentleman's clubs' to make them realise how wonderful bo*bs are.
• Opportunities for women to visit a male's house to see their shoe collection. Man: "Look, I have two pairs for work, two pairs for casual and a pair for sports". Woman: "Wow, truly enlightening".
• Sponsored trips to the theatre for people who seem to enjoy Hollyoaks.
• Free copies from your local council of 'Catcher in the Rye' and 'Of Mice and Men' for people who enjoy reading the Daily Sport. See if we can change reading habits.
• Authority funded trips to Nationwide Building Society for the Northern Rock Exec Board. "Ahhh, I see what you've done there. Very sensible."

There's a lot of mileage here with these schemes.

*I don't really. It's a crock of sh*te.

treliac

From the same article:-

Many unemployed people lose the will to work because they forget what it is like to take home a regular income.

Problem is many have never known what it's like to take home a regular income. They'd probably be able to buy more by staying on benefits!

Pobby

Un blikin` believable. That lot in Westminster need to be sectioned before there`s any more damage.

SingleSue

Ermmmmmm ok.........

Not sure this is going to work to be honest and dare I say it, an idiotic idea.

Cleaver

SingleSue wrote: »

Not sure this is going to work to be honest and dare I say it, an idiotic idea.

It is isn't it? Makes is very difficult to be a liberal loonie leftie nowadays when all the liberal left come up with is loonie schemes like this. <sigh>