Benefits and the deficit: what would you cut?

The_White_Horse

they should just cut everything except schools, defence, police, judiciary/courts etc and nhs (and even that could be cut back a bit). that gives people protection, safety, education and health. they can get everything else themselves.

There should be a certain amount of benefits for those genuinely incapacitated - but that is it. the depressives will just have to work with the hump - I don't care if they have a little cry, as long as they bring my sandwich quickly.

ILW

Kohoutek wrote: »

That was before pre-16 education was compulsory and before we had extensive safety at work laws, so that point is completely irrelevant today. With or without those benefits, no 12 year old would before forced to work today.

Or any other age.

JonnyBravo

Rochdale_Pioneers wrote: »

A point that needs making is that the "sack the pencil pushers" argument is laughable as a means of saving money. Many of these people are on salaries of £20k per year - the cost of paying them redundancy AND JSA AND Housing Benefit AND Council Tax Benefit AND losing their Income tax/NI revenue AND losing their disposable cash being spent on stuff far outweighs the saving in salary.

Not much of an argument. If that was the only consideration then you'd clearly create a job in the public sector for every single unemployed individual..... it's cheaper after all! :rolls eyes:
The productivity (or otherwise) of these jobs is vital. It is this that decides whether they are worth having surely?

StevieJ

Kohoutek wrote: »

That was before pre-16 education was compulsory and before we had extensive safety at work laws, so that point is completely irrelevant today. With or without those benefits, no 12 year old would before forced to work today.

Thanks! a good idea for some more not required/quango/waste costs we can eliminate

Kohoutek

StevieJ wrote: »

Thanks! a good idea for some more not required/quango/waste costs we can eliminate

Not educating children and not legally protecting workers from accidents at work...what a great idea!

Although Labour does share your thinking – they're planning on £2 billion in cuts from the schools budget. They wouldn't harm their valuable voters in the benefits system, never!

Kohoutek

duncwilson

I would cut benefits & force people to work unless they are unable due to health - no question about it

ukcarper

duncwilson wrote: »

I would cut benefits & force people to work unless they are unable due to health - no question about it

That simple is it what jobs are they going to do. I’m sure there are a few bad jobs that nobody wants to do but not 2.5 million of them.

StevieJ

ukcarper wrote: »

That simple is it what jobs are they going to do. I’m sure there are a few bad jobs that nobody wants to do but not 2.5 million of them.

Chain gang :eek:

StevieJ

Kohoutek wrote: »

And your point is? apart of course the most affluent areas vote Tory and the poorest vote Labour. Davey boy should recruit you as the brains behind his election campaign strategy