bite on this

The latest government initiative to deliver the Welfare Working Groups recommendations shows that we are being subjected to 101 shock doctrine. Michael has a great doco on it here. Felix has a posted a good link to a shorter version here. Please watch and learn about what is actually  happening and why. 

NZH

The Prime Minister says the Government will forge ahead with some of the Welfare Working Group's recommendations, aimed at pushing 100,000 beneficiaries into work within a decade.

I have posted about these recommendations  

here(Bennett lobs in some helter skelter)

paula bennett and the government have it all wrong. It is not the beneficiaries fault that there are not enough jobs. If you have to blame - blame the real culprits not the victims. 

and here(Gnats are little pricks)

But let's be clear - this idea is not about accountability, or saving money or creating efficiencies - it is a thinly veiled punch in the face to the less fortunate in our society and it just happens that maori are over represented in those groups.

and here (Kick them while they are down)

When I read this report it makes my skin crawl - it is all just about money and the people are just obstacles. The most vulnerable in society are at risk and maori are highly represented in those groups - this report is an attack upon maori because maori will suffer the most under these recommendations - and that is the way they want it - it suits their purposes.

and here(Scratching in the gutter)

Of course the obvious fact that there are few jobs is ignored because Rebstock dosen't care - it is all the fault of the beneficiaries, they need to get out there and she will provide the pointed stick to get them moving.

 Irishbill has a good post up on The Standard and I'll add other good links as they come through.

I am of the opinion that the brash longdrop into Act and Banks into Epsom shows that the long game is dismantling support for the disadvantaged. They are committed - smiley snake key and all who support him - I'm looking at you maori party.

scratching in the gutter

The welfare working group has come back with their recomendations and they have been predictable in their nastiness and destructiveness to our society. Their mindset is twisted - they blame the beneficiaries - I find their whole argument nonsensical and venal and i don't engage with anyone going down that line - no point - they are beyond.

Stuff

More than three quarters of all beneficiaries will be forced to seek work or face cuts to their payments - a single 'Jobseeker Support' benefit that would replace the dole, domestic purposes, sickness and other benefits and require all but the most seriously ill and disabled to look for work. Which would increase the proportion of beneficiaries presently subjected to work testing from 37 per cent to 77 per cent. That would more than double the numbers required to look for work from 133,200 of the 360,000 people presently on a benefit to 277,200.

Of course the obvious fact that there are few jobs is ignored because Rebstock dosen't care - it is all the fault of the beneficiaries, they need to get out there and she will provide the pointed stick to get them moving.

''There are currently few incentives and little active support for many people reliant on welfare to move into paid work. Long term benefit dependency can be avoided if investments are well targeted and timely. "Enabling people to move into paid work reduces poverty and improves outcomes for key at-risk groups, including young people, sole parents, disabled people and those who are sick.''

We knew this was coming and now we'll see how much more political capital brand-key will expend defending and implementing it.

Good post by Danyl at The Dim-post on another disgusting aspect of their recomendations

family-whanau-community

This is a great initiative - this time of year can be difficult for many people. Tensions rise as expectations are unable to be met, often women and children suffer increased abuse and violence. Money is short and there are so many endless messages telling us to buy and spend. When you add in the beaches and the fear deceitfully generated around who can go and have a swim - it is no wonder that many struggle. The answer is within this song and the intent behind it.

Family-whanau-community is the answer. We are constantly forced to see and think of ourselves as seperate from others - it is structural and difficult to resist. But it can be resisted - by coming together in love and connection. Any excuse to generate community and togetherness is welcome and it is up to all of us to take the first steps. Ring your relative - the one you had a falling out with. Say gidday to your neighbour - the one you have seen many times. Working together will save us all.


Kiwi Kiwi Christmas ... Song by www.thekerrstreetcrew.com For the Auckland City Mission Please give generously from allan johnston on Vimeo.

A group of beneficiaries released a Christmas carol with a very distinct kiwi feel and a whole lot of heart. The troupe of unemployed musicians met less than a month ago at a seminar put together by the The Depot and wrote "A Kiwi Christmas" in an hour and recorded it in record time.

Instead of seeing this as a quick money making scheme, the musos have agreed that all proceeds from the sale of the song will go to people even more strapped for income this Christmas season and will donate those takings to the Auckland City Mission.

aucklandcitymission.org.nz/​online_payment.php?action=submit

For additional information, to arrange interviews or images contact:

Adee Keil (The Depot): Home (09) 372-9566, Cell (027) 631 5358

Hat tip - Happyzine

kick them while they are down

As expected Rebstock and co have come out with a range of ideas to destroy the welfare state and beneficiaries, in the guise of fixing it and them.

From NZH

The review by the Government's welfare working group chaired by economist Paula Rebstock suggests that as few as 20,000 of the 144,000 sickness and invalid beneficiaries might be exempted from job-search requirements.

Nice - 20,000 out of 144,000 - that'll learn them - get off your butts and find one of the non-existant jobs, after all you are only sick or invalided. How bad is this - at the stroke of a pen 124,000 people are able to go and work, in fact they must search for work - MUST.

Sole parents could be required to look for work when their youngest children turn 3, or even 1.

The children can look after themselves in rebstocks world. The effect of this draconian measure on society is massive and all negative. Meanwhile families and whanau are further seperated and people are more isolated and children are not valued. I am not going to live in rebstock's world.

the review also offers beneficiaries a long list of potential "carrots" to help them get and keep paid work.

What about if there is NO work? Carrots - just like donkeys - geddit?

The proposals range across other public services, suggesting a radical revamp of the school system to steer at-risk youngsters into apprenticeships or other practical training.

Yes let's create more factory schooling - that will fix everything.

When I read this report it makes my skin crawl - it is all just about money and the people are just obstacles. The most vulnerable in society are at risk and maori are highly represented in those groups - this report is an attack upon maori because maori will suffer the most under these recommendations - and that is the way they want it - it suits their purposes.

The Rebstock report does not explicitly recommend any of the options it has put forward. It called for submissions on its ideas by Christmas Eve and will publish final proposals in February.

It also proposes contracting out some Work and Income services to private companies and iwi. It says 31 per cent of all beneficiaries are Maori and calls for a "strategic memorandum of understanding" with iwi leaders to reduce Maori welfare dependency, partly by developing specific programmes "by Maori, for Maori".

Don't be under any illusions - this report is not about helping beneficiaries or maori - they will try to lay the reponsibility on maori without giving any resouces to help - then they will point the finger and blame maori.

gnats are little pricks

How to distract people National 101 - bash the beneficaries - yeah that always works - plus it will distract people from the mining - yeah that works too.

But let's be clear - this idea is not about accountability, or saving money or creating efficiencies - it is a thinly veiled punch in the face to the less fortunate in our society and it just happens that maori are over represented in those groups.

No Right Turn is on the money with this post

"The government has released its latest welfare "reforms" - and as floated last year, they centre on forcing sick people to work, parents to ignore their children, and the long-term unemployed to re-apply after a year in the explicit hope that the new administrative barrier will cause some of them to fall through the cracks.

Then there's the question of where the jobs these people are supposed to do are going to be coming from. We're in a recession, and unemployment is at a 15-year high. Under these circumstances, imposing work requirements on beneficiaries is simply sadism. But again, that's the point: by making demands which are near-impossible to meet, the government will be able to throw these people off their benefits, thus cutting welfare costs. As for the actual welfare of those people or their kids, well, this government doesn't care about that. Tax cuts for their rich mates and "shrinking the size of the state" are more important than whether every New Zealander has food, clothing, and a roof over their heads."

and so is Tumeke

"Don't you LOVE their timing? The day after the Government announces they will mine precious conservation land, National call a press conference to play out one of NZ's favourite cultural past times - BASH THE FILTHY BENNIE.

It also looks like Nikki Kaye's position is less principled than first reported, turns out she had discussed it with Key yesterday...

...this smells funny now. National's strategy is to oversell the value and fold on one symbolic mining site they don't have much intention of mining to make it look like they are being moderate while pushing ahead with the rest of the mining agenda."

The bloggers are fighting hard to get the truth out. The gnats are little pricks and they will feel the displeasure of the electorate.

bennett lobs in some helter skelter

paula bennett and the government have it all wrong. It is not the beneficiaries fault that there are not enough jobs. If you have to blame - blame the real culprits not the victims. What a shocker to put fear in people's hearts just before the holidays.

From Stuff

"The Government is considering cancelling unemployment benefits after a year and forcing beneficiaries to reapply.

Other changes under consideration by the Government are understood to include work-testing for domestic purpose beneficiaries whose youngest child has turned six, compulsory budgeting advice for beneficiaries who claim frequent grants, and part-time work obligations for some sickness and invalid beneficiaries."

Well we know which groups will bear the brunt of this new policy and maori and young people are over represented - and aren't they the group that kill themselves four times more than the average.

This song sums up, on lots of levels.

"(Lennon/McCartney)

When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide

Where I stop and I turn and I go for a ride

Till I get to the bottom and I see you again

Yeah yeah yeah hey"