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Makedde · #18 (**permalink**) 04-22-2008, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raharu Haruha

Now for the second part: If it is hard to find a job, wouldn't it be more logical to give money to businesses (cut taxes) in order to create new jobs? But instead we give out checks and free healthcare? Am I on to something?

Possibly. Obviously, if new jobs were created, this would mean more people are in work, rather than collecting their weekly welfare payments.
I see nothing wrong with welfare for those who do not yet have jobs, but people should also be encouraged to find work. Here, we have work for the dole schemes. People on the dole must work a certain number of hours a week in order to get their payments. This itself gives people much needed experience in order to give them a better chance at finding work.

I myself was made to do a jobsearch course with my job agency. I was on a type of welfare payment, while at the same time I had to look for work, or my payments would stop.
The good thing about the course was learning about what is required during an interview, such as what to say, what clothes to wear, etc.
The problem was, I already had a job, and the aim of the agency - and the Government, for that matter, was to force me to find full time work, which I was not interested in. I had currently been in my job at McDonalds for matetr of weeks, and, being my first job, was not keen on moving on until I had gained the necessary experience, such as customer service, cash handling skills, etc.
I walked away without a full time job, and despite my being the only person in the entire group with a job, I was made to feel bad for having a Casual job.

Welfare checks are fine, but people should be encouraged to take part in courses such as this, too boost their enthusiasim and provide them the motivation to search for work.

Health care is another matter. Over here, we have Heath Care Cards, which entitle a person to discounts on medications, doctor visits, and so on. The wage limit for this is an average earnings of around $408 per week. I am not eligible, as most weeks I earn around $450. However, when you take into account the costs of rent, bills, etc, the money doesn't last long, so I do think the cut off limit should be much higher.