IDS, in this massive welfare reform initiative, is attempting to address the causes, trying to rein-in the dependency culture and to "see beyond the facile argument that compassion can be defined by the size of a welfare cheque". The meme that 'Beveridge has been betrayed' is, as it should be, cross party (but not nearly enough, political shenanigans will always trump what is right) as surely it is clear as day that the welfare state is now causing - and has been for many years the - more than one of the five 'Giant Evils' (Want, Disease, Ignorance, Squalor and Idleness) that it was developed to abate.
And for those that will immediately say that the CSJ is a just an IDS right-wing think tank then think again: "One of our key problems has been a political obsession with the idea that throwing money at a problem will solve it, regardless of how entrenched its root causes may be... ...Busting the myth that poverty is tackled solely by chasing a mainly income inequality line is a major task for the 21st century. If the government seizes this opportunity we might just get there.")
Update: Fraser has just added this piece: "Why are the left so angry about today’s welfare reform? Because its popular – and right."
2 comments:
Christian rightly asks where was the righteous anger of the 'poverty lobby' (and their "ongoing shock-and-awe strategy") during this time?
That's a rhertocial question surely?
no, just badly written/ paraphrased by me. should have read 'current' shock and awe strategy: before they didn't need one as they were being stuffed with new Labourites.
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