Should we stop giving benefits to the unemployed?

[Conal]

A friend of mine told me that recently in Slovakia, the government stopped giving out benefits to the unemployed. Funnily enough (and as I would have predicted) the employment rate shot up and people were suddenly going out and earning an honest day's work. I asked him whether the amount of crime had risen too and his reply was that it had not. He explained that crime is more to do with one not having anything to do than poverty. Imho the amount of taxpayer's money that this country spends on benefits is shocking. Should the UK government take a leaf out of the Slovaks' book?

[Shane]

Nah. it is pretty fair over here. Diabled people who can't really work should get more cahs though.

People who just aren't at work get bugger all each week so if they can live a dull life from that they ain't going to want to work, no matter what.

Benifits are not exactly debting the country. :/

[clueless]

People who are on the dole for a legit reason should be entitled to their benefits. But for those lazy so and so's, i reckon cutting their benefit can't do any harm. About time they got out and did worked to provide for themselves. The benefit system is in place for people to fall back on for a short period of time when they are made redundant, can't work, or are sacked and need a means to support themselves before they get a new job.

[Hevz]

I think it shud b reduced for people who r jst too lazy to go out to work! y shud my mum n dad go out n work 2 keep them alive when they can't b bothered!? however how cud u determine who needs it and who doesn't it's a difficult 1! i deffo think disabled people and carers of ppl who r seriously ill shud get more benefits!

[~Wayne~]

Benefits for people who can't be arsed to get off their lazy asses and get a job should be cut off. Anyone can get a job no matter how crap the job is; this could teach them some self respect or something!

I agree that for a certain amount of time jobseekers should be given out as it is a process that takes time but the wrong ones who do it all their lives!

[Luke]

It doesn't come down to just laziness though.

Some people may not have many qualifications or just find it hard to get employment in the first place.

[~Wayne~]

Yeah as I said for a certai amount of time its acceptable, anyone can get SOME sort of job no matter how crap it is its a job at end of the day

[iaxa]

i reckon Australia should get rid of "the doll" only one real reason ... cause all the natives hang around and abuse all the working people really shits me... then they go and get drunk and hold up bars .

but other than that i can see nothing wrong with it for single mothers and disabled.

[Richiecroft]

I think the government should open its eyes and see what their moneys going towards...crime, drunks, prostitution, etc. Thats the image most people get of Britain. But i personally think they should stop giving parents child tax and working tax credits if they have over like 5 children, fair enough if their single, they'll have to receive that extra money, but this joins the job seekers allowance in which most people get if their not working (we all no this)...

But what im getting to is, if we carry on this way Britain will become the laziest country in europe, and this epidemic of immigrants will rise, based on the rate of the unemployed. I also think that if your child/ children are not in full educationm then they should have to wait until they are 21 to get Job seekers allowance, as there will be a lower rate of unemployed people! Mentioning further education, whilst in this time period, their parents are still gettin child tax credit until the child leaves or starts full time work.

[Ben]

there are so many lazy idol slobs out there living off the everyday taxpayer just cos they know they can. it's not fair on teh taxpayer and it's not on!
you hear of people who live off benefits, don't work, but then they claim everything they can possibily claim for.

my mom's a teacher and she says there are loads of families that are on benefits and often try to scam their way into recieving disability allowence or mental health benefits by getting her to sign to say that they are disabled or whatever, theyre on free school meals and get support from the school for trip expenses and stuff, and then they come in and say theyre off to florida for a fortnight every year.
THAT is the problem. it's well annoying. my parents have been paying taxes throughout their lives, working incredible numbers of hours, like many other citizens are, and it's just paying for these lazy bastards to go on holiday.
now how is that right?

[gprime]

Conal, I'm glad you mentioned Slovakia. Anybody who pays attention to Eastern European economics (which here is most likely limited to me) knows that they are making incredible national progress as a result of complete economic restructuring. Their flat tax, industry privatization, relatively limited business legislation, and cuts to entitlement programs have done wonders for the nation and its one shattered economy. If other nations, and I include developed nations such as the US and UK, would follow their example, we'd be far better off. As a Libertarian (US political party), I for one support curtailing extravagent entitlement spending. Looking at the system, it becomes apparent that it is indeed a principle of socialism/communism, and that keeping such a system is undemocratic. And evidence suggests that it functions as a crutch upon which the lazy and undeserving can fall back upon. So yes, the US, UK, and all other nations should end welfare/food stamps/shelters/disability/unemployment/social security funds and instead promote the concept of personal responsibility.

[Feign]

I raised this issue with someone before. They simply pointed out that the concept of work for a living is a life choice. No one should be made to, because at the end of the day - it's their life. If they're quite content living under the financial restraints of unemployment and see no reason to change that - then let them. Who are we to pass judgement?

I don't agree with it.. but it's a valid point none the less. The only reason people work for a living is because it's accepted as a social norm. Its how society was constructed and MEANT to work. But they, just like everyone else, have free will. And they choose not to work. So who are we to tell them otherwise?