tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985080357558043054.post8125049530264008808..comments2024-03-27T18:54:46.951+00:00Comments on Syniadau :: The Blog: Cameron on ScotlandSyniadauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13876017048168055247noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985080357558043054.post-14569770668738479992010-02-15T16:52:21.904+00:002010-02-15T16:52:21.904+00:00Sorry it's taken me a day or so to reply, EFC ...Sorry it's taken me a day or so to reply, EFC and Siônnyn.<br /><br />I don't think anyone is or should be claiming that the way the benefits system works well, or that the way the way we try to get people into work is perfect. There is room for improvement, and so the question is how best to improve things.<br /><br />It's probably restating the obvious, but on this occasion I think I should do it: I'm sure the vast majority of people out of work and on benefits are not scroungers, and not deliberately milking the system. Some are, but not most. I think there are then a group of people who are long-term unemployed, or even generationally unemployed, for whom there is no obvious or easy way to become employable. Such people need a lot of long term, persistent help to get into work ... as you mentioned. <br /><br />My question to Siônnyn is whether you really believe that the private sector would be willing to take such people on. To use a health service comparison: it is easy to set up a hospital that replaces say knee joints on an "production line" basis. They generally do a good job, with high productivity ... but the moment there is any complication the patent will be taken back into an NHS hospital. In other words it's easy to make a profit by cherrypicking the straightforward cases ... but you don't make a profit from the complicated cases. A private company that gets people back to work will trumpet their achievement and get paid money for doing it, but in all probability the people who they get back to work will be the ones that would have found work anyway. <br /><br />One of the major reasons for devolving responsibility for this to Wales would be that getting the long-term unemployed into work depends very heavily on targeted education/training, and sometimes overlaps with the care system, and even in some cases health. These are devolved matters, so being able to coordinate the right mix of services in each case should be easier if the benefits/welfare system is devolved to Wales as well.MHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09329059309196746446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985080357558043054.post-49326237180762854912010-02-13T18:54:50.766+00:002010-02-13T18:54:50.766+00:00As someone who was economically very successful fo...As someone who was economically very successful for many years, but languished into the dark pit of depression, and was forced to depend on benefits, I have to say, that against my natural inclination, I have come to think that perhaps Cameron has a point. Too many people in the current benefit offices are cynical time-servers, either through inclination, or through demoralising experience, and have no empathy or understanding of the reality of being on benefits, and trying to return to work.<br /><br />The people they are trying to deter from playing the system sail through with ease - they know how to play the game - but deserving cases who are largely honest and doing their best are knocked back, demoralised and demeaned.<br /><br />A private company that was paid by results rather than by the hour MIGHT nuance things differently. <br /><br />A difficult post for a left leaning Welshman to write, but I have to say that staff has to be by phone, (or at least agreed with Wrexham), a de-humanising and humiliating experience stands between anyone who has a conscience, and some sensitivity, and any progress back to work. Anyone suffering from depression, but feeling better and wanting to become a contributor again is knocked right back into the pit by contact with these faceless functionaries. I know, the have cost me 3 years.<br /><br />I am better now, no thanks to them.Siônnynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00021974709953206048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985080357558043054.post-13504642202393524362010-02-13T15:12:36.086+00:002010-02-13T15:12:36.086+00:00Cameron is very dishonest,to suggest that the unem...Cameron is very dishonest,to suggest that the unemployed are idle when there are very few jobs around to suggest that this can be changed when he has pledged there will be massive public sector cuts which inevitably means massive job cuts will only increase unemployment can only be described as a very opportunist lieEFComradehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03448737785635608861noreply@blogger.com