The ABC needs to be asked what is his formula for distinguishing the poor from the ones that just want to live on the Government dole.

When the hard working people run out of money, who is going to help the real needy?

Expect the same to happen here with the new Congress. Compassion is running at deficit levels as well......

As one who never has voted for a Conservative candidate, I have to add, that most of the British know it is not as simple as this article makes out. One needs to add to the balance the need, perceived by ALL the major political parties, for an end to the welfare system which can make it more profitable to claim benefits than to work, and also to honour the present government's intention of making the working poor better, and not worse off. Aspects of their proposals are worrying. Aspects are generally applauded. It is not a black-and-white situation.

Mr Rotsch reminds us of the old distinction between the "worthy" and "unworthy" poor. This horrid notion, in essence, is that some are deserving of God's love and human kindness, and others are not. It can have no place in civilized society or Christian worldview, but that doesn't seem to stop us.

I do think you in the USA need to be aware that currently in UK it is quite easy to be a good deal more comfortable financially, if one has children, by refusing offered jobs, than by taking a poorly paid job, and that many people are driven to take that path. While I do not applaud all aspects of the government's policy, one should realise that the main thrust is to make those who DO accept a job better off in absolute terms than they currently are. That is, after the reforms, those in work should be in a MORE stable financial position.

But this is a big problem isn't it when you have frittered away your moral authority, your voice is fairly mute!

Jw1941 -- please sign your name next time you post. Thx. ~ed.

the main thrust is to make those who DO accept a job better off in absolute terms than they currently are.

Well, if that's REALLY the case, rosemary.

It's simply so unlike anything in the US (speaking personally, I'm unemployed and offered nada in the way of job OR "dole"), that it's difficult to evaluate. On this side of the Pond, we're being told that the only way to reduce the deficit, is cut taxes to the rich, and work until age 69! O_o

JC Fisher

Every family in the UK without an income is given a pitifully small one by the state, and every person living in as a single person. (If your partner is earning this does not apply, nor if you have savings above a certain level.) Families with children do a lot better as it was felt that we must not have children in real want. The net result of this was that taking a job does not pay for many families. You are worse off as the working credits do not do much to replace the unearned out-of-work benefits. The proposal is that the 'taper' at which one loses state financial support will now be made less steep, so taking work pays better.

This is NOT to say I agree with all aspects of current policy and the reduction of rent relief will I think have very unfortunate effects.

But on the whole the policy is a great deal better than I, as a life-long socialist, dared to hope.