OK, so how would YOU change the welfare system?

[MathsMadMummy]

just wondering following on from various threads lately. sorry it's probably been done before.

I guess it's more a question of how you'd change the culture really, where people feel it's their entitlement to never work etc.

I have no idea what the answer is, please tell me your bright ideas

V true Moondog

And where I grew up is a sad example of what happens when industry is replaced by very little indeed (NOT the valleys- I know I emntioned them just now but we moved here)

The kids I went to school with didn't really bother as they left at 16 for guaranteed jobs in the lingerie factory, or the cellophane plant: both long gone.

Lola who was it that mentioned missing sarcasm??

AS I said it was to refute a few stereotypes

(and a great many on here know me anyway and what I do so really no brownie points left to score)

Yes indeed.
Most jobs now seem to involve sitting in front of laptops for hours on end 'benchmarking' and sifting through 'toolkits' and compiling paranoid records of every tedious transaction to prove you are doing something when in reality all one is doing is creating a paper trail of a completely pointless 'job'.

Compare to the dignity and pleasure of working hard with your mates, making things, proper things like clothes and cars and machines that you see roll off and get used.
(Not that I am completely misty eyed about that kind of life but sweet Jesus, it has to be better than working shifts in Subway or sitting at home, working out how many 'benefits' you are 'entitled' to as life passes you by with its rhythms of work and play.)

Of course it's better MD. I mean, actually being on benefits is pretty lonely anyway- any level of social, work related interaction is looking good right now!

And Lola the MA- it's not something wide spread enough to be rated by Uni, I am quite open that I studied a subject only becuase it's in the disability my boys have (and it's points towards MA; have another 2 essays to go- wish me luck eh? if I am lucky I might even make a self employed job out of it though have no idea at all where to start with that one, ideas but no more. Need to start researching not for profits soon actually.)

I thought actually you might suspect I was describing my own job.

But then again, doesn't this sum up most 'jobs' in Britain now?

Our whole lives are an Emporer's New Clothes charade. More effort goes into proving you have 'done something' than actually bloody doing it!

Moondog, apologies if the sarcasm in my post didn't come across clearly enough.

I still feel that the vulnerable are being unfairly treated. I still feel that those in power have zero concept of what that is like.

I do however agree that there are far too many people that COULD work that don't. What the solution to that is I do not know.

How exactly Glitter? (genuine question)
We need specific examples, not just general ranting.

I work with very vulnerable people (physical and learning disabilities) but admit to feeling uncomfortable with the views of many I deal with who seem to think that if you are disabled in any way, you deserve more or better than anyone else.

This is debilitatiing and patronising in the extreme ('Poor disabled person! Let them spend the rest of their lives being waited on hand and foot.')

There is dignity for all in contributing to society and not taking and most people, even those with quite severe disabilities, can and should contribute.

Ypu're right MD; in fact I think that's why my branch of HomeStart went under, we spent too much time actually doing and not enough proving.

Silly us eh? Damn us for making a difference!

What is a fucking scandal is that so many kids leave school without basic functional skills like reading, writing and ading up.

I do agree everyone should contribute as much as hey can; for ds3 that won't be much mind (who wants someone working for them who stares into space all day, breaking mainly to make ear splitting screeches? ) but I have never let ds1 think for a minute that he can geta way with doing sod all. Just trying to find solutions to work with what6 he can do (lots, as long as no people nearby- he's into jewellery design and making atm).

I don' think disabled people deserve better, just equal really. For Sn childcare I would happily pay going rate; if we ended up resorting to a Nanny though when DH working enough then I would feel cheated that it would cost us more. Because we never got a say in the more, IYSWIM? I want equal ops, not better but not less either.

And I would add that in my field I see plenty of money thrown about on useless things, which can masquerade as 'therapy'.

Thus you will get a kid who spends an hour a day in a £40 000 'sensory room' with a bored assistant as opposed to doing something far more pleasurable and useful like going for a walk which is, incidentally, free.

There is a worrying tendency to pathologise everything which in turn means those who should address basic areas of need can fail to do so because the person in question has X/Y?Z 'disorder'.

Quite Star.

I mentioned on the other thread but I was part of a scheme that went to a valleys school and we mentored the kids there who ahd shown Uni and exam potential to up their grades, and it worked. I'd like to see that expanded to all under achieving children. Having someone who beleives in you and knows their way around the system (my best work IMO was finding a way for atalented but severely dyslexic kid to study art when she could barely write yet her aprents were entirely A-Level focussed).

However what actually happened was the funding was taken away.

Probaly becuase these thinsg tend to pay off in the lifetime of the next Government and what party sees a use for that? Long term has to be maximum 10 years in politics.

Both my DH and I work and have 2 DS's - he would have liked to have had another child but we decided that it was just going to be too expensive. So we stopped at 2.... Why does that decision seem to be difficult for some people to grasp.

There seems to be an awful lot of choice for people, dont work for qualifications, dont want to work because then I lose my benefits (that should definitely not be their choice!) dont be restricted on how many children I have and with whom, and of course I want the hols, the car and the nice things in life because others have it and it is just not fair.....

I amnoting an awful lot of people not exactlya ddressing the OP: what we need is positive ideas to change things in a way that workd not complaints about what is wrong. We all know what is wrong, surely?

I'd agree with Starlight McKenzie.
Ok, my kids are in need of Speech and Language Therapy. They didn't get it because there was no therapist in our area, and now it's because they are having to cut back. DD is completely non verbal and hearing impaired so she DOES need it.

I'm talking about real, beneficial therapies here, physiotherapy, occupational therapy not sensory room stuff.