Correction - Not uncommon
Look, treaclesoda, I think there are major issues with the economy and the welfare system that the government need to sort out. My problem with the Conservatives is that they give themselves too much credit for their success. I know people who succeed work hard, some incredibly so, but many of these people have had a good start with educated, supportive parents not run ragged by living a hand-to-mouth existence. I wonder how many people from solid middle class backgrounds could have overcome their circumstances to achieve similar success had they started off with uneducated, unaware parents in drug-riddled sink estates?
Having said all that, and coming originally from a developing country with no welfare state to speak of, I do find this notion of the government as a kind of benevolent father (financially speaking), very odd. The disabled, the mentally ill, people who've lost their jobs, people who genuinely can't find jobs, people who are temporarily unwell, yes I understand government financial support there. But an economy where the government has to top up many people's wages on a long-term basis just seems odd. This is where the government needs to focus their efforts, whilst gradually weaning people off benefits.
My ideas are simplistic because I am no economist but when companies are paying a 'living wage', then it may be appropriate to top up the wages of those who are still earning very low amounts. But I would require people to work hours that more closely resemble the hours worked by those not in receipt of benefits. I do think that tax credits encourage some (too many I suspect) to work the minimum hours and not seek to move on from them (don't blame them really).
In Africa people hustle. They work so hard and are so entrepreneurial because they need to to survive. If you lose your job you can only rely on your extended family at best, who may be struggling themselves. It's clearly not a great system but I do think the situation in the UK has gone so far the other way, people don't seem to have that driving motivation. The government is expected to feed the children and clothe the children and house the family. And there are those who are perplexed when their children grow up and the child-related benefits stop.
I'm sure there are many 'special cases', I'm not suggesting I have all the solutions and I wouldn't start with cutting benefits. I'd start with this low wages issue and tackling benefits culture, because I do believe there is a 'Government will provide culture' that needs to be tackled. And then I think welfare needs to be looked at. I see the role of government as looking at the big picture, sorting the background economy etc, not really getting into the nitty-gritty of people's everyday lives.