Southside

Thoughts of a Newtown Socialist

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Moving Beneficiaries into Work - Will it Work


Gordon Campbell's article on moving people off benefit is very good.

The Government could be congratulated for wanting to improve psychiatric health services. It must have realised that in 1970 (the year John Key uses to compare with today) there were thousands of patients in psychiatric hospitals not receiving benefits.

Treating psychiatric illness is only the first piece of the puzzle, the other pieces include having enough jobs and a change of attitude among employers. I wonder when John Key thinks these pieces on the puzzle might appear.

Before his Government continues in its programme to move people off benefits, John Key should spend a Saturday morning at Newtown Mall.