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labellementeuseI haven't talked about politics for awhile, and the Maori Party clearly knew this, because a few days ago they decided they were going to... support Work for Dole. It's been blatantly obvious since the election that the Maori Party were going to swing right - I find that completely bemusing, since the Nats and Act don't give a shit about the Maori and in MMP you really need your mates, but - whatever, if they want to swing right they can.
But seriously, Work for Dole? For one thing, WFD does not work. They tried it in the nineties and, if anything, it made it harder for participants to get off makework jobs (which, by the way, would be very expensive; the Nats had a WFD policy in 2005 that was estimated to cost $100 million. This is during a time when we have the lowest unemployment figures ever, and 67% of people on the dole are only on it very short term) and on to real jobs. For another thing - the only government that is ever going to implement WFD is a National/Act government. This government is not going to be sympathetic to Maori and it is not going to do any of the things the Maori Party should be asking for. I appreciate that the habit of unemployment may be a problem for Maori (and, by the way, it bugs me that Tariana Turia gets to say that) but the way to deal with that would be iwi and community based skills training programmes - not the fucking work for dole. That would be just as much a habit, IMO, and a more expensive one for the government.
Of course, I have moral objections to WFD too. Call me crazy, but I believe that it is our responsibility to make sure that no-one in this country starves to death. No matter what they do with their time.
Look at my shiny new topical icon! complete with keywords by kora.
But seriously, Work for Dole? For one thing, WFD does not work. They tried it in the nineties and, if anything, it made it harder for participants to get off makework jobs (which, by the way, would be very expensive; the Nats had a WFD policy in 2005 that was estimated to cost $100 million. This is during a time when we have the lowest unemployment figures ever, and 67% of people on the dole are only on it very short term) and on to real jobs. For another thing - the only government that is ever going to implement WFD is a National/Act government. This government is not going to be sympathetic to Maori and it is not going to do any of the things the Maori Party should be asking for. I appreciate that the habit of unemployment may be a problem for Maori (and, by the way, it bugs me that Tariana Turia gets to say that) but the way to deal with that would be iwi and community based skills training programmes - not the fucking work for dole. That would be just as much a habit, IMO, and a more expensive one for the government.
Of course, I have moral objections to WFD too. Call me crazy, but I believe that it is our responsibility to make sure that no-one in this country starves to death. No matter what they do with their time.
Look at my shiny new topical icon! complete with keywords by kora.
