THE DEATH OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
TV One ran a story where the Greens, supported by the Children’s Commissioner, were calling for the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) to remove all sanctions from beneficiaries who fail to meet the statutory requirements needed for them to maintain their benefit e.g. for those on Jobseeker to turn-up for work interviews. The rationale for this was that their children would suffer as a result of any benefit cut. The story concluded with the advice that Labour was moving to progressively amend their policy.
It appears to me that the government, in its everlasting quest to be seen as kind and caring, is editing out personal responsibility from the equation. Sanctions are not beneficiary bashing … rather its a case of the errant beneficiary ripping off the system. Expecting something for nothing at taxpayer expense. The answer is in the beneficiaries own hands … he/she controls his/her destiny … no-one else.
Everything in life comes with obligations; its not a one-way street. The welfare system is no different. Remove those obligations and eventually the system will collapse under its own weight.
But since when has Labour ever been big on personal responsibility?
No Minister 
Well, they are trying on the personal responsibility aspect of not getting jabbed justifying exclusion. It’s not something they really understand the implications of, however.
Lucia Maria
December 11, 2021 at 3:14 pm
Many victims of Ardern here as she has embarked on the fear strategy. When numbers are revealed there will be a lot of wailing and gnashing. Business failures, mental health decline, maladjusted children from gross interference in the forming of social behaviours. attitudes to work practice, rising damage to race relations, unions grasping for power to match that of The Maori Caucus. faith and trust in the Medical fraternity, the truly massive national debt and precious little by way of growing an economy to purloin repayment options from, infrastructure bottlenecks every which way, a serious energy shortfall. The list just keeps growing.
Wait until the still difficult to understand polling facade crumbles then the anger will be something to behold.
I am still in awe just how quickly the Berlin wall became a heap of rubble, never thinking I would see such a failure of socialism become reality.
While I have a certain understanding of Churchill’s statement on democracy and the average voter I am still a firm believer in the innate intellectual power now aided by the interwebby that even the tech giants will eventually be swamped by, including their algorithmic manipulations.
So far the putrid remnants of socialism disasters are successfully hiding behind their MSM enablers pretty pictures both images and words but eventually the truth will out riding on word of mouth technology when most get the picture from the Hood.
The lockdowns gave a picture of idle people just becoming bored mindless with the truth masked by government handouts that must now be difficult to continue even for socialists with printers.
Gravedodger
December 11, 2021 at 4:26 pm
Add to the list rampant inflation caused by government borrowing and bond issuing / money printing, supply chain issues causing shortages of basic food and household items, 72K tourism jobs gone, hospitality staff, health workers and teachers resigning en masse due to blind faith in the “vaccine” at the expense of effective prophylactic and early intervention treatments. The list is very long and the 2023 election is getting closer by the day.
fredonas
December 11, 2021 at 5:25 pm
While I’m not in favour of kicking people when they’re down, there is the risk of creating a “moral hazard” by removing any consequences for providing false information to MSD. Maybe a compromise solution would be debt forgiveness if the beneficiary finds paid employment and is employed for at least 6 months?
fredonas
December 11, 2021 at 5:11 pm
LM … those that decline vaccination are having to pay a penalty. Those that decline to fulfill their benefit obligations are being hit on the head with a wet bus ticket … spot the difference.
The Veteran
December 11, 2021 at 6:51 pm
But Veteran, they are all good little Labour voters. Bought and paid for.
adolffinkensen
December 11, 2021 at 9:51 pm