Dear Romany,

The points you raised are very valid. Of course not everyone on the dole doesn't want to work. And everyone's circumstance is different.
However my main concern was as I mentioned earlier - the youngsters who I saw on TV, who really didn't want to work but felt they were intitled to be supported by the government. That was what concerned me. They were not even interested in looking for work at all.

Dear Scotty,

Thank you for apologising to me, I appreciate it very much. And I'm sorry too if I offended you in any way. I didn't mean to.

Another easy answer to a hard question. The government should scan all school leavers, and if the child is not going to make it, the armed forces will soon snap them out of there unworldly thoughts.
Think about this! They leave year ten. They are given the choice of NO dole or a four year trade in what ever field they choose, with the best training in the world. And when they come out!, do you still think they will be worst off or better off! Its all win with this and not to mention a cure for the skills shortages in Australia.

Evo,

I can assure you the ADF dont want anymore dropkicks than they already have.

For starters where do you think all these magical trades people will materialise from to train these little gems? Mining pays near double what the ADF offer.

If the government started pushing dropkick kids that would otherwise be on the dole onto the ARMY, (RAME) trades people would be out the door that quick the Gov't of the day would need to bring back conscription to keep thier vehicles going.

Trade schools are the go, if they dont make it there well there are plenty of fruit picking oppurtunities where you can easy make 50-60 grand a year. Its not all bad.

Yes! I see your point. But at least its a starting point.

Foxy -
My second post was not addressed to you so I should have specified that fact. I'm sorry.

As to the kids you saw on t.v? My first post was in answer to that. I've worked and lived with many of these kids and in most cases the attitudes they hold (as with many of us) are inculcated by parents. Even if they are not actually on the dole themselves the ever widening gap between the haves and the have nots is bitterly resented (not unnaturally)by the have-nots.

Unfortunately we now live in a society in which a person's value appears to be measured by their possessions and life-style. Those who can't compete in these stakes feel rejected by what t.v. and media tells them is the norm and their self-esteem sours to anger, bitterness and hopelessness. I guess we are all pretty well aware that statistics show lower levels of both mental and physical health, shorter life-spans and higher suicide rates amongst the socially disadvantaged - and these kids know it too.

These factors, in many cases, lead to kids growing up with the feeling that, literally, the world owes them a living.

The reason I keep on chanting my mantra of Education, education, - as much for the adults as for the kids - is because I have seen programmes initiated overseas where this really does work. It seems a practical way as well to utilise all those educated, talented people currently on benefits.

Creating positions for them to use the skills that are currently being wasted fruit-picking, washing dishes or scrubbing toilets (I have actual case-histories in mind as I mention this) would, I am convinced, increase their self-esteem and employ them meaningfully, while the effects on those whom they would potentially be helping would go a long way towards turning round the lives of chronic dole recipients and their children.

Of course its not a magic wand but it is at least a suggestion

Romany you may have an answer to more problems than unemployment education.
It is the answer to almost every problem the world has not false education true understanding education.
Now 12 weeks or forced into the army? come the second is so wrong, do we condemn the unemployed to possible die for us?
Conscription based on lack of work? socio economic
background?
In one of my posts I spoke of three types of unemployed ,one was country kids to afraid to leave for the city's.
They exist, how do we supplement an employer that does not exist? some country towns have 4 homes and no jobs at all.
We are short of workers we do need to bring some in but we can find a better way to help our unemployed.
One generation of a true of value to the community job, not the dole would change much for the unemployed.
We already did it.
Once maybe still in some areas council jobs went to those who could not find a job , so did DMR rail jobs in the bush much more governments jobs, not known not spoken about but still true.
Such a job for real wages could be only half a weeks work leaving plenty of time to look for a full time one.
A training for and help to get a foot on the ladder, why not?