suzeonline, Rehctub here. Nice to see I am still on your fan list.

>>No thanks, I think I would rather deal with paying the unemployed at least some money, but then have ....

Perhaps a little research into this thread would have revealed the fact that what you are suggesting is exactly what I have suggested from the beginning, only with a 'debit card' rather than saleable stamps. In fact, every time I have posted on a similar thread I have suggested something along this line.

Nice try dear, better take that foot out of your mouth to make room for the other one, Hey!

Rehctub, I am pleased to still be on your fan list, with the endearing term of 'dear' you gave me :)

Did you, or did you not, appear to suggest that people on welfare should not have access to cash?

I'm sorry, but I obviously must have missed the debit card comment.

A debit card is used anywhere that cash is used, as long as there are funds left, isn't it?

How, exactly, would you stop people buying grog and cigarettes using a debit card?

suzeonline, "Rehctub here. Nice to see I am still on your fan list."

Yes, it would be a long sheet of paper with only one name on it:) and I loved this one......"My beef, and I am sure others agree, is the way in which welfare can be miss managed by the recipient"....and lets just say that you got your way Rehab, and with that missing injection of cash that all business/shop owners would be missing, your Idea will just create more unemployed and not to mention sky-rocketing prices, with more break-in,s if we add Sue on-lines inputs to the equation.

Gov based employment.

It works for all.

LEAP

Gov based employment.

It works for all.

LEAP

Now we're getting somewhere.

You see, as a nation we export so much raw product that could be 'value added' right here, which in turn would either create export wealth, or reduce import expenses.

Live export, wood pulp, iron ore to name just a few.

Governments need to subsidise wages so that local companies can compete.

Surely we could build a home made car that can compete with the 80 odd percent of imports.

But nup! Our government would rather screw employers to the point whereby the floor sweeper costs the employer $20 and hour.

Don't you think a better option would be say $15 per hours from the employer and the other $5 from the government. But only if the company is value adding and creating real jobs.

TJM, a local business used to employ hundreds of workers building 4x4 accessories.

Nowadays, they employ TWO. These guys build a 'prototype' and, when they are satisfied it is what they want, it is sent to China for production.

Most cabinet makers no longer build kitchens. They simply send the dimensions off to China, China designs, cuts and builds the kitchen, then we simply put them together.

These are the jobs that need to be brought back home.

You see, the biggest problem we have is that wages are to high for these businesses, yet to low to live on.

Now as for businesses suffering from 'no cash' from welfare, I am sorry, but you are wrong.

You see, I am in retail, have been for 30 + years, which I recon makes me somewhat of an expert on this matter.

Do you know that each time there is a 'super draw' in loto, our sales are down because people choose to take a punt, rather than buy good food.

Now I am not suggesting that welfare recipients are the only ones who take that punt. But I will bet they make up a large portion, forever chasing the elusive dream.

So, in summing up, I am afraid your prediction is wrong.

Continued

suzeonline, I did say a 'special' debit card.

Quite simple. Only a certain amount can be withdrawn in cash. Then, there are 'restricted items'. You see, every item sold today has a 'bar code', so it really is quite simple. Use your imagination here.

It’ll be interesting, first the bullying and taking of the cards on payment days as already often happens between couples. Buying up items when on special and re-selling them later. If they don’t wait they’ll just sell what they buy on exiting the market.

I can imagine being out shopping and being approached with a “hey I’ll pay for your groceries if you give me the cash you were going to spend on them anyway…”. Savvy shoppers will probably add some extra items they wanted as a fee.

Dodgy shopkeepers can sell then buy back quickly or have receipts ready to sell on at the counter.

Dummy shops would be set up. Whole thing could turn out really interesting and the public wont know, stats would show that people are spending most of their benefits on life’s necessities. So it might work in the way that the general feeling towards the unemployed might improve.

And maybe the shopkeepers would help the unemployed who honestly want to feed and clothe themselves/their families by selling them cheaply the goods they already sold 3 times that morning.