Outlawing compound interest would help poor people no end, those pay day loan sharks and pawn brokers are as much of a blight on poor communities as are poker machines. If you're going to give people debit cards then you have to exclude any goods that can be transferred to cash, what's to stop someone buying a TV or computer from Aldi with part of their dole then pawning it or selling it on e-bay for walking around money?

Fair point Jay, but I guess you can't legislate against stupidity, can you.

No system is perfect, and what you say adds strength to the case for food stamps

Perhaps the crux of this is the viability of tracking purchases against a particular debit card. As a customer I get the impression the payment is a separate process to scanning the item.

Having not so long ago having had the experience of paying a very high rate of child support little of which appeared to be being spent on my son I'd very much like to see any moneys paid in child support beyond a standard amount to cover the basics audited in some way or another. Eg an amount paid directly as a contribution towards combined expenses (housing, groceries, electricity, fuel etc) and for any money paid to cover expenses specifically for the child and not part of combined expenses to be accounted for.

R0bert

Yes Robert, a real problem area and one that I can happily say does not directly effect me.

One though I had about child support, was for the payee to pay it to Medicare.

Once a reciept was presented to Medicare, the funds could be reimbursed for approved purchases.

The other option would be to go to the seller and request an invoice, this invoice once presented to Medicare would see a purchase order given to the purchaser, who then takes that to the seller.

Complicated, but then again, most gripes with child support are that the funds don't go to the child.

This would address this in some way.

While the blind leeding the blind, in knowing our species, and I know what your going to say, “evolution don’t tell us what to do, cause we are just fine with-in the time-line of 7.7 billion people and our systems will handle it fine”……oh really. We have spent thousands of hours analysing and collecting data with the help of the collective, and with-in evolutionary terms and conditions, which brings us up to date with what were dealing with. Now back to the topic……..

Planet3

rehctub
"Shock......If six students are sharing a house, how can each of them "debit card" their share?

Simple, EFTPOS or direct debit, as most agents are set up for that."

But the lease is *not* in their name.
They have no contract with the agent!

The people in the house may change frequently. The landlord may not even know who they are.
They only know who signed the lease, and only they are legally responsible for the rent.

"Alcohol, cigs and gambling."

That's it? What about pornography, prostitutes, nudist camp holidays, abortions, sex toys? Many would argue the controversial nature of many products/services deems them unacceptable.

There will simply be a black market develop in any prohibited goods.
Look at how successful banning recreational drugs has been.

You get your "dealer" to buy your lotto tickets and beer, then pay them by direct debit ("gifts" wouldn't be banned, no?) or buy their groceries/etc.

"Yep, but the stats suggest otherwise."

Tell all the people who've won large sums gambling about the "odds" and watch as they buckle in stitches laughing at you.

"do you think it's responsible to gamble with others money"

It's not "others" money. It's paid to a named "legal person" (whatever form the payment comes in). It is legally their property.

Why so intent on stripping rights from these people, rights any other citizen has. They are not criminals!
I cannot remember anyone ever defining citizens as "people who work".
They already have no freedom of movement (might move to an area of "lower employment prospects", shudder!)

"....Can you buy beer/wine/spirits with a restaurant meal?
No, because Mcdonnalds does not sell them."

Maccas? Are you kidding me? Your elitism is showing.
There are thousands of restaurants that sell alcohol with meals. Answer the question.