Given that weve been discussing a dopey idea by Gary Johns concerning welfare, I thought Id share my thoughts on Orwells Road to Wigan Pier, a book that has, probably more than any other, shaped my thinking on social policy (and politics in general). In it, Orwell expresses his anger at unemployment in the 1930s, but he also acknowledges that idleness is a terrible thing and that it is better for the unemployed to do something rather than nothing. This to me sums up the attitude that the left should adopt towards welfare today: we reject a punitive approach, we believe that the government has an obligation to maintain high levels of employment, but we encourage those receiving welfare - with incentives and other forms of support - to remain active. Any thoughts?
Posted on: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 03:49:52 +0000