On Wed, 5 Jun 2013, Craig Sanders <cas@taz.net.au> wrote:
and, yes, there is some truth in that - welfare can create dependancy, as can charity. the alternative, letting people starve or suffer untreated illness or homelessness is worse.
There are people in Australia who prefer to live on the dole rather than to get work. If we abolished the dole then it seems unlikely that such people would get a job. I don't think that anyone who is capable of contributing in any significant way is going to become dependent by getting the dole, such people will get a job at their earliest opportunity.
it's why, for example, muggings and violent thefts are common in the US but relatively rare in civilised countries with a welfare system and public health system. desperation makes even decent people turn to crime if they need to feed themselves or their families....hard times force hard choices on people - rob someone or watch your kid starve or go without treatment or medication. welfare removes that desperation,
Yes.
so only the much smaller number of crazies and sociopaths commit such crimes.
http://tinyurl.com/7tkw6ou The above Sociological Images article is relevant, it shows a link between inequality and mental health problems. So not only does welfate dramatically reduce the incidence of sane people committing crimes but it also decreases the number of people with mental health problems.
it's also a good argument for legalising and regulating the supply of heroin and other drugs of dependancy - if junkies could get their fix cheaply and safely, very few of them would turn to burglary or prostitution.
Prostitution should be legal everywhere too, make it strictly a business issue and remove the crime from the industry. -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/