Welfare dependency: who benefits?

The welfare state was once celebrated as a keystone of post-war Britain, but while the NHS and state education are still widely valued, state benefits are now accused of fostering a dependency culture which traps people. With cuts in public spending looming as the recession bites, and yet more people likely to need state support, should the focus be on cash for those who need it, or more intensive intervention to get people working? At this Battle of Ideas festival panel debate, speakers include: social policy writer Dave Clements; journalist Rowenna Davis; director of think tank Reform, Andrew Haldenby; and Policy and Membership director at DrugScope, Dr Marcus Roberts.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Social change
• welfare
• benefits
• jobs
• unemployment
• NHS
• Dave Clements
• Rowenna Davis
• Andrew Haldenby
• Marcus Roberts
• welfare state
• government spending
• Battle of Ideas 2009
• Debates
• employment

[GodLiberty]

05:18 - why not abolish all government welfare rather than you determining that the 'middle class' - who are net tax contributors at huge expense to themselves - don't need it.

[GodLiberty]

03:30 the money you have paid to social security is money that has already been spent. Hence it is a Ponzi scheme.

[MrBowles760]

The Democrat's goal is to send our job's out of the country, encourage all out government dependency/ welfare. Their over all goal is to make the American people completely dependent on our government.

Liberals/ Democrats why don't you move to Europe?

Our country was founded on American Christian values!

[restlys]

lol " it generates funds for the industry "

until you have a financial crash and then oops.....no more private funding for your unemployment.

Need I say more?