boycott workfare (UK)

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Wow. Interesting reading. Thanks for the link. I never knew that things were that far gone in the UK. This is one of the most outrageous & offensive things I've ever seen coming from a democratic country. Until now I've never been immersed in the details of this, but to me it all comes down to whether we are free individuals with rights & dignity, or just disposable cogs in the machinery of economic production. Refuse! Resist!

Here in America we've become accustomed to right-wingers & self-styled "libertarians" heaping scorn on anyone who might need to use a government service. But in spite of all this, we've been able to react to the economic crisis with expansionary policies (low interest rates, economic stimulus through increased government spending, extra benefits & wealth transfers, etc.), rather than European-style austerity. And it appears that these policies have started to bear fruit, as things seem to be turning around with our economy, albeit slowly.

In a similar vein, I suppose, the American right are presently trying to push through a law to impose drug-testing as a condition for receiving unemployment benefits. (They are probably going to get it.) Whatever the merits of suspicionless drug-testing in various job situations (I will allow that in certain jobs, safety considerations may have priority), it is always an invasive & degrading procedure. As with any drug-testing regime, a refusal to submit draws the same consequences as a positive test - dismissal from a job, or if this comes to pass, the revocation of unemployment benefits. There is no presumption of innocence, no protection from self-incrimination, no regard for a person's right to privacy.

One purpose of such a law would be to create a new bar to entry. But the larger purpose is to stigmatize, to make the receipt of unemployment benefits as difficult & degrading as possible. But the larger point is this: if the government can require a person to surrender fundamental rights as a condition of receiving a benefit or service, that would be a major lurch toward authoritarianism. But sometimes it seems like we're already halfway there.

^

Slaves 4 eva UK!

Britons always always always shall be slaves!

a colleague at work today was saying that, according to something he seen on television relating to a parliamentary discussion yesterday (not sure what it was as i don't have a television) in addition to jsa claimants this will soon also apply to the work focused group of esa claimants. so, if you are signed off from work by your doctor and get to the point your employment is terminated through ill-health, or if you've been out of work for a long time through ill-health, you might soon find yourself stacking shelves on the night shift at tesco for no pay. it's disgusting.

that's exactly what my colleague was saying. now that i see you're linking to an article in the guardian, i think that's where he had read it.

the disabled and sick and those unable to work on the grounds of ill-health will now simply be used as slave labour for tesco.

westminster tesco this morning

^There needs to be less talking, and more of this. And more riots, like the poll tax ones.