Mandatory school attendance for adults collecting rent assistance or food stamps. Accommodations to be made if someone has parenting responsibilities. Classes tailored to fit what's needed by the individual in question. High school level classes for people without diplomas. Job skills classes for grads having trouble becoming or staying employed.
This would also employ thousands of new teachers and support personnel. And possibly get some people to shuddup about 'too many people on welfare.'
They could have classes such as, Responsible Use of Credit, and Saving For Your Retirement, and Citizenship, and The Consequences of Recreational Drug Use.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good idea. Teach budgeting, check writing, the dif between credit and debit cards, pay day loans, the real cost of store specific credit cards. Not enough kids get this, not enough adults did either. My wife made a budget sheet a long time ago, she logs almost every expense, we know exactly what our expenses have been every month for 20 years, if we had to cut back we know exactly where to do it and what the impact will be.
ReplyDeleteI should take a class like that myself, actually ...
DeleteNew Zealand is doing something similar plus lots of pressure on those drawing benefit to return to work force. Only problem is job market. Pendulum tends to swing too far in cases where there aren't jobs available yet beneficiaries get punished.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if maybe we could apply supply side thinking to jobs. Educate/train more workers and see if jobs don't emerge to take advantage of the talent.
DeleteWorth a try?
Even though I border on being a socialist I agree completely with those policies.
ReplyDeleteWhich? The ones from the original post?
DeleteAssuming that is what you mean, there's nothing wrong with any of that from a socialist standpoint. "From each according to his ability; to each according to his need." Meaning everyone is supposed to contribute, not just take. And if someone's contribution is less than it could be, why not help him pick up his game?
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