Lets make people on welfare live on vouchers!

02-10-2014 03:52PM #1

Reading through some various posts on the forum and a strong group of people want to have a system where people on the dole survive on vouchers only!

In my opinion a voucher system simply wouldn't work.

social welfare is paid for all different groups of people, including;

the dole,
pensions,
sickness & disability,
Part Time workers,
Low paid workers,
Carers,
Jobsbridge,
FAS,
TUS,
Gateway,
Students.
Child Benefit.

Do you want vouchers to all these people or are you picking on those on the dole?

Lets imagine that some people advocating a voucher system are actually implying that those people on the dole should be in receipt of such a scheme.

The amount of dole 1 person receives is €188 per week.

A average household would normally have the following to pay for,

food,
electricity,
Gas/oil,
Water,
Insurance,
Car Insurance,
Rent/mortgage,
Medical costs,
Clothing,
Car Maintenance,
House Maintenance,
Telephone,
Internet,
Petrol,
TV Licence.

What do those advocating a voucher system expect to provide with the voucher for the above costs? Would the voucher allowance have to be increased to cover the daily cost of living?

Note I haven't even included any funds for socialising, or celebrations such as birthday/Christmas. This is just basic survival.

So please go breakdown the figures and get back to us!

Links234 · 02-10-2014 03:53PM

:rolleyes:

ThisRegard · 02-10-2014 03:53PM

Do you still get a butter voucher with dole ?

02-10-2014 03:54PM

ThisRegard wrote: »

Do you still get a butter voucher with dole ?

Not in the last decade.

BoJack Horseman · 02-10-2014 03:54PM

ThisRegard wrote: »

Do you still get a butter voucher with dole ?

Sadly no.

20Cent · 02-10-2014 03:54PM

Weren't we supposed to get free cheese?
Did that happen?

efb · 02-10-2014 03:55PM

I think Poole that post on message fora during working hours should be sacked!

Turtyturd · 02-10-2014 03:57PM

How big would these vouchers be, and would they be sheltered?

whiskeyman · 02-10-2014 03:59PM

Free cheese is the solution to everything!!

food - eat cheese!
electricity - burn cheese, generate heat!
Gas/oil - see above!
Water - melt cheese... bathe in cheese!
Insurance - Pay with cheese!
Car Insurance - as above!
Rent/mortgage - live in a cheese house!
Medical costs - get a cheese transplant! Cheese is good for you!
Clothing - wear cheese!
Car Maintenance - make a car from cheese!
House Maintenance - build a cheese extention to your cheese house!
Telephone - Buy an iCheese phone!
Internet - Surf the Cheesenet
Petrol - Fill 'er up with Cheese!
TV Licence - Watch Cheese!

o1s1n · 02-10-2014 03:59PM

Can my vouchers be money shaped and work like money?

Kermit.de.frog · 02-10-2014 03:59PM

My opinion is that if you are receiving any payment (excluding pension) from the state i.e taxpayers then I don't think you should be allowed spend that money on smokes and alcohol.

Vouchers are the best way of doing that and could sort a lot of social issues too at the same time.

caolfx · 02-10-2014 04:02PM

So, rations, basically? Eh, no!

o1s1n · 02-10-2014 04:02PM

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

My opinion is that if you are receiving any payment (excluding pension) from the state i.e taxpayers then I don't think you should be allowed spend that money on smokes and alcohol.

Vouchers are the best way of doing that and could sort a lot of social issues too at the same time.

What if you've been a PAYE worker for many years and have recently been let go? Are you not entitled to something back after all that tax you've paid?

Or do you assume everyone on the dole is just a scrounger who has never worked?

BoJack Horseman · 02-10-2014 04:03PM

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

My opinion is that if you are receiving any payment (excluding pension) from the state i.e taxpayers then I don't think you should be allowed spend that money on smokes and alcohol.

Vouchers are the best way of doing that and could sort a lot of social issues too at the same time.

However if you make a system where s/w recipients can only purchase tobacco & booze, the government gets more back in duties.

Beano · 02-10-2014 04:03PM

ThisRegard wrote: »

Do you still get a butter voucher with dole ?

they give out "I cant believe its not butter" vouchers these days.

02-10-2014 04:04PM

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

My opinion is that if you are receiving any payment (excluding pension) from the state i.e taxpayers then I don't think you should be allowed spend that money on smokes and alcohol.

Vouchers are the best way of doing that and could sort a lot of social issues too at the same time.

Look at the OP, look at general expenses. Now tell me how a voucher system would work?

Also if you want to stop people smoking you would have to provide them all with measures to kick the habit, more money.

And what about the lost revenue from smoking, the state does very well.

Beano · 02-10-2014 04:05PM

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

My opinion is that if you are receiving any payment (excluding pension) from the state i.e taxpayers then I don't think you should be allowed spend that money on smokes and alcohol.

Vouchers are the best way of doing that and could sort a lot of social issues too at the same time.

vouchers for what exactly? vouchers for the esb? vouchers for Dunnes? vouchers for the bus? or perhaps vouchers that work for all of these things?

Donkey Oaty · 02-10-2014 04:05PM

One solution would be make all welfare payments in Green Shield Stamps, which cannot be used to buy cigarettes or alcohol - or anything else, for that matter.

3rdDegree · 02-10-2014 04:06PM

Would it not nd kind of humiliating for people though?

caolfx · 02-10-2014 04:06PM

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

My opinion is that if you are receiving any payment (excluding pension) from the state i.e taxpayers then I don't think you should be allowed spend that money on smokes and alcohol.

Hang on. I had to spend a few months on the scratcher earlier this year. Are you telling me after years and years of paying taxes, I'm not entitled to have a beer or any kind of social life while I'm looking for a job.

Yes, there are some wasters out there, but one rule for everyone under the assumption anyone on the dole is a scrounger is ridiculous.

I had bills to pay, a car to put petrol in (getting to and from interviews - not every job is a bus journey away) etc...

What you need your money for will vary.

God forbid I go out for a drink on a weekend of a friend's birthday or something while I'm looking for a job.

People need to be able to live, not simply survive under rule.

kneemos · 02-10-2014 04:06PM

We should make them wear a symbol to signify their doleness.
Make them sew it on themselves and perhaps herd them into one section of town.

Kermit.de.frog · 02-10-2014 04:07PM

o1s1n wrote: »

What if you've been a PAYE worker for many years and have recently been let go? Are you not entitled to something back after all that tax you've paid?

Or do you assume everyone on the dole is just a scrounger who has never worked?

I don't see why anyone should be allowed purchase alcohol with a dole payment.

The dole is supposed to be a safety net not a piss up allowance.

3rdDegree · 02-10-2014 04:07PM

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

One solution would be make all welfare payments in Green Shield Stamps, which cannot be used to buy cigarettes or alcohol - or anything else, for that matter.

I'm pretty sure you can use them to buy glasses and cheap digital watches. Apart from that, you are right - you can't buy anything else with them.

02-10-2014 04:07PM

Will Irish Water except vouchers?

Beano · 02-10-2014 04:08PM

3rdDegree wrote: »

Would it not nd kind of humiliating for people though?

thats probably one of the objectives

3rdDegree · 02-10-2014 04:08PM

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

I don't see why anyone should be allowed purchase alcohol with a dole payment.

True. That is what street begging is for.

Call Me Jimmy · 02-10-2014 04:09PM

3rdDegree wrote: »

Would it not nd kind of humiliating for people though?

pipe down! this existential angst won't get rid of itself!

BoJack Horseman · 02-10-2014 04:09PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Will Irish Water except vouchers?

You can ring them & ask.

o1s1n · 02-10-2014 04:10PM

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

I don't see why anyone should be allowed purchase alcohol with a dole payment.

The dole is supposed to be a safety net not a piss up allowance.

Ah right there, I didn't realize booze was the only thing people spent money on these days.

So you can pay for all those things in the OP with vouchers now? Excellent.

Donkey Oaty · 02-10-2014 04:10PM

3rdDegree wrote: »

I'm pretty sure you can use them to buy glasses and cheap digital watches. Apart from that, you are right - you can't buy anything else with them.

You'd need a time machine to transport you back to before 1991 when they were discontinued though.

However, I've just checked on Ebay, and they do have a (very small) value among collectors. :eek:

KomradeBishop · 02-10-2014 04:11PM

Find a friend who want to buy goods that your vouchers are restricted to, trade them the vouchers for an equivalent amount money, vouchers fail to restrict what anyone purchases.[/thread]

Lets make people on welfare live on vouchers!

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