The biggest elephant in the room that nobody talks about and thats in work benefits, the government is subsidising a fair proportion of our work force with universal credit and I dont think its right. We've had a low wage economy, with low wage rises that in no way match the cost of living, keeping everybody in an insecure state of near impoverishment if not downright destitution.
I'd use this ten year plan government keeps talking about to massively increase wages to at least the level that households claim in benefits. I'd use the current money to cushion businesses with a taper off leaving to biggest and longest cushion for small businesses. Big business would start havng hissy fits, but they're the ones most able to absorb these costs, whereas small businesses that only employ a few people can't, htey're already on a knife edge as it is.
I know there's lots of questions to be answered at how it would work, but I don't think it's unachievable or unreasonable.
Everyone knows that employment gives people a sense of dignity and increases mental health and a general sense of well being, but I dont think that really works when half your wages are paid by the state, I think it makes employment unaffordable for some, and its not because benefits are to much, theyre not, but if you're a single person with no benefit top ups such as UC, then you can seriously lose out, by not being able to afford your rent, council tax, to even get to work at all, let alone any up front costs, like a season ticket for buses, trams or trains.
What would you do?
