Now this is cowardly

[JAG]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6528425.stm

Lie detectors will be used to help root out benefit cheats, Work and Pensions Secretary John Hutton has said.

Possibly the most cowardly thing this Labour government has done in power and makes me so bloody angry I wanna cut my membership card up. It is so easy - especially at times of elections - to go after those who 'cheat and steal benefits', because it is never a bad thing for a government to do, one which is loosing support amongst 'middle England' especially.

When do we hear about the corporations and super rich who don't pay their taxes? When are we ever going to answer the problems of why people might resort to 'benefit cheating'? Contrary to what many people believe not only is 'benefit cheating' a minor problem but it is only done by a vast minority of people. The fact remains it only garners such publicity and politicians only attack these people because it is so easy to do so politically. That is so cowardly and disgusting that it brings me to imense rage. Labour is meant to be helping people who are on, seeking or 'cheating' benefits, not finding out ways to target and make their lives worse.

Most people I am sure will say 'great, less benefit cheats!' But even if it made less 'benefit cheats' will this mean that we are safer, stronger or better as a nation? Or will it reflect more on the weakening and sad, petty, individualistic society we have become. A sad day for the country everytime things like this happens.

[Kralizec]

Lie detectors aside, what's wrong with tracking down people who abuse social services?

[gunslinger]

Unbelievable. I wouldn't worry too much about it though. Even real polygraph machines operated by trained professionals are never too reliable, let alone some digital voice analysis software. I predict that your civil servants will become even more bogged down for a short period while they chase red herrings sent to them by this new computer. Then, they will get tired of the extra workload and just scrap the thing.

[rory_20_uk]

Something is wrong with the benefits. My friend was unemployed. She now works for 15 hours a week part time. She earns £20 more a week. Considering the cost of travel and time lost it's better to not have the job!

So I agree that there needs to be more reform with less money for those without jobs, and a subsidy for those that get poorly paying ones.

To describe the attack as "cowardly" sounds like a Guardian quote - full of emotion, but little accurate meaning.

Is the system going to save more money than it costs to instigate? If so then why not do it?

The economics of crime has been repeatedly covered: when the potential gain is greater than the potential cost people will commit crimes.

We used to pride ourselves on being an individualistic society where the rights of the individual were paramount. A "Nanny State" was considered a bad thing.

Now, Nanny is everywhere. Whether Health and Safety or a system that encourages people not to work as the rewards as so low as to make there no point. A Civil Service that grows like a cancer in the heart of the country.

How are you going to make the "super rich" pay their taxes? Solutions, not rants please.

[Crazed Rabbit]

When do we hear about the corporations and super rich who don't pay their taxes?

I don't know about Britain, but here in the USA we have the IRS, whose purpose is to find those big cheaters.

I'm not seeing how it's cowardly.

Most people I am sure will say 'great, less benefit cheats!' But even if it made less 'benefit cheats' will this mean that we are safer, stronger or better as a nation? Or will it reflect more on the weakening and sad, petty, individualistic society we have become. A sad day for the country everytime things like this happens.

One might say spending less on cheats gives more money for use on people with real problems. Your sympathy for people who cheat to get benefits that should be going to the poor surprises me.

CR

[Rodion Romanovich]

I thought science had already proven that lie-detectors are absolutely useless.

[Blodrast]

I thought science had already proven that lie-detectors are absolutely useless.

It had indeed (recent article about CIA and polygraphs comes to mind), but that doesn't stop them from using them.

[lancelot]

Possibly the most cowardly thing this Labour government has done in power and makes me so bloody angry I wanna cut my membership card up.

We are through the looking glass people!

Only j/k...

It is so easy - especially at times of elections - to go after those who 'cheat and steal benefits', because it is never a bad thing for a government to do, one which is loosing support amongst 'middle England' especially.

When do we hear about the corporations and super rich who don't pay their taxes? When are we ever going to answer the problems of why people might resort to 'benefit cheating'? Contrary to what many people believe not only is 'benefit cheating' a minor problem but it is only done by a vast minority of people. The fact remains it only garners such publicity and politicians only attack these people because it is so easy to do so politically. That is so cowardly and disgusting that it brings me to imense rage. Labour is meant to be helping people who are on, seeking or 'cheating' benefits, not finding out ways to target and make their lives worse.

Most people I am sure will say 'great, less benefit cheats!' But even if it made less 'benefit cheats' will this mean that we are safer, stronger or better as a nation? Or will it reflect more on the weakening and sad, petty, individualistic society we have become. A sad day for the country everytime things like this happens.

In all seriousness, I agree... the most privileged in our society get away with murder, while our 'labour' government spends its days thinking up ways for emptying the pockets of the masses.

My brother has set up his own business recently, when the local government came round to work out the rates, the fact that some rooms had CARPETS!!! was reason enough to increase the rates by making the property 'desireable'

Carpets for crying out loud- we are not talking about gold plated bathroom fixtures here...


You seem to be a principled person JAG, I can scarecly believe anyone would vote labour, when as you say- the lower income persons in the country are so disadvantaged vis-a-vis the super rich and the government does nothing.

[rory_20_uk]

Yes, the rich have it good. And what are you going to do about it?

Jag has principles a-plenty. Always complaining about this and that. Sadly, there is rarely any real world solution to the problems. Capitalism has faults, but Communism is worse in the real world.

And still after a decade of Labour he's a Labour supporter... He might whinge, but still gives them his money.

[InsaneApache]

Nah....he only keep up his subs so that he gets a peerage.

[Major Robert Dump]

They should also give them DNA tests and put a cap on how many spawn of a particular strand can receive benefits, so then they must battle one another in extinction to be crowned Benefactors for Life.

[doc_bean]

They should also give them DNA tests and put a cap on how many spawn of a particular strand can receive benefits, so then they must battle one another in extinction to be crowned Benefactors for Life.

Selling the television rights could subsidize them !

[Ja'chyra]

Don't schoolchildren get paid more for staying at school than those on the social now?