Britain discloses plan to overhaul welfare system

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"The new Conservative-led government Thursday unveiled the biggest overhaul to Britain's welfare system since World War II, moving to reduce and consolidate assistance programs and weed out benefit cheats as part of its broader effort to dramatically slash government spending.

The move marks another step in the coalition's ambitious campaign to slash the whopping budget deficit, cutting $128 billion in spending over the next four years while chipping away at what it sees as bloated government payrolls and an overly paternal state system. It comes at a time when the British government is leading an effort across Europe to rein in runaway deficits, with nations from Spain to Greece to France rolling back time-honored government benefits in the name of fiscal austerity.

In fact, the overhaul here, analysts said, is set to be so transformative that it will bring unemployment and welfare benefits in Britain closer in line to those in the United States, moving it further away from the traditionally more generous state benefit programs of continental Europe.

The system is designed to prevent millions of Britons who now get welfare benefits from enjoying incomes greater than those who work. The overhaul would also consolidate what had been 30 benefit programs - such as those for people with disabilities and child assistance - into one universal program. Anyone who turns down more than three job offers would also be at risk of losing their benefits for up to three years. Some welfare recipients unable to find jobs could also be forced to do unpaid community service."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/11/AR2010111107065.html

[DJ13]

1. And what will be the result of austerity that lowers economic activity?

Cameron warns of risk of new Great Depression

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/cameron-warns-of-risk-of-new-great-depression-2131891.html

[defendandprotect]

2. K&R -- international attack safety nets by elites ---

and rising fascism --

[Rex]

3. Hey, if you are uber wealthy NOW is the time to forever put your

boot onto the neck of the poor masses! So what if it leads to another global economic depression, the uber wealthy always survive and buy up the leftovers for pennies on the dollar! The controlling elite MUST destroy the middle class, GWB gave the world elites a greenlight and boy howdy! Looks bad for us poor working stiffs.

[cutlassmama]

4. The U.S. is next