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It is no surprise to see that this thread has divided broadly upon party political lines, one side promoting big business and the other more money for the 'workers'. Again it is no surprise to see the old myths about benefits being rattled out, based, it would seem, on the tabloids horror stories of families raking it in rather than the reality for the majority on benefits of scraping through from one payment to the next.
Some things to remember on benefits are; they are taxed with payment expected as soon as a claimant starts work, they do not pay for "everything" as too many appear to believe but rather provide only a basic amount that has to be spread on fuel bills, utility bills, food and clothing and any emergency payments are deducted from the regular payments. For most claimants it is a continuous struggle to stretch them from one fortnightly payment to the next.
Jobs are scarce and yet the government help schemes, such as the old Jobclubs, offer no help for those who wish to start their own small business as the system prefers to see results in terms of people being taken on by established companies. While companies can get payments for taking on unemployed and so-called training providers get assistance for employing unemployed people the unemployed person is discouraged from taking it into their own hands and creating a job for themselves.
In a modern economy diversity is needed in order to create opportunities for employment and for the creation of an environment that will attract investment. The most visible example is the demise of the 'high street', a grouping of a few "big name" stores may attract the weekly shoppers but it does little for visitors who want to be able to browse through a variety of shops and look for products other than the cheapest tin of beans or the latest Richard and Judy book choice.
Without the small businesses all you get is creeping stagnation as the bigger firms will continue to modify whatever they produce, a new computer game or a better pair of shoes are still just extensions of what we already have. Had this been the case in the past, with huge companies breeding horses and building carriages we might now have very sleek horses and beautifully sprung and aerodynamic carriages but it would still be horses and carts, not motor cars.
A balance needs to be sought between keeping larger employers viable and functioning, encouraging new smaller businesses and providing jobs for all those who just want enough cash to pay their bills and enjoy a social life. A balance needs to be found, not along political lines but along practical paths that cater more for peoples varying aspirations than idealogical fancies.