Yes I’m a huge favour of establishing a UBI. But sometimes I have to ask myself if it’s because I like people or if it’s just because I hate WINZ (in my plan IRD will run UBI and WINZ will be a shell of it’s former self).
It massively simplifies the whole system; and basically takes away a huge amount of work that is essentially stupid and/or punitive in nature and would hopefully then free up what is left over to focus on the social and health services side of what they’re supposedly responsible for.
Imagine if a visit to WINZ wasn’t about filling in a form and checking a box to confirm that yet, you did look for work, but no there still isn’t any work that you can do (or whatever); and instead it was about them coming to you with help - how are you coping with your heating budget, here’s some support to help you get more nutritious food without spending as much money.
Yes I’m a huge favour of establishing a UBI. But sometimes I have to ask myself if it’s because I like people or if it’s just because I hate WINZ (in my plan IRD will run UBI and WINZ will be a shell of it’s former self).
It can be both!
It massively simplifies the whole system; and basically takes away a huge amount of work that is essentially stupid and/or punitive in nature and would hopefully then free up what is left over to focus on the social and health services side of what they’re supposedly responsible for.
Imagine if a visit to WINZ wasn’t about filling in a form and checking a box to confirm that yet, you did look for work, but no there still isn’t any work that you can do (or whatever); and instead it was about them coming to you with help - how are you coping with your heating budget, here’s some support to help you get more nutritious food without spending as much money.
I doubt WINZ could pull off the “helpful” angle. You’d need to build a new ministry from the ground up to make it effective.