[Eric]

The working for benefits thing was tried unsuccessfully in Ontario; even conservative thinking people (I'm not talking about the lunatic fringe, but the average conservative) found the idea of forcing the unfortunate to work for the "peanuts" the govt gave them very distasteful, smacking of workhouses. I remember one cartoon in the local rag with the govt owned Wolfe Islander ferry being rowed by welfare recipients in chains. The devious and determined shirkers will always find a way not to work and still get support; it's the genuine poor claimants who will end up working for their pittance and not having time to look for real work. And how long would it be before the captains of industry offer to help out by providing "work" for the poor and paying them the equivalent of benefits? In other words, being able to circumvent the minimum wage laws.

There has to be more govt intervention ... no, govt intervention has to be creative and not punitive. Business wants to avoid govt control, and will go to any extent to avoid it. Moving well paid jobs overseas is one way they can do this. But the govt has powers, and these should be used not only against the poor, but also against the rich.