monkeybarry
Ian Walker
That's difficult to answer accurately, but I would suggest a move towards greater social service powers is a far better policy that creating a blanket policy to solve a minority issue.
The problem with much of "the right" (and I include myself in that on some issues ) is that the rhetoric and policy always focuses on the worst cases and then tries to pass that off as the norm when in fact the majority of benefits claimants are actually decent people.. ... And would probably be even better if they were not vilified.
I am a normal, middle class,average worker. But I have been on JSA within the last 3.5 years, it sucked - but it was also the safety net which I have previously paid for and I'm damn sure I don't want anyone telling me what I can and cannot spend my money on.
Your example about people spending on so called luxuries (still waiting on how anyone justifies what is/isn't a luxury by the way) whilst kids go without is extremist and representative of a small amount of scummy people. That doesn't mean everyone should suffer draconianism. But it does mean there should be a way to tackle the issue - and that is child neglect ( in your example) or people not wanting to work.
A solution might be a middle ground - where child neglect is identified, food vouchers are produced to ensure adequate food levels make it into the house. Although I would hope measures to rehouse children would come before that.