(19-08-2012 01:07 AM)Jonathan Clarke Wrote:  As a taxpayer I would object to the state doing something to its citizens which caused them upset and trauma which costs me more. Thats a bit like state sponsored slow torture.

Jonathan,

You are almost making Paul's point.

You need to look at the bigger picture. Moral hazard could be one label for your position.

Almost by definition we can find someone who costs more no matter what decision we take. That said, what we need is a system that incentives people to do the right thing. In this case, we need a housing policy that is a safety net rather than a home for life.

Once people realize they can have a home for life, they will shift what they do. Why struggle when all you need to do is refuse to work and have more children (male or female). When the pattern repeats, the state pays even more even if any one individual decisions is less costly.

(20-08-2012 11:10 AM)john_corey Wrote:  

(19-08-2012 01:07 AM)Jonathan Clarke Wrote:  As a taxpayer I would object to the state doing something to its citizens which caused them upset and trauma which costs me more. Thats a bit like state sponsored slow torture.

Jonathan,

You are almost making Paul's point.

You need to look at the bigger picture. Moral hazard could be one label for your position.

Almost by definition we can find someone who costs more no matter what decision we take. That said, what we need is a system that incentives people to do the right thing. In this case, we need a housing policy that is a safety net rather than a home for life.

Once people realize they can have a home for life, they will shift what they do. Why struggle when all you need to do is refuse to work and have more children (male or female). When the pattern repeats, the state pays even more even if any one individual decisions is less costly.

Agreed. And apathy is a killer. And when that sets in and becomes too familiar and become some kind of right - it can look and feel ugly. The bigger picture is subjective to the individual. Yours will be different to mine. The politicians have a short 5yr ( life of parliament ) attention span and their policies reflect that time and time again. My bigger picture ends by and large when my own death occurs. I stretch it to include my childrens lives as best i can but struggle to include the generation after that. 100 years from now and I go blank.

Not that my moral compass is always pointing towards the weaker members of society. Far from it on occasions. But when you see the negative effects of housing policies on a daily basis it is frustrating. I could do no better mind you. Humans cannot cope with the scale of the task that is before them. Leaders pretend they do. We need them to pretend as well to keep a level of security so we dont disintegrate

It is the pace of change and the mechanics that often causes offence. However logical and desirable the end result may be - to do it (metaphorically ) overnight causes anger and resentment and creates tensions. A cornered cat lashes out and will scratch you if you try to pounce on it with too much haste to get it to the vet. Take your time to entice it into the cage with food and no injuries occur .

That is precisely why i do like to look at the bigger picture ( when in the mood) and see danger lurking. Upscale that thinking into the real bigger picture and you see the results of mismanagement , Much of the world is at war because of I`m sure well intentioned but mishandled regime changes. Leaders are anxious to make their mark but lose sight and focus and will do anything to preserve their egos. Others get impatient for change and violence occurs. Individuals who are leaders are really not much different from you and me. Just grown up kids at heart. Collectively though with power as adults and with their frightened subordinates they take on a new persona and act like a pack of wolves as greed and peer pressure takes over. Bad deeds are done and the state pays a lot lot more than it anticipated when it began in order to make it right again. Prevention is better than cure.