Quote Originally Posted by Col
It is of interest to note that the beginning of modern state welfare was brought about by a royalist bureaucrat who was anti socialist...Bismarck the Iron Chancellor.

Think Dunc-Smith has some good ideas on reform but this community work is very slippery ground and you'd have to say that if long term unemployeds are asked to paint, garden, clean stuff then by definition there is actually a job available. It could lead to a cost assessment by cash wasting councils that many jobs could be filled by lower paid employees recruited thru these schemes.
William Wilberforce must be turning in his grave