Are There No Workhouses?
Published December 30, 2004
The workhouse as a general concept is past due for rehabilitiation. With proper care taken to make sure that abuses are controlled it might be a superior solution to a lot of the social welfare problems our country faces at a much, much lower cost than the alternatives. We already have a precedent operating in our prison system. Prisoners in many states are put to work at a variety of tasks - telemarketing more than chain gangs these days - with the money going to pay reparations to their victims or to offset prison expenses or even to the prisoners themselves. Why not extend the concept to help out those without jobs or homes as well?
Here's how the system would work. Everyone would get 6 months of unemployment benefits to give them time to look for a new job. Those who remained unemployed after that period would no longer receive benefits but would become eligible to apply for a 'worker rehabilitation' program. These programs would be state supervised with some federal grant money for startup. They would provide workers with basic communal housing and food in exchange for which workers would be given work to do. They would also have access to basic job and money management education and would have a portion of their earnings reserved in an account from which they would receive a lump payment when they 'graduated' from the system.
Yes, it would be an awful lot like putting poor people in prison - or more like a combination job, public housing project and school. But it would work, and it would be humane, avoiding the problems of the workhouses of the past. Participants would be protected by a 'bill of rights', and an arbitration system if there were problems with management. All of their needs would be provided for, including on-site medical care and daycare for children. Families would be kept together and the complexes would include facilities for entertainment and exercise. Participants days would be strictly controlled. There would be 6 hours of work, 4 of education, 3 hours for meals, 2 hours for recreation and 9 hours for sleep every day. Life would be highly regimented for participants, but discipline is part of the training which they need. I'd even go so far as to suggest uniforms and organized team sports to develop a sense of community, as well as taking away most peronal possessions on a temporary basis, including automobiles and televisions - all to be returned on 'graduation'.
Dave Nalle has been a magazine editor, freelance writer, capitol hill staffer, game designer and taught college history for many years. He is Vice Chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus, working to promote liberty in the GOP. He designs fonts for a living and lives with his family just outside Austin. You can find his writings on politics and culture at Republic of Dave, on conspiracy theories at IdiotWars and on design and fonts at The Scriptorium.
- Are There No Workhouses?
- Published: December 30, 2004
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Politics
- Writer: Dave Nalle
- Dave Nalle's BC Writer page
- Dave Nalle's personal site
- Spread the Word
- Like this article?
- Email this
Save to del.icio.us
Comments on this articleComments
Relevant in August and even more relevant today when it's a year old and still just as valid for this holiday season as it was for the last.
I actually went to a performance of Oliver today at a local theater and it reminded me of this article during the scene in the foundling home and with the street arabs working for Fagin.
The problems of poverty were so much greater in Dickens England than they were today, yet they managed to find solutions which required minimal government intrusion and were potentially humane - had they been managed less corruptly.
It may seem backwards, but perhaps we could learn something from that past culture.
Dave
There's also the issue that most people simply wouldn't co-operate with such a scheme, especially in such an excessively individualised country as the USA. I doubt that would even work in Europe, Dave, where we still generally believe that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the individual.
And I agree with the rights of the individual being paramount in a free society, but the workhouse concept can work within that context, if as I suggest in the article, participation is on an at will basis. You would always have the option to leave the system, receive no public assistance and sink or swim on your own.
Dave
until yer busted for "vagrancy" under your plan, eh Mr Nalle?
as long as Profit is involved for corporate structure you will have abuses....check the history of work programs in our prison system...many instances of abuse...not quite on the Dickensian scale, but still there
there are some possibilities in this Concept, i just cannot see it working as long as Corporate culture is allowed to be in charge...since Profit is their only motivation rather than the welfare of those Involved...far too easy for a "company store" type scam where these poor folks can never get themselves out of Debt to the "system" and essentially become indentured servants to "the Company"
does anyone else but me see the Irony of the same person writing this piece AND the Santa Claus piece at the same time?
could just be me
Excelsior!
until yer busted for "vagrancy" under your plan, eh Mr Nalle?
At which point you'd be given three hots and a cot, medical care and a roof over your head for six months 'recovery' which would include drying out and detoxing, after which you'd be free to try again.
as long as Profit is involved for corporate structure you will have abuses....check the history of work programs in our prison system...many instances of abuse...not quite on the Dickensian scale, but still there
I'm certainly no fan of private prison management, which has a dismal record, but private charities have a much better record, and they'd be in the lead role here.
there are some possibilities in this Concept, i just cannot see it working as long as Corporate culture is allowed to be in charge...since Profit is their only motivation rather than the welfare of those Involved...far too easy for a "company store" type scam where these poor folks can never get themselves out of Debt to the "system" and essentially become indentured servants to "the Company"
This is only because you think that businesses are inherently evil, when that's really not the case.
does anyone else but me see the Irony of the same person writing this piece AND the Santa Claus piece at the same time?
You think Santa would not endorse a humane system to provide support for the most needy in society?
Dave
WHEN I WAS BROUGHT HERE EVEERBODY TREATED ME THE WRONG WAY I DON'T MEAN MY MOM I KNOW SHE LOVES ME DARLY BUT WHAT I'PRONOUNCE HUMBUG I NEED E.M TO MEET THERE MATCH
My Dickens must be off. If Ebenezer grew up in the workhouse, then presumably it must have been that Twist fellow who wasn't keen on Christmas.
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/23757)
Hey, Gonzo Marx is right, this article is more relevant today than ever before. A real, humane solution to poverty and homelessness!
FOG