The Unemployment Question

The impact of President Winstons’ recent  Workplace Relations legislation, coupled with the overall preoccupation of conservative politicians and citizens in general, concerned that "their taxes" are supporting dole bludgers, whom should get off their lazy butts and get a job. With Little Johnny's constant assertions that unemployment is at it's historical lowest or some drivel to that effect, begs the question why he and his Government need to change anything in workplace relations at all and why is he riding the under and unemployed so bloody hard? If it ain't broke, why fix it? If unemployment is actually so low, what's the problem? You will never employ everyone at the same time anyway. Fact. Why indeed. It's obvious to this writer with Howards penchant and track record for lies that one of two, or possibly three things are happening here.

1. Unemployment is actually much, much higher than the publicised 5 odd percent with many of the unfortunate being "reclassified" into different and sundry pidgeon holes that aren't taken into account when the arithmetic is done. A bit like the selective calculation for inflation. My cost of living has rocketed through the roof, as I suspect, has yours but inflation we’re told is still low. Perhaps high unemployment keeps rampant inflation invisible or easier to hide? Curious.
One needs to question how many of the jobs advertised on the Jobsearch computers actually exist? Forgive me for being a sceptic but it would quite easy for a Department of Propaganda and Spin Creation team to dream up jobs that are listed through our network of private commercial job centres, with all whom apply for these phantom position receiving as Keith Beman from Woodend puts it in Letters, The Age, dated May 9 2005 and I quote "If he is lucky he may receive an electronic rejection or perhaps continuous silence."  If these jobs exist, then let jobseekers apply directly to the prospective employer rather than being "filtered" by organizations that seem designed only to block access to real work and get paid from the public purse to boot. In my dealings with these organizations, they appear to be a replacement unemployed-flogging system created to fill the void left by the obvious scaling down of Centrelink. Howard is transferring responsibility for the outcomes of his shoddy policies to an ever willing and able private sector.  I dislike people that criticize without offering any alternative, so here goes.Try this for a solution.
Disband these organizations sending the corporate attitude packing with them, and insert the caring employees of these travesties now left swinging into small businesses as Government funded HR departments on site. No cost to the employer bar some office space, direct and immediate consultation between employer and HR consultants and best use of the taxpayers funds. Then we might be able to get a handle on what is actually happening in the world of the working or non-working class.
    
2. The changes to legislation have been made solely to create a New Financial Windfall scheme for the "big end of town". This one must be considered a "given"    

3. Conditions are being manipulated to "avoid" hiring local Australians, especially those old enough to remember fair working conditions and job security or those whom have come from other countries that already practice exploitation, in full-time paid work in preference for importing contract (President Winstons crowning glory) labour from overseas for slavery in the commercial gulags of the globalized business world. What's that I hear you say? Utter rubbish? Wait until they gain control of the Senate after July 1 and then we'll all feel the full brunt of this fascist government's mailed fist. Surely you don't believe the anti-terrorist laws are in place to control terrorism do you? They have accomplished nought in controlling the likes of George Dubya, the Worlds foremost terrorist. They have been put in place to attempt to control us, the citizens when the penny finally drops and the populous pours into the streets in mass protest (so, I'm an optimist). The kid gloves will come off as the Conservatives have been chafing to do for decades. Anyone who trusts this current Government, or any government for that matter from either side of the House, to do what's best for ALL Australians. Just remember their proven lies to get Australia involved in the illegal wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, children overboard, No GST ever etc. etc. To miss-quote Michael Catons' famous or infamous line from the film "The Castle"......"You're dreaming!"
Geoff Heard