Disciplining the Dole

Britain is considering an interesting move in welfare reform - tying benefits to what Prime Minister Tony Blair called "social behaviour." If tenants in government housing make their neighbors' lives hell or mothers receiving benefits don't keep their kids in school, they could lose their welfare privileges.

From the London Telegraph:
"Speaking in the Commons on the eve of the local elections in England, the Prime Minister confirmed that he wanted to introduce a new principle of 'conditionality' into the payments of a range of benefits.

"He said that most people would support the idea that 'if people get benefits from the state, they owe some responsibility in return'.

"Mr Blair made clear that he had no intention of backing down over the proposal to withhold child benefit payments from parents who refused to take action to stop their children playing truant."