good afternoon some time ago I read the American writer Robert Benchley who
American writer Robert Benchley who
American writer Robert Benchley who remarked that the world can be divided
remarked that the world can be divided
remarked that the world can be divided into two sorts of people those who
into two sorts of people those who
into two sorts of people those who divide the world into two sorts of
divide the world into two sorts of
divide the world into two sorts of people and those who don’t there’s a lot
people and those who don’t there’s a lot
people and those who don’t there’s a lot of stereotypes around about all sorts of
of stereotypes around about all sorts of
of stereotypes around about all sorts of different things but in Australia
different things but in Australia
different things but in Australia recently some of those common
recently some of those common
recently some of those common stereotypes have been about our welfare
stereotypes have been about our welfare
stereotypes have been about our welfare state so what do I mean by the welfare
state so what do I mean by the welfare
state so what do I mean by the welfare state the welfare state is all of the
state the welfare state is all of the
state the welfare state is all of the programs and policies that we have to
programs and policies that we have to
programs and policies that we have to protect people at different stages of
protect people at different stages of
protect people at different stages of their lives so they include things like
their lives so they include things like
their lives so they include things like hospitals and Medicare services for the
hospitals and Medicare services for the
hospitals and Medicare services for the frail aged services for people with
frail aged services for people with
frail aged services for people with disability and a wide range of Social
disability and a wide range of Social
disability and a wide range of Social Security payments so Age Pensions
Security payments so Age Pensions
Security payments so Age Pensions disability pensions payments for carers
disability pensions payments for carers
disability pensions payments for carers and parents payments for children and
and parents payments for children and
and parents payments for children and also payments for the unemployed now
also payments for the unemployed now
also payments for the unemployed now some of those programs are very popular
some of those programs are very popular
some of those programs are very popular but when you add them all up they
but when you add them all up they
but when you add them all up they account for more than half of what all
account for more than half of what all
account for more than half of what all levels of government spend in Australia
levels of government spend in Australia
levels of government spend in Australia so they’re the biggest set of items that
so they’re the biggest set of items that
so they’re the biggest set of items that the government provides and as a result
the government provides and as a result
the government provides and as a result they also account for about half of all
they also account for about half of all
they also account for about half of all the taxes we pay as I said some of those
the taxes we pay as I said some of those
the taxes we pay as I said some of those programs are very popular but some are
programs are very popular but some are
programs are very popular but some are less popular so we all like Medicare and
less popular so we all like Medicare and
less popular so we all like Medicare and most of us seem to be in favor of Age
most of us seem to be in favor of Age
most of us seem to be in favor of Age Pensions
Pensions
Pensions but in particular payments for the
but in particular payments for the
but in particular payments for the unemployed and payments for people with
unemployed and payments for people with
unemployed and payments for people with disability and some of the other
disability and some of the other
disability and some of the other payments we often see them as them this
payments we often see them as them this
payments we often see them as them this is us now in different countries
is us now in different countries
is us now in different countries different people have described to them
different people have described to them
different people have described to them and us in different ways in the United
and us in different ways in the United
and us in different ways in the United Kingdom media have talked about strivers
Kingdom media have talked about strivers
Kingdom media have talked about strivers versus sky vers some politicians in the
versus sky vers some politicians in the
versus sky vers some politicians in the United States have spoken about makers
United States have spoken about makers
United States have spoken about makers vs. takers it’s interesting they like to
vs. takers it’s interesting they like to
vs. takers it’s interesting they like to rhyme in both those places in Australia
rhyme in both those places in Australia
rhyme in both those places in Australia we’ve often had debate about lifters
we’ve often had debate about lifters
we’ve often had debate about lifters versus leaners and also about tax payers
versus leaners and also about tax payers
versus leaners and also about tax payers versus beneficiaries it’s the idea that
versus beneficiaries it’s the idea that
versus beneficiaries it’s the idea that the
the
the can be divided into two sorts of people
can be divided into two sorts of people
can be divided into two sorts of people into the essentially the worthy and the
into the essentially the worthy and the
into the essentially the worthy and the unworthy a lot of this is based on a
unworthy a lot of this is based on a
unworthy a lot of this is based on a misunderstanding of both the purposes of
misunderstanding of both the purposes of
misunderstanding of both the purposes of these social programs and how they’re
these social programs and how they’re
these social programs and how they’re actually distributed as I said we often
actually distributed as I said we often
actually distributed as I said we often have a lot of stereotyping of people who
have a lot of stereotyping of people who
have a lot of stereotyping of people who are unemployed the most common
are unemployed the most common
are unemployed the most common stereotype is that they’re not actually
stereotype is that they’re not actually
stereotype is that they’re not actually looking for work
looking for work
looking for work there’s also people on Disability
there’s also people on Disability
there’s also people on Disability Support pension and one of the most
Support pension and one of the most
Support pension and one of the most common stereotypes is that actually
common stereotypes is that actually
common stereotypes is that actually they’re not really people with
they’re not really people with
they’re not really people with disability one of the most amazing front
disability one of the most amazing front
disability one of the most amazing front pages of a on a newspaper in the
pages of a on a newspaper in the
pages of a on a newspaper in the Australian newspaper in 2014 at
Australian newspaper in 2014 at
Australian newspaper in 2014 at beginning of 2014 this was the literally
beginning of 2014 this was the literally
beginning of 2014 this was the literally the front page picture which compared to
the front page picture which compared to
the front page picture which compared to images of a queue of young people on the
images of a queue of young people on the
images of a queue of young people on the left-hand side and a pretty iconic
left-hand side and a pretty iconic
left-hand side and a pretty iconic picture for those of us who above a
picture for those of us who above a
picture for those of us who above a certain age of a wounded soldier being
certain age of a wounded soldier being
certain age of a wounded soldier being helped in New Guinea and basically it
helped in New Guinea and basically it
helped in New Guinea and basically it pointed out that in New South Wales in
pointed out that in New South Wales in
pointed out that in New South Wales in 2014 the number of people who are on a
2014 the number of people who are on a
2014 the number of people who are on a Disability Support pension was nearly
Disability Support pension was nearly
Disability Support pension was nearly the same as the number of people injured
the same as the number of people injured
the same as the number of people injured in the Second World War now
in the Second World War now
in the Second World War now statistically this is actually sort of
statistically this is actually sort of
statistically this is actually sort of like comparing apples and pineapples
like comparing apples and pineapples
like comparing apples and pineapples it’s it’s not a valid comparison I won’t
it’s it’s not a valid comparison I won’t
it’s it’s not a valid comparison I won’t go into too why particularly but I’m
go into too why particularly but I’m
go into too why particularly but I’m having to talk to people about it later
having to talk to people about it later
having to talk to people about it later but the the main thing is is that well
but the the main thing is is that well
but the the main thing is is that well what happened afterwards is the press
what happened afterwards is the press
what happened afterwards is the press council Krita certainly had an adverse
council Krita certainly had an adverse
council Krita certainly had an adverse judgment against that against the
judgment against that against the
judgment against that against the newspaper not on the ground of
newspaper not on the ground of
newspaper not on the ground of statistical sloppiness but on the
statistical sloppiness but on the
statistical sloppiness but on the grounds of not being an accurate
grounds of not being an accurate
grounds of not being an accurate depiction of what was happening in many
depiction of what was happening in many
depiction of what was happening in many people’s lives the other thing I’m not
people’s lives the other thing I’m not
people’s lives the other thing I’m not sure you’ll be surprised if I point out
sure you’ll be surprised if I point out
sure you’ll be surprised if I point out that the people on the left-hand side of
that the people on the left-hand side of
that the people on the left-hand side of this picture are not actually Disability
this picture are not actually Disability
this picture are not actually Disability Support pension errs in New South Wales
Support pension errs in New South Wales
Support pension errs in New South Wales they’re not actually in Australia it’s
they’re not actually in Australia it’s
they’re not actually in Australia it’s the picture of Swedish University
the picture of Swedish University
the picture of Swedish University students but for the purposes of the
students but for the purposes of the
students but for the purposes of the comparison it’s the editors of the news
but why do we have welfare provisions
but why do we have welfare provisions including Disability Support pension now
including Disability Support pension now
including Disability Support pension now there are a number of reasons for
there are a number of reasons for
there are a number of reasons for welfare I’m going to talk mainly about
welfare I’m going to talk mainly about
welfare I’m going to talk mainly about the first two there’s the life course
the first two there’s the life course
the first two there’s the life course it’s been referred to earlier today
it’s been referred to earlier today
it’s been referred to earlier today there are risks that people have in
there are risks that people have in
there are risks that people have in their lives social programs are also
their lives social programs are also
their lives social programs are also actually an important aspect of economic
actually an important aspect of economic
actually an important aspect of economic management and of course they’re also
management and of course they’re also
management and of course they’re also about reducing poverty and inequality
about reducing poverty and inequality
about reducing poverty and inequality now everyone in this room and in fact
now everyone in this room and in fact
now everyone in this room and in fact everyone in the world and indeed
everyone in the world and indeed
everyone in the world and indeed everyone who ever lived has at least one
everyone who ever lived has at least one
everyone who ever lived has at least one thing in common we all started off life
thing in common we all started off life
thing in common we all started off life in the same way we all started off life
in the same way we all started off life
in the same way we all started off life in a situation of complete vulnerability
in a situation of complete vulnerability
in a situation of complete vulnerability we’re all for quite a number of years
we’re all for quite a number of years
we’re all for quite a number of years dependent on our parents and for most of
dependent on our parents and for most of
dependent on our parents and for most of us not for all of us our lives also also
us not for all of us our lives also also
us not for all of us our lives also also end in vulnerability so at the beginning
end in vulnerability so at the beginning
end in vulnerability so at the beginning of our lives and at the end of our lives
of our lives and at the end of our lives
of our lives and at the end of our lives we have these pretty predictable periods
we have these pretty predictable periods
we have these pretty predictable periods when we’re going to need the support of
when we’re going to need the support of
when we’re going to need the support of other people the length of time that
other people the length of time that
other people the length of time that people need support security in
people need support security in
people need support security in childhood has has increased over time as
childhood has has increased over time as
childhood has has increased over time as we’ve as young people spend more time in
we’ve as young people spend more time in
we’ve as young people spend more time in school and education and of course lots
school and education and of course lots
school and education and of course lots of people are living longer it’s one of
of people are living longer it’s one of
of people are living longer it’s one of the great achievements of the 20th
the great achievements of the 20th
the great achievements of the 20th century but more people were living to
century but more people were living to
century but more people were living to become frail frail elderly now these
become frail frail elderly now these
become frail frail elderly now these these life course the life course is is
these life course the life course is is
these life course the life course is is predictable as I said we know in advance
predictable as I said we know in advance
predictable as I said we know in advance that we’re going to have these periods
that we’re going to have these periods
that we’re going to have these periods of predictability but what’s
of predictability but what’s
of predictability but what’s unpredictable are risks now
unpredictable are risks now
unpredictable are risks now risks have been around again since the
risks have been around again since the
risks have been around again since the beginning of human history so we have
beginning of human history so we have
beginning of human history so we have natural risks and we’ve seen some we
natural risks and we’ve seen some we
natural risks and we’ve seen some we have them today so like hurricanes and
have them today so like hurricanes and
have them today so like hurricanes and cyclones tropical storms earthquakes
cyclones tropical storms earthquakes
cyclones tropical storms earthquakes fires floods and famines so so natural
fires floods and famines so so natural
fires floods and famines so so natural risks have been a part of human life
risks have been a part of human life
risks have been a part of human life since we since before we formed
since we since before we formed
since we since before we formed societies but in addition as we
societies but in addition as we
societies but in addition as we industrialized particularly
industrialized particularly
industrialized particularly the 19th century onwards we created new
the 19th century onwards we created new
the 19th century onwards we created new risks our societies became a lot richer
risks our societies became a lot richer
risks our societies became a lot richer but they also had new risks as we built
but they also had new risks as we built
but they also had new risks as we built factories there was always a risk of
factories there was always a risk of
factories there was always a risk of being injured on a farm but we created
being injured on a farm but we created
being injured on a farm but we created the risks of being injured in the
the risks of being injured in the
the risks of being injured in the factory we also created unemployment
factory we also created unemployment
factory we also created unemployment unemployment exists when we have
unemployment exists when we have
unemployment exists when we have advanced labour markets when we have
advanced labour markets when we have
advanced labour markets when we have people who as most of us do and has just
people who as most of us do and has just
people who as most of us do and has just been discussed we spend most of our
been discussed we spend most of our
been discussed we spend most of our lives well a lot of our working lives in
lives well a lot of our working lives in
lives well a lot of our working lives in paid work what so we have these new
paid work what so we have these new
paid work what so we have these new risks and in fact over the course of the
risks and in fact over the course of the
risks and in fact over the course of the 19th century different societies as they
19th century different societies as they
19th century different societies as they got richer developed mechanisms to deal
got richer developed mechanisms to deal
got richer developed mechanisms to deal with those risks so the 8-hour a day as
with those risks so the 8-hour a day as
with those risks so the 8-hour a day as we that has just been referred to the
we that has just been referred to the
we that has just been referred to the eight-hour day was basically invented in
eight-hour day was basically invented in
eight-hour day was basically invented in Australia in the 1850s we were the first
Australia in the 1850s we were the first
Australia in the 1850s we were the first jurisdiction to to have the eight-hour
jurisdiction to to have the eight-hour
jurisdiction to to have the eight-hour day and over the course of the 19th
day and over the course of the 19th
day and over the course of the 19th century old-age pensions were introduced
century old-age pensions were introduced
century old-age pensions were introduced first in parts of Europe but Victoria
first in parts of Europe but Victoria
first in parts of Europe but Victoria and New South Wales and New Zealand were
and New South Wales and New Zealand were
and New South Wales and New Zealand were were also pioneers so we developed these
were also pioneers so we developed these
were also pioneers so we developed these mechanisms to deal with them to deal
mechanisms to deal with them to deal
mechanisms to deal with them to deal with risks now what what we also have as
with risks now what what we also have as
with risks now what what we also have as I as I said is the life course if we
I as I said is the life course if we
I as I said is the life course if we look at the distribution of spending
look at the distribution of spending
look at the distribution of spending across the life course these are
across the life course these are
across the life course these are estimates by people who at the time and
estimates by people who at the time and
estimates by people who at the time and they did it were at the ANU but are now
they did it were at the ANU but are now
they did it were at the ANU but are now at the University of Melbourne this is
at the University of Melbourne this is
at the University of Melbourne this is an estimate of social spending by years
an estimate of social spending by years
an estimate of social spending by years of age it’s not in total how much gets
of age it’s not in total how much gets
of age it’s not in total how much gets spent it’s the average amount per person
spent it’s the average amount per person
spent it’s the average amount per person so you can see that it starts off with a
so you can see that it starts off with a
so you can see that it starts off with a bump in the early years mainly because
bump in the early years mainly because
bump in the early years mainly because we have childcare we have primary school
we have childcare we have primary school
we have childcare we have primary school and secondary school and then
and secondary school and then
and secondary school and then universities and tapes and then it’s
universities and tapes and then it’s
universities and tapes and then it’s flat over the course of most people’s
flat over the course of most people’s
flat over the course of most people’s working lives but it starts to increase
working lives but it starts to increase
working lives but it starts to increase significantly after the age of 65 now on
significantly after the age of 65 now on
significantly after the age of 65 now on average on average
average on average
average on average if you’re a hundred years or over we’re
if you’re a hundred years or over we’re
if you’re a hundred years or over we’re spending about $75,000 a year per person
spending about $75,000 a year per person
spending about $75,000 a year per person aged 100 years and over there only about
aged 100 years and over there only about
aged 100 years and over there only about three and a half thousand people over
three and a half thousand people over
three and a half thousand people over the age of hundred years in Australia
the age of hundred years in Australia
the age of hundred years in Australia but we’re spending about significant
but we’re spending about significant
but we’re spending about significant numbers on people under the age of one
numbers on people under the age of one
numbers on people under the age of one they’re about three hundred thousand
they’re about three hundred thousand
they’re about three hundred thousand people babies before the age of one
people babies before the age of one
people babies before the age of one so in fact we spend a lot more at early
so in fact we spend a lot more at early
so in fact we spend a lot more at early ages than we do at older ages but that’s
ages than we do at older ages but that’s
ages than we do at older ages but that’s going to change over time as the
going to change over time as the
going to change over time as the population ages now if you did a chart
population ages now if you did a chart
population ages now if you did a chart of taxes by age what you’d find is the
of taxes by age what you’d find is the
of taxes by age what you’d find is the opposite of this you’d find that we pay
opposite of this you’d find that we pay
opposite of this you’d find that we pay taxes during our working lives and
taxes during our working lives and
taxes during our working lives and obviously children and people over 65
obviously children and people over 65
obviously children and people over 65 people over 65 don’t pay as all that
people over 65 don’t pay as all that
people over 65 don’t pay as all that much in income tax but they pay GST but
much in income tax but they pay GST but
much in income tax but they pay GST but of course the important thing is that
of course the important thing is that
of course the important thing is that children grow up and when they get jobs
children grow up and when they get jobs
children grow up and when they get jobs become taxpayers and people over the age
become taxpayers and people over the age
become taxpayers and people over the age of 65 also used to be taxpayers during
of 65 also used to be taxpayers during
of 65 also used to be taxpayers during their working lives now as I said there
their working lives now as I said there
their working lives now as I said there are a range of risks there a range of
are a range of risks there a range of
are a range of risks there a range of risks that just as we need to look at
risks that just as we need to look at
risks that just as we need to look at the distribution of spending across the
the distribution of spending across the
the distribution of spending across the life course to understand the nature of
life course to understand the nature of
life course to understand the nature of risks we need to look at what happens
risks we need to look at what happens
risks we need to look at what happens over time and we need to follow people
over time and we need to follow people
over time and we need to follow people through time in order to assess the
through time in order to assess the
through time in order to assess the likelihood of risks that this is a
likelihood of risks that this is a
likelihood of risks that this is a series of snapshots of a boy and a young
series of snapshots of a boy and a young
series of snapshots of a boy and a young man from the age of six to 17 those of
man from the age of six to 17 those of
man from the age of six to 17 those of you have seen the movie boyhood will
you have seen the movie boyhood will
you have seen the movie boyhood will know this is in fact is a is a series of
know this is in fact is a is a series of
know this is in fact is a is a series of stills from that movie this is actually
stills from that movie this is actually
stills from that movie this is actually the same person who was filmed over 12
the same person who was filmed over 12
the same person who was filmed over 12 years so he was an actor but they kept
years so he was an actor but they kept
years so he was an actor but they kept coming back to a media by a year and to
coming back to a media by a year and to
coming back to a media by a year and to make the movie so there are certain
make the movie so there are certain
make the movie so there are certain sorts of statistics that essentially are
sorts of statistics that essentially are
sorts of statistics that essentially are movies so in Australia we have a survey
movies so in Australia we have a survey
movies so in Australia we have a survey since 2001
since 2001
since 2001 that’s called Hilda it’s the household
that’s called Hilda it’s the household
that’s called Hilda it’s the household income and labor dynamics in Australia
income and labor dynamics in Australia
income and labor dynamics in Australia survey and what it’s done is it’s
survey and what it’s done is it’s
survey and what it’s done is it’s followed people in
followed people in
followed people in about 7,000 households every year since
about 7,000 households every year since
about 7,000 households every year since 2001 every year it goes back to these
2001 every year it goes back to these
2001 every year it goes back to these people when it asks them about their
people when it asks them about their
people when it asks them about their income it ask them about their earnings
income it ask them about their earnings
income it ask them about their earnings their hours of work it asked them about
their hours of work it asked them about
their hours of work it asked them about their health last thing about their
their health last thing about their
their health last thing about their wealth and a whole range of other things
wealth and a whole range of other things
wealth and a whole range of other things so if you were 25 year old at the start
so if you were 25 year old at the start
so if you were 25 year old at the start of the survey you’d now be over 40 if
of the survey you’d now be over 40 if
of the survey you’d now be over 40 if you’re a 50 year old you’d probably now
you’re a 50 year old you’d probably now
you’re a 50 year old you’d probably now be receiving an age pension now when you
be receiving an age pension now when you
be receiving an age pension now when you follow people over time you get a very
follow people over time you get a very
follow people over time you get a very powerful picture of what happens in
powerful picture of what happens in
powerful picture of what happens in people’s lives now when you do that you
people’s lives now when you do that you
people’s lives now when you do that you find as you follow people over time the
find as you follow people over time the
find as you follow people over time the there’s some good news and there some
there’s some good news and there some
there’s some good news and there some bad news
bad news
bad news first the bad news everything that can
first the bad news everything that can
first the bad news everything that can go wrong in people’s lives is more
go wrong in people’s lives is more
go wrong in people’s lives is more common than we think over time the good
common than we think over time the good
common than we think over time the good news is it’s less intense and we think
news is it’s less intense and we think
news is it’s less intense and we think it doesn’t last as long now what happens
it doesn’t last as long now what happens
it doesn’t last as long now what happens is that people experience periods of
is that people experience periods of
is that people experience periods of illness or injury they experience
illness or injury they experience
illness or injury they experience unemployment in Hilda if you were over
unemployment in Hilda if you were over
unemployment in Hilda if you were over the first ten years something like 40%
the first ten years something like 40%
the first ten years something like 40% of individuals experience a serious
of individuals experience a serious
of individuals experience a serious illness or injury and about two-thirds
illness or injury and about two-thirds
illness or injury and about two-thirds of house people also have a member of
of house people also have a member of
of house people also have a member of their immediate family or a close friend
their immediate family or a close friend
their immediate family or a close friend who experiences a serious illness or
who experiences a serious illness or
who experiences a serious illness or injury when you look at the labor market
injury when you look at the labor market
injury when you look at the labor market you find that the risks are even more
you find that the risks are even more
you find that the risks are even more common we often think about the
common we often think about the
common we often think about the unemployment rate the number of people
unemployment rate the number of people
unemployment rate the number of people who are unemployed each month at the
who are unemployed each month at the
who are unemployed each month at the moments between 700,000 and 800,000 but
moments between 700,000 and 800,000 but
moments between 700,000 and 800,000 but over the course of a year there’s
over the course of a year there’s
over the course of a year there’s something like about 2 million people in
something like about 2 million people in
something like about 2 million people in Australia who experience a period of
Australia who experience a period of
Australia who experience a period of unemployment there’s about 4 million
unemployment there’s about 4 million
unemployment there’s about 4 million people who have a change in their labour
people who have a change in their labour
people who have a change in their labour market status either they move from
market status either they move from
market status either they move from part-time work to full-time work or vice
part-time work to full-time work or vice
part-time work to full-time work or vice versa
versa
versa or from unemployment or to employment or
or from unemployment or to employment or
or from unemployment or to employment or vice versa
vice versa
vice versa now when people’s in circumstances
now when people’s in circumstances
now when people’s in circumstances change their incomes change and that’s
change their incomes change and that’s
change their incomes change and that’s when the Social Security system comes in
when the Social Security system comes in
when the Social Security system comes in now again when you look at the Social
now again when you look at the Social
now again when you look at the Social Security system what you find is that
Security system what you find is that
Security system what you find is that over time you get a very different
over time you get a very different
over time you get a very different picture of how many people are affected
picture of how many people are affected
picture of how many people are affected by Social Security so if you look at the
by Social Security so if you look at the
by Social Security so if you look at the hand side of this chart in the if you
hand side of this chart in the if you
hand side of this chart in the if you take the the number of people who on the
take the the number of people who on the
take the the number of people who on the 30th of June receiving a Social Security
30th of June receiving a Social Security
30th of June receiving a Social Security payment in 2015
payment in 2015
payment in 2015 amongst working age people that below
amongst working age people that below
amongst working age people that below the age of 65 it was about one person in
the age of 65 it was about one person in
the age of 65 it was about one person in six over the course of a year about one
six over the course of a year about one
six over the course of a year about one in three households have somebody
in three households have somebody
in three households have somebody contained somebody who were receiving a
contained somebody who were receiving a
contained somebody who were receiving a Social Security payment now Hilda as I
Social Security payment now Hilda as I
Social Security payment now Hilda as I said has been going for about 16 years
said has been going for about 16 years
said has been going for about 16 years in the first nine years of the survey
in the first nine years of the survey
in the first nine years of the survey two-thirds of households in Australia
two-thirds of households in Australia
two-thirds of households in Australia included somebody who received a Social
included somebody who received a Social
included somebody who received a Social Security benefit at some stage this is
Security benefit at some stage this is
Security benefit at some stage this is an age pensions and it’s not family
an age pensions and it’s not family
an age pensions and it’s not family payments it’s unemployment payments
payments it’s unemployment payments
payments it’s unemployment payments youth payments disability payments and
youth payments disability payments and
youth payments disability payments and carers payments the most recent survey
carers payments the most recent survey
carers payments the most recent survey came out earlier this year and follows
came out earlier this year and follows
came out earlier this year and follows people over the first 15 years and you
people over the first 15 years and you
people over the first 15 years and you can see that percentage goes up to about
can see that percentage goes up to about
can see that percentage goes up to about 70 percent so the longer this survey
70 percent so the longer this survey
70 percent so the longer this survey goes on the more common this is going to
goes on the more common this is going to
goes on the more common this is going to be now the reason is as I said is that
be now the reason is as I said is that
be now the reason is as I said is that things change in people’s lives
things change in people’s lives
things change in people’s lives now the stereotype we have of people on
now the stereotype we have of people on
now the stereotype we have of people on welfare is that their long-term welfare
welfare is that their long-term welfare
welfare is that their long-term welfare dependent they’re them what you can see
dependent they’re them what you can see
dependent they’re them what you can see is if you if you look at this this
is if you if you look at this this
is if you if you look at this this survey the proportion of people who
survey the proportion of people who
survey the proportion of people who stayed on welfare and got virtually all
stayed on welfare and got virtually all
stayed on welfare and got virtually all of their income for nine years is 1.2
of their income for nine years is 1.2
of their income for nine years is 1.2 percent of the population so between the
percent of the population so between the
percent of the population so between the the two-thirds or with a seventy percent
the two-thirds or with a seventy percent
the two-thirds or with a seventy percent who pass through and the 1.2 percent who
who pass through and the 1.2 percent who
who pass through and the 1.2 percent who stay on welfare for a very long period
stay on welfare for a very long period
stay on welfare for a very long period of time there’s enormous ly complicated
of time there’s enormous ly complicated
of time there’s enormous ly complicated patterns which have to do with the
patterns which have to do with the
patterns which have to do with the enormous Lea complicated patterns of
enormous Lea complicated patterns of
enormous Lea complicated patterns of people’s lives now what that means is
people’s lives now what that means is
people’s lives now what that means is that the idea of them and us is in fact
that the idea of them and us is in fact
that the idea of them and us is in fact we’re all them right you know this is
we’re all them right you know this is
we’re all them right you know this is going to happen to the vast majority of
going to happen to the vast majority of
going to happen to the vast majority of us over our working lives the America
us over our working lives the America
us over our working lives the America that over our whole lives the the
that over our whole lives the the
that over our whole lives the the American economist and he won a Nobel
American economist and he won a Nobel
American economist and he won a Nobel Prize for economics Paul Krugman
Prize for economics Paul Krugman
Prize for economics Paul Krugman described the American government as an
described the American government as an
described the American government as an insurance company with an army on the
insurance company with an army on the
insurance company with an army on the side that essentially is what most
side that essentially is what most
side that essentially is what most modern
modern
modern States are insurance companies with an
States are insurance companies with an
States are insurance companies with an army on the side the reason why we need
army on the side the reason why we need
army on the side the reason why we need to move beyond the myth of them and us
to move beyond the myth of them and us
to move beyond the myth of them and us is that actually we’re all in the same
is that actually we’re all in the same
is that actually we’re all in the same boat we’re all in this together
boat we’re all in this together
boat we’re all in this together [Applause]
”
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