You sir, are an idiot. Let me testify as to why.
I finished my teaching postgraduate stuff in July (effectively) but began applying for work long before. Now, I had already decided I did not want to follow the teaching career, but to aim for youth work (not as simple a transition in terms of qualifications as you might imagine) and to also fall back a bit on my original undergraduate stuff - filmmaking. Wary of how this could cost me in the work place, I therefore actively started looking around more or less from the start of the year, having my first interview at Easter.
I have now been claiming Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) for five months. I don't claim Housing or any other benefits (though I really should as it's a constant struggle for rent and other overheads.) You reckon that this means I'm not trying hard enough to get back to work. I've been accused of this before, but I take particularly offence this time because this is from a guy who was born in the City of London, whose summer job was working for Tony Blair, and who has almost certainly never needed for anything in his entire life.
I have found myself in a middle-class trap, illustrated by feedback I have received. I'm told I'm too overqualified to work for a minimum wage post (having applied for shopwork, B&Q, a pizza parlour, etc.) because it's obvious I'll leave at the drop of a hat; which would be fine, but I keep getting all these interviews for 'proper' jobs, but no end product.
Oh but don't the Job Centre give me help? Ha. I go in, I hand in my form recording my weekly efforts (which I could write more or less anything on) someone grunts at me and hands me something to sign. That's it. That's all you need to do to get free money in this country. Actually that's not strictly true - my last review interview in Belfast was conducted by a thoroughly lovely young woman who actually took an interest. I nearly died of shock. Someone should make her a manager.
How much? Sorry, yes. £47.50. Ever tried living on less that £50 a week? Try it sometime.
I don't tell my sob story for pity - it's my hole, and I'll get out of it eventually. But please James, bear in mind that for every few wasters, fraudsters and liars that hang around sitting on their tod all day, there's a rapidly-growing group of young and old professionals who struggle from week to week, and your system has completely failed them. The problem isn't us, it's you. Or rather, the people who work for you. If you're going to "help", then actually be of some assistance and justify your existence. Otherwise, just sign off the damn form and let me get back to my extra-value cheese.
You may recall - or then again, may not - my 'calling out' of the ignominous goon, rickety oaf and plainly, twaddling wally that was Work & Pensions Secretary James Purnell ('An open (informal) letter to James Purnell', 10 December 2008). Well, clearly someone was listening: namely James himself, who has just announced his resignation to demonstrate his opposition to the failing leadership of our unelected PM, Gordon Brown.
