Things I Learned Yesterday
I was going to post this as a comment on Erica's blog, but it's a little long.
I learned something new yesterday! Gotta love this: a number of years ago, the BC Gov decided to stop welfare fraud, cause they were loosing around 7 mill. (That's about the equivalent of one seat on a fast ferry). So they came up with the brilliant idea of not mailing checks to those in East Van. Instead, they would have to hit the office on Main and Cordova, and sign a form.
Okay, East Van is pretty big. So for those who don't live on the East Side, dragging their kids down to the office is, first of all, a pain, second, demeaning as shit. For those of you who don't know Vancouver, Main and Cordova is not the kind of place you take the kids day tripping.
Here's the kicker: the forms they had to sign were written in such legaleese that a lawyer who got wind of the forms couldn't figure out the meaning behind them without help.
Now, if a lawyer with twenty years experience doesn't know what he's reading, do you expect the average layman to? Hell, no. But it's all just government mumbo jumbo, so people were signing away.
And guess what they were signing away? Well, to help hunt down welfare fraud, the gov't decided to make the search easier by refusing to release checks (that's blackmail, folks) to anyone who didn't sign away their right to privacy. Yup. Any access to any gov't info. Privacy Act null and void.
Oh yeah, and when you signed, you signed for life. Someone on welfare for one fucking month would have no right to privacy for the rest of their lives.
Oh, and you got kids? Yeah, their lives too. Cause you're signing on their behalf.
Anyway, aforementioned lawyer called news stations, news stations ate it up, things went over rather badly, happy ending for welfare recipients.
Course, if that lawyer hadn't of been there....
I learned something new yesterday! Gotta love this: a number of years ago, the BC Gov decided to stop welfare fraud, cause they were loosing around 7 mill. (That's about the equivalent of one seat on a fast ferry). So they came up with the brilliant idea of not mailing checks to those in East Van. Instead, they would have to hit the office on Main and Cordova, and sign a form.
Okay, East Van is pretty big. So for those who don't live on the East Side, dragging their kids down to the office is, first of all, a pain, second, demeaning as shit. For those of you who don't know Vancouver, Main and Cordova is not the kind of place you take the kids day tripping.
Here's the kicker: the forms they had to sign were written in such legaleese that a lawyer who got wind of the forms couldn't figure out the meaning behind them without help.
Now, if a lawyer with twenty years experience doesn't know what he's reading, do you expect the average layman to? Hell, no. But it's all just government mumbo jumbo, so people were signing away.
And guess what they were signing away? Well, to help hunt down welfare fraud, the gov't decided to make the search easier by refusing to release checks (that's blackmail, folks) to anyone who didn't sign away their right to privacy. Yup. Any access to any gov't info. Privacy Act null and void.
Oh yeah, and when you signed, you signed for life. Someone on welfare for one fucking month would have no right to privacy for the rest of their lives.
Oh, and you got kids? Yeah, their lives too. Cause you're signing on their behalf.
Anyway, aforementioned lawyer called news stations, news stations ate it up, things went over rather badly, happy ending for welfare recipients.
Course, if that lawyer hadn't of been there....
posted by Impulsivecompulsive | 7:24 AM
5 Comments:
Doesn't surprise me that the BC Gov would do that...look what they have put the people through for disability...my mom is haveing the hardest time getting it, and I think the fact that she should be using a walker is proof enough...oh and the document that states she has muscular dystrophy
Porn: My mom had a hell of a time getting on disabilty. She had several documents from doctors and physiotherapists saying she wasn't able to move the way she needs to do the work she was trained to do.
She still got on... I'm sure your mom will be fine. They like to be difficult to everyone. It's a powertrip thing...
Is anyone surprised at all that they targeted the east side?
nope, its the poorest neighbourhood in canada from last stats
Proving once and for all that it's okay to pick on people who have fewer resources...
Post a Comment
<< Home