Monday 27 August 2012

Basics Card


(Thanks to Footie McGrew on the HPANWO Forum for bringing this to my attention.)

The Australian Government have introduced a scheme called the "Basics Card" which would mean people on benefits would have their money given them on the card which will be not exchangeable for cash and can only be used to buy food, electricity, gas and other essentials. See: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-02-15/shopping-with-basics-card-like-apartheid/331940 . This article portrays the scheme as racism against the Aborigines, but I think it's far more serious than that. It's a step towards the cashless society which I've warned of many times before; EG, see: http://hpanwo.blogspot.co.uk/2008/11/coins-are-dropped.html

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

And what "food" would be avaiable to buy on this card? GMOS only? processed cheap foods nutrient dead food? this way to the shelfs for unemployed foods, eat this or nothing.

Ben Emlyn-Jones said...

I don't know, Anon, but now you mention it, that's a good point. It wouldn't surprise me at all.