What's so wrong with getting on your bike to find work?
In a remark a little reminiscent of Norman Tebbit's 1981 suggestion that workless people should "get on their bikes" to find work, IDS has infuriated at least one union spokesman who says its an insult to the jobless.
But, I say, what's wrong with the idea of busting a gut to find your next job? Yes, I completely understand that it may be very difficult for some, especially if they're tied to one spot by elderly relatives or dependent children who can't easily move. But, nevertheless, surely you have to try everything you can think of - not just to earn money but also to keep your own sense of "self" and your vital self esteem, personal pride and confidence.
I don't like it, but I drive miles to my various jobs, because I have to.
My guests, Ian Bedwell and Sue Roberts, have done the same, having been made redundant themselves. Ian said he saw the axe falling some six months before it actually did, so he set aside time every Friday to build up his contacts and start making plans for the future. Eventually, he built up his own company and travels throughout Europe looking for clients.
"Never mind getting on my bike, of the bus, to look for work. I commute to the Netherlands, and changed my whole lifestyle to find work. Why should it be an insult to the jobless to suggest they should try everything they can?" said Ian. Sue agreed. She's a life coach now, running her own business, because she was made redundant."You have to do what it takes," she said. "And it's important to go that extra mile."
The days of a life working and living in the same town are over, as are the days of a job for life or even a council house for life.
I totally understand that it's harder for some than others. But for those who can, a daily commute on the bus to find work in the next town or city is surely better than life on benefits.
Hi! I’m Anne Diamond and on weekday mornings you can find me on BBC Radio Berkshire (10 - 1). Even if you don’t live in and around Berkshire, and you know me from my TV and writing, you can always read what I’m doing here or listen online. Welcome! 
Comment number 1.
At 14:50 26th Oct 2010, RWill wrote:I think Anne is missing the point completely here.
Firstly, this comment was aimed at Merthyr, if anyone knows Merthyr, they will know that there is a high level of unemployment, deprivation, poor health and below average education. This means that there is a higher proportion of people who are seeking work in low skilled jobs.
To put it bluntly, there aren't enough of those kind of jobs to cover all of the people who are seeking such employment, and if the people of Merthyr were to travel to other areas, then they would find pretty much the same story. In fact, there are more people job seeking in Merthyr than there are jobs in Merthyr, Blaenau Gwent and Cardiff put together.
Not only that, but the Tory/Lib dem Government are cutting the public sector, currently the biggest source of employment in South Wales. They aren't providing any source of gainful employment in any of these areas and training opportunities are well below parr.
Let's also talk about the jobs available, especially for those workers who are on the lower skilled part of the spectrum. Many of these jobs are in Cardiff and include working in bars, or casino's. Often they finish late, and the last bus/train/any form of public transport has left Cardiff.
Yes it might be true that if you want to look for a job, you shouldn't necessarily stay in your area, but when other area's don't provide the employment that you require, is it really right for a Minister to blame the people for not finding a job?
It isn't right for a Government Minister to basically label a whole area as work shy? Iain Duncan Smith should be ashamed of himself for his comments, it's just another example of a Tory not engaging their brain before they open their mouth.
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Comment number 2.
At 23:23 3rd Jan 2011, Taskedo wrote:This is slightly related to the idea of mobility to get employment. Bagshot villagers have themselves their own website to give them access to stuff they thought they couldn't afford, also to a facility to earn some extra cash in these hard times..and it's going crazy in the village:
https://www.taskedo.com This is worth a look.
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