Bludgers and Innovation

Joshua Gans got me thinking - with this post.

Instead of beating up on our Newstart and Disability Support welfare recipients and labelling them *bludgers* what about thinking of them as *potential innovators* who are funded by the nation?

And instead of asking them to front up to Centrelink and to be ready for manual effort as part of that discredited "Work For The Dole" scheme - how about asking them (or at least some of them) to use their intellect to develop ideas and capability for the nation?

Because we could really do with some innovation - and who better to mobilise than the army of unemployed, who desperately want to contribute - but can't because there aren't enough jobs.

Instead of trying to dumb them down and use them as political pawns we could utilise their skills? Instead of forcing engineers and other science graduates to work as truck or taxi drivers - how about letting them do what they are trained to do? And ask them to pay the nation back with their ideas.

And then capturing and exploiting those ideas, effort and output for the benefit of the nation?

Sounds pretty good doesn't it?

Only problem is that there isn't even one influential politician left in the Federal Parliament who could recognise the benefit and be prepared to take the risk - that's how bad our polity has become.

And anyway there isn't even one Federal Administrator who could run it - that's how bad our bureaucracy has become.

Good ideas are one thing. Turning them into something worthwhile requires leadership - and we haven't had any of that on the Labor side since Paul Keating left the building.