Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Government-funded Hawkers

Yesterday an 18 year old knocked on our door saying he was on a programme to help him get work.  He wanted to join the navy and wanted to sell us stuff.  It was raining so we asked him in and gave him a cuppa.  He told us his history:  adolescent unit due to fighting in school in Hull;  qualifications in bricklaying etc, but now on some govt scheme for young offenders based in Nottingham.  They are bused all over the place (we live in East Yorkshire).  We said you'd better show us your wares.  We looked in dismay at the contents of his bag.. ironing board covers, 'screen cleaners' and other rubbish.  We didnt want any of it, but to help him we bought 2 veg peelers and a drain cleaner (if you buy 3 items he gets a bonus) - each £9.99 and made in China.  The drain cleaner broke on 1st application......

So the question is:  WHY is the government funding youngsters to  hawk trashy products (the components of which are wrenched from the long-suffering environment) when they could be supporting schemes to train them to do useful green work ?  I wonder if its because that would take a bit of effort?  Is this what we want our taxes to pay for?

2 comments:

Sandman said...

Doesn't sound government funded to me. Sounds like its funded by people willing to pay ten quid for a vegetable peeler

Shan Oakes said...

Thanks for comment! Well, he said it was govt funded...maybe he was wrong, but it smacked of a scheme someone had dreamed up and got govt funding for. The number of people this guy could have got to cough up £10 quid for a peeler etc. wouldnt have paid for their travel let alone anything else.