Tornado Alley (PROG)

[fuagf]

hookrider, whatever, and if, a trial should be first, as for the cashless debit card being trialed in Australia (one other option for you guys?) for
welfare recipients. SoxFan's question 'what problem are they solving' is important. Why are they considering their "America's Harvest Box" thing?

In the articles below note the program was targeted at communities rather than individuals actually 'guilty' of the 'problem' the card is meant to address. Many responsible
citizens, doing the right thing, got lumbered with the burden of the card too. Note how the government (and some media would be) uses stats from a study selectively.

Cashless welfare card trial costs up to $18.9m, data reveals

Australian Council of Social Services says money should be diverted to proven support services

Christopher Knaus and Melissa Davey
Tue 2 May 2017 12.29 AEST
Last modified on Tue 2 May 2017 17.25 AEST

[...]

The government has relied largely on a review of the trials, conducted by Orima Research, as proof of its success. The review found the cards to be
effective in reducing alcohol and drug use and gambling. It also found that almost half of the participants felt the card had made their lives worse ..
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/mar/14/cashless-welfare-card-made-life-worse-say-half-of-trial-participants .

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/may/02/cashless-welfare-card-trialled-for-fewer-than-2000-people-at-cost-of-up-to-189m

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Nick Xenophon Team to block cashless welfare card expansion

Coalition needs crossbench support in face of Labor and Greens opposition to rollout of quarantined welfare payments

Christopher Knaus @knausc
Tue 6 Feb 2018 20.06 AEDT
Last modified on Tue 6 Feb 2018 20.07 AEDT

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/feb/06/nick-xenophon-team-to-block-cashless-welfare-card-expansion