Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris
The cost to the local economy, given that the benefits paid to the workers would in many cases be lower than their wages, would be significant. There is also a long-term socio-economic cost associated with long term high levels of unemployment in a community. Abandoning the plant in favour of putting the workers on benefits should be at the bottom of a long list of potential solutions to the problem.
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Oh yes, I totally agree, and I didn't mean to say that I supported that idea at all. Closing up shop completely and throwing that many skilled workers onto the scrapheap would be a monumentally stupid idea. So would full nationalisation and putting taxpayers on the hook for the plant would not fly.
However, if a credible, long term plan can be created that takes into account the full economic cycle and potential pitfalls associated with fluctuating commodity prices? The Govt should provide support to realise such a plan. Any plan that boils down to "Lend us some money, you know we'll be good for it when prices rise" should be refused.