Abandoned Quote by Bob Hawke
“While society cannot provide employment for its members, the production/work/income nexus has to be abandoned as a justification for our present parsimony to the unemployed. An assumption cannot be used to justify making second-class citizens of those who are unfortunate enough to constitute living proof of the inaccuracy of that assumption.”
About This Quote
The quote argues that society should not blame unemployment on a broken link between work and income, and that using that link to marginalize the job is unjust.
In simple terms: Reject work‑income justification for poverty
Key Takeaway
Unemployment isn’t a moral failing
Themes
social justice
economic inequality
employment policy
human dignity
assumptions
Mood
critical
empathetic
defiant
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy debates on welfare
- public discourse on unemployment
- advocacy for universal basic income
- media analysis of job market narratives
Key Concepts
employment nexus
social contract
class hierarchy
policy justification
Practical Applications
- designing inclusive social safety nets
- reframing public narratives about work
Questions to Reflect On
- How does linking income to employment affect social cohesion?
- What alternatives exist to the work‑income model?
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