Politics, pragmatism and welfare

One of the big advantages John Key and the National Party has over most of their political opponents is that they can claim, sometimes legitimately, that they are pragmatists.

They can pursue policies not on the basis of any ideology but on whether they work in the real world. They can argue that their responses to the many issues, problems and policy decisions they face can be based on what is best for the country not what is best for a particular group or what fits into a particular world view.

Contrast that with Labour, which has unions as a major funder and a clear constituency it must take account of whatever might be best for the nation; or the Greens with its environmental straitjacket, or Act New Zealand and its economic fundamentalism that smothers flexibility.

Mr Key himself, as is well recognised, epitomises and emphasises this. What works is what matters, not the doctrine.

Of course, politics is not that simple. National does have its specific constituencies and responding to them, it can be maintained, goes against the wider interests of the nation.

Farmers and their role in the emissions trading scheme could be seen as an illustration of this.

There is also the point that what might be seen as populism and lack of principle itself interferes with the long-term interests of New Zealand. Thus, although it is obvious the superannuation eligibility age must rise, Mr Key will not go down that track. National by tradition - just think of Keith Holyoake or Robert Muldoon - and by current instinct is a centrist party more beholden to middle New Zealand and far less to any specific philosophy than most other parties.

The youth policy announced last weekend is an example of the approach. A full-fledged right-wing party would not be so tentative or careful and would go much further. The "payment card" that can only be used to buy certain goods would be adopted much more widely as would of control over and obligations for beneficiaries, not just those aged 16 and 17 and 18 years old on the domestic purposes benefit. Even as National rolls out more welfare policies, they will continue to use a combination of encouragement and punitive measures rather than primarily a harsh approach.

The changes have the grand aim of ending welfare dependency for young people. Available under the Government's Youth Guarantee policy would be free study towards school-level qualifications in places such as polytechnics and wanaga and trade academies.

The young person's support provider would pay basic bills like rent and power and help with budgeting, and only a limited amount of money would be left to spend at the youth's discretion. The Privacy and Education Acts would be changed, at the same time, so information could be shared about when 16- and 17-year-olds left school.

Most of these measures will resonate positively with voters. Youths of these ages not in school, training or work have, basically, dropped out and have limited futures. And because the State "pays" them through their benefits it is fair for the State to have some control.

No-one, though, will or should expect dramatic changes in outcomes. Youths in this position are often likely to have lost motivation and engagement years before, and it will often be too late to point them on practical paths even with intensive case management and support.

Crucially, too, job opportunities are scarce these days, even when basic qualifications or skills are acquired.

National, in its relatively cautious and incremental way, has made another small step towards winning this year's election, with the promise of more to come in the area of welfare dependency.

The party gives the impression of doing something about youth problems even if the numbers involved are small when lined up against the extent of youth unemployment. It is showing it is prepared to grapple with an issue that is clearly significant and an ongoing concern to many voters. Alienated and lost young people, as evidenced by the English riots of last week, threaten not just the future of the youths themselves but wider society as well.