The war on government welfare is becoming more and more difficult to wage. That is because the enemy is becoming less and less distinct.

At a glance, government welfare is that provided by Work and Income, which administers social security encompassing a plethora of working age benefits and pensions for the elderly. But welfare also covers social services provided by Child Youth and Family and the Ministries of Health, Education and Justice. Many of the services provided arise from the needs of families who have become welfare dependent.
For example, low incomes dictate poor living standards and homes for people unable to budget. Damp and mouldy environments can lead to asthma and eczema in children; sickness benefits support drug and alcohol abuse; a DPB income attracts the deadbeat who abuses his 'step-children'; ill-health, addiction and child abuse - all requiring further intervention.
Increasingly government farms-out service provision to the non-government sector. Barnardos, the Salvation Army, and Plunket are just a few of the higher profile organisations involved. Each of these so-called charities receives the majority of their funding from government.
So the government is dressing up in sheep's clothing via its extensive tentacles. The problem then becomes two-fold. Those people who would prefer private charitable activity to supplant government welfare are left with few uncorrupted options to support. And the organisations in the pocket of government dare not criticise government policy. They form an unholy alliance trading off public donations against the more valuable government support. Hence we see once independent voices rallying around government policy like the removal of section 59.
Once upon a time Plunket would criticise social policy. In the past they were outspoken about the domestic purposes benefit and the correlated rise in unmarried motherhood. Not any more. At least not publicly. The Salvation Army has become quite the socialist outfit lobbying government for ever more cash assistance for the 'needy'.
And notice something else. Even if you decide you no longer wish to donate to the likes of Barnardos, you cannot stop. The government will do it on your behalf. Those of us who recently boycotted the KidsCan telethon, believing the cause would simply make New Zealand parents even more dependent on handouts, were overruled by Prime Minister, John Key who decided to make a large donation from tax funds. Thank you very much for your 'in-kind' donation.
Another reason the war on government welfare is becoming more difficult to wage is the character of the government. There used to be parliamentary opposition to working-age welfare, in the form of ACT. But now ACT is supporting the status quo government. The Greens and Labour will only ever advocate for more welfare. So finding parliamentary allies in the war is a lost cause. No doubt some readers will object, reminding me that Roger Douglas will be agitating against so much state welfare. But even if ACT fails to support a welfare policy (and none is up for debate under the current government anyway). National will secure support from the Maori Party, which talks tough about working-for-the-dole but will never entertain reforming the DPB, the major reason for intergenerational dependency.
So the prospects for a successful end to the war on government welfare are not looking too flash. The cause however is so important that it shouldn't be abandoned. I won't be, any time soon.

Guest post by Lindsay Mitchell