KEY POINTS:
Like many New Zealanders, I'm scared of losing my job. I know what it's like to exist on grudgingly given handouts, I have experienced the indignity and shame of unemployment.
I will never forget the struggle to feed my family and pay the bills and I never want to go back there again.
I am fearful of what the future holds for my two sons, one of whom is nearly the same age as I was in 1984 at Lange's Economic Summit. I am left wondering how we have ended up in this position and why we do not seem to learn from the tragedy of previous recessions.
No one seems prepared to own the decisions that have led to this recession; it's almost like it has been accepted as a normal part of our economic landscape.
Roger Douglas was the Government's answer in the 80s recession. Douglas and his neo-liberal cronies forced the culture of individual responsibility down our throats, the "as long as I'm all right" attitude that a whole generation has grown up with. Social responsibility was a dirty phrase. We worshipped a new god - the free market and people became units of production.
The spectre of Roger Douglas still looms in the back rooms of Parliament. The thought that the culture of blame, greed and selfishness could come back into vogue sends shivers up my spine.
I am employed by Community Waikato. We work at the coalface with welfare and social service organisations. Our sector is experiencing a double whammy. We are seeing vital services struggling financially as funding sources dry up. But these are the agencies that are having to pick up the pieces and support those who suffer most from this recession. Our workload will rise dramatically at a time when our resources are being slashed. Yet we are barely represented at the summit.
I believe there is an assumption that we do not have a contribution to make. But even from a purely economic perspective, our sector is a significant economic force - we are a $9.8 billion industry. Our sector is full of great lateral thinkers and ideas. We are great collaborators and, given the opportunity, have a lot to offer.
A number of commentators have talked about the opportunities this crisis has created to do important things.
Let us make sure the Roger Douglases of this world are kept locked in those back rooms and we use the opportunities we now have to strengthen our sense of community and social responsibility.
In 1984, the Economic Summit objectives were around the promotion of unity and co-operation, the encouragement of discussion, greater understanding of economic problems and commitment to co-operation in dealing with our economic difficulties.
While the 80s summit only paid lip service to these objectives, we now have another opportunity to make more sincere efforts to work collaboratively.
If this Jobs Summit is to be a success, it is vital that it addresses causes while it considers solutions.
It is critical to have a commitment to real collaboration.
It is essential that ideologies and personal agendas are put aside and we work according to a set of values that places social wellbeing, compassion and commitment to this country at the top.
So to John Key I would say, gather together everyone who can contribute, take the risk and think outside the square. Give communities the opportunity to find local solutions to local issues and, above all, do it for the benefit of the people, all the people.
* Jane Stevens was just 23 when she implanted herself on the nation's conscience with a show-stopping speech at David Lange's 1984 Economic Summit as a passionate advocate for the 60,000 people who were unemployed at the time.
