If you're an unemployed waster then you should have a vasectomy!!!

[sirlee66]

Ben Bradley, an MP, wrote in a blogpost, 6 years ago, that the country would be soon “drowning in a vast sea of unemployed wasters” if workless families had four or five children while others limited themselves to one or two.
This is what he said:

''It’s horrendous that there are families out there that can make vastly more than the average wage, (or in some cases more than a bloody good wage) just because they have 10 kids. Sorry but how many children you have is a choice; if you can’t afford them, stop having them! Vasectomies are free.

There are hundreds of families in the UK who earn over £60,000 in benefits without lifting a finger because they have so many kids (and for the rest of us that’s a wage of over £90,000 before tax!).

People have to take responsibility for their own lives, and if they are struggling but working hard to help themselves then they should get help. But if they choose to have 10 kids they should take responsibility for that choice and look after them, not expect everyone else to foot the bill!

Families who have never worked a day in their lives having 4 or 5 kids and the rest of us having 1 or 2 means it’s not long before we’re drowning in a vast sea of unemployed wasters that we pay to keep!''

So What to do you think? Do you agree with Ben Bradley or do you think he is being unreasonable?

[EsmesRedPetticoat]

Well what do you think?

[rabbit12345]

I think that he is targeting a very small minority of individuals when he speaks here and yet again it is another benefit bashing statement.

[gillybeanz]

I think he should fuck right off, tbh.
There are lots of reasons why people can't work.
You don't get benefits through sitting on your arse and not working out of choice.
The job centre get you a job in a call centre, cleaning or working in poundshops round here.

[LegallyBrunet]

It's a moot point now anyway, the Government have capped child benefit to two children

[SleepFreeZone]

I think privately lots of people would agree but publicly it’s better to act aghast at such a thought.

[restbiterepeat]

I think it's a lot of emotive sound-bites hiding a lot of ignorance on economics and history.

[IrkThePurist]

There are hundreds of families in the UK who earn over £60,000 in benefits without lifting a finger

Child benefit has been capped, so probably quite a few of those families have been split up and are in care instead.
That costs the taxpayer hundreds of pounds per week per child. and it damages the childrens prospects, because our care system lets kids down.

There have never been so many children taken into care as there are now. this is going to come back on us as a society in a few years time.

www.theguardian.com/society/2017/oct/11/austerity-policy-blamed-record-numbers-children-taken-into-care

[FizzyGreenWater]

The mere existence of Ben Bradley is unreasonable.

[CaptainMarvelDanvers]

He views unemployment as something which only happens to people who don’t want to work.

I don’t even care enough about this person so get so wound up. I know people like him exist, there is even a newspaper which peddles these views, I think they’re wrong but I also don’t think they care that they’re wrong.

[McTufty]

I totally agree that SOME people abuse the benefits system, but I think his post is nasty.

[Littlebitshort]

Iv just read that unemployment is at a 42 year low at just 4.3 % so we are hardly ‘drowning in a vast sea of unemployed wasters’.

[WaxOnFeckOff]

Part of what he is saying is that children of "wasters" will grow up to be wasters and a drain on Society. Whereas children of the middle classes will grow up responsible citizens and therefore should be encouraged to breed more. I've seen the same argument made about Muslims as they tend to have larger families.

[ShellyBoobs]

I think it’s a reasonable point, to an extent.

I know lots of hardworking people who really agonised over whether they could afford more than one child, whether they could take the time off, etc, etc.

If having another child makes some people better off and some worse off, it’s bound to result in different choices being made.

Talking about forced sterilisation is beyond reason, though.

[Timeforanamochango]

I agree with him. Having worked in benefits, I saw this first hand every day and it’s atrocious. As for the benefit cap there were many exceptions to this, the minute it came in- suddenly everyone affected was exempt for one reason or another.
Why is it fair that people like myself with two full time wage earners (earning above the average salary) can’t afford to have as many kids as we’d like or have a house big enough but some people can pop out several kids and not work a day in their lives.
However, they are a minority and I entirely agree benefits need to be in place to help those who Need it. No child deserves to live in poverty because of it’s parents decisions.. and of course (stating the obvious) disabilities etc are a whole other ball game, some people can’t Work and sometimes the best laid plans go awry.

I’m not sure vasectomy is the answer, however things such as being given a bigger house if you have more children are ridiculous - if you work hard and buy, no one gives you a free upgrade because you had more kids. That needs looking into for sure among other things.

[KriticalSoul]

I agree with his point about not having more kids if you can't afford them.

The rest of it though? He deserves getting raked over the coals for it, but that being said, its something from a blog he wrote 6 years ago I believe and I don't think it ought to follow him around for ever.

[Bluelady]

He's a nasty little shit who can't even get his facts right. The thought of him breeding appals me.

[Gingercatbiscuits]

People do have the right to have as many children as they would like but should be based on whether they can manage it without others having to pay for it. Support your own choice really, and if you can’t, then don’t

[Randomlywondering]

There are families out there who have children to keep themselves out of work bit I think these families are far rarer than people assume. People shouldn't be better off claiming benefits than they are in work bit the problem.is with minimum wages not benefits.

[EggsonHeads]

Anyone who doesn't agree with him is either an idiot or naive-where do people think all the money comes from. You really shouldn't have children unless you can provide for them. Welfare was only intended and only works as a safety net for those who through no fault of their own fall in hard times rather than a free for all giving people the kind of lifestyles that they don't work hard enough to afford themselves.

[RedForFilth]

the problem is with minimum wages not benefits this. Making poor people poorer isn't the answer to solving poverty.

[TheFairyCaravan]

It's a moot point now anyway, the Government have capped child benefit to two children

No they haven’t. They’ve capped Child Tax Credits to 2 children since April 2017.

[Bluelady]

So I'm an idiot or naive. Thank you. I suspect a lot of people on benefits fall in hard times after they have children. And I know where the money's coming from - my taxes.

[PolkaDotDressIsSpotty]

Have you ever seen the movie 'Idiocracy'?

This thread reminds me of it.

[Littlebitshort]

I also agree about the point of not having anymore kids if you cant afford them. 2 employed people here that dont claim any benefits with only 1 child as we know it would put financial pressure on us if we have anymore. His words are rather harsh i must admit and it was 6 years ago.....iv said stuff in the past and cringed at the thought

[WhatInTheWorldIsGoingOn]

I think in an ideal world people should live within their means. I don’t think children should suffer. I do know that often poor education and unemployment go from generation to generation. I do think money should be spent to support this and break cycles. I do know that many many many people that are on benefits work hard. I also know that some others don’t. I really have no idea of the solution except that sterilisation isn’t it.