George Osbournes knobbish ideas part 2

[Quasimodo]

Lucy Mangan

just read this, and think everyone who agrees with limiting the number of children you can claim for, should also read it

[Toombs]

So, those who don't agree shouldn't read it?

[Quasimodo]

they are probably aware already toombs i imagine....

[theodorakis]

It's the Guardian

[Quasimodo]

yes, it is...

[EmmelineGoulden]

Why is that a link to facebook?

[Trills]

Dear everyone,

Here is a piece by Lucy Mangan in the Guardian. You might like to read it if you are at all interested in George Osbourne or the concept of limiting the number of children that someone can claim child benefit for.

Lots of love,
Quasi

[Trills]

Here is the link that doesnot go via Facebook

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

It's not a link to Facebook, it's a link to a thought provoking guardian article. Although obviously the women mentioned in the article were upduffed because they didn't rake responsibility.

[Trills]

The original link goes via Facebook if you are logged into Facebook, because there's a referral tag in it. You have to click "continue to guardian.co.uk"

[EmmelineGoulden]

Thanks Trills. Good article.

[theodorakis]

Yes, it's the Guardian, hardly well reported balanced content. It is just some woman's opinion. I didn't learn anything.

[Nancy66]

It's not a good article. It's just hand-wringing, left-wing nonsense.

We all know there are thousands of women like the ones she describes - she seems to be saying that we should just let them get on with it, have endless kids and let everyone else pick up the bill.

[theodorakis]

Why not post in politics? It is not aibu.
I am not very interested in the endless anti Government shit, if I were I would a) return to the 6th form and b) read the politics threads.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Nancy so how are you going to stop "them" having children?

Or, if that is not your plan, do you believe it is ok to punish the children for the fecklessness of the parent?

[Viviennemary]

I'm afraid I think it's a totally ridiculous article. And in fact it will only serve to make people even less sympathetic to this reducing benefit for more children. And in any case nobody has talked about reducing benefit only not increasing benefit for more children. How on earth is it punishing children. What about children of people who work. They don't get a salary increase every time they have another child. They have to manage on what they've got. At this rate I think Labour will be in the wilderness again.

[KatMumsnet]

Hi there, we've moved this to In the News now. Thanks.

[Nancy66]

Itsall - I've no idea. I've despaired of some of this government's policies but I happen to think this is one of their better ideas.

If knowing that popping out another kid is not going to lead to any more money then it might - just might- make someone think twice.

I do feel sorry for the poor sods who are born to feckless parents but, equally, I understand that welfare is not a bottomless pit, has been too generous in the past and has created an unemployable underclass.

Ordinary working parents have to plan their familes around their finances. I don't think treating 'them' like ordinary people is such a bad thing.

[SmellsLikeTeenStrop]

Why do women vote Tory? It's a bit like turkeys voting for Christmas.

[Quasimodo]

theodorakis

i posted in AIBU as the original thread was AIBU...and it was full, so clearly some people are interested in discussing this. You do not have to post on/read threads which you are not interested in

it is not 'some womans opinion'...it is an account of how it is for some people.

I fail to see how people can know that this situation is some peoples lives and still agree with withdrawing their benefits...

nancy what is the alternative for women who's lives are like that? what do you think will happen to hem when benefits are withdrawn from the? you think they will suddenly grow a feck? they will stop being abused? find a pot of gold? stop having kids?

its not 'hand wringing', its factual

[Quasimodo]

nancy no-it wont make them think twice...you fail to understand the position of these women as described by 'hand-wringing article'

[Quasimodo]

smells i agree

[aufaniae]

"do you believe it is ok to punish the children for the fecklessness of the parent?"

This is the crucial question.

The article linked to above is describing reasons why many women will continue to get pregnant, even if benefits for more children are removed.

It's pointing out that many women are not having lots of children as a positive, lifestyle choice to have children and live on benefits, but instead because of desperate circumstances they are in.

Do you think it's OK to punish these children by pushing their family further into poverty?

Personally I don't. It's not a creative solution to a problem. It's yet another policy which will punish the poor for being poor.

[Viviennemary]

If a woman is in desperate circumstances, I hardly think it would help her in any way to have an even larger family to look after and worry about. Sorry I am failing to see the logic here.

[Nancy66]

I do understand their position. But I don't think that encouraging people to develop a sense of responsibility is such a terrible thing.

This whole 'there there, here's a flat, here's some money, here's a cab to take your kids to school so you can stay in bed until 11' stuff does anybody any favours in the long-term. Including the kids.

[aufaniae]

I am disappointed that mumsnet have moved this to news.

Two recent threads about the Tories and benefits in AIBU have just closed as they reached the 1000 posts mark, so people obviously do want to discuss it. These are important issues, very relevant to the mumsnet demographic.

Or is AIBU just for frivolous stuff and being mean to people? Heaven forbid we actually talk about stuff that matters

Mumsnet I understand you are trying to be helpful but in this case I don't think you have been particularly.

OP next time perhaps try phrasing your question as an AIBU, I imagine then it's probably less likely to get moved.