To think the level of state involvement many posters expect is bonkers?

'I remember reading in an old novel, set in the 40s or early 50s, about children from poor families being sent to school despite being unwell, ‘because at least they’d get their milk’.

Now they're sent to school unwell as it's in their (and the people they spread it to) best interests apparently. 🙃

You'd think so. It's a problem that solves itself- some kids have missing [front] teeth from some time in secondary school / early adulthood. Some just have really mouldy looking teeth.

No, but the question of where is money going held true.

We are wealthier than ever as a nation in terms of real terms gdp. Tax take is higher than ever.

How were previous governments magically able to do more than this one given those two facts?

You would think so, wouldn’t you? But even on this thread someone is suggesting teachers supervise tooth brushing. And so many children don’t have their teeth properly brushed.

Were there fewer middle management / executive jobs paid at 3 or 4 times the median salary in the 70s and 80s? I feel there were fewer, but have no evidence.

Also MPs keep being caught taking the mick money wise - parliamentary expenses scandal, through to Covid Cronyism - it's hard to trust the state with our money under these circumstances.

Truer now. Did you expect the spending at the time?

Who will pay for all your ‘free’ stuff though?

My statement would have been equally as true in 2019.

I think not being able to brush your children’s teeth is a bar so low it’s not sustainable

I own a nursery. Free milk is still provided and has been for the past 20 years. As far as I understand it, fruit is also provided in primary schools, but not nurseries.

It did the opposite of shrink over the pandemic. Many were demanding it, on here too. Of course you’ll see it in taxes.

People should be discouraged from
having children if they can’t do basic shit like brush their teeth and potty train them. School only runs for 2/3 of the year so what happens for the rest of it?

I actually don't think schools should be brushing teeth, but I don't think the people who suggest this are necessarily the people who would need that involvement. They are people who brush their children's teeth, but are concerned by things in the news about dental health and so suggest school involvement. I'm not saying they're right, just that I don't think all the suggestions come from a place of "well I can't be arsed, schools should do it" but more "some other people can't be arsed, their children suffer, maybe schools could help because that's where children are 5 days a week" iyswim.

Yep or expect the gp to write a letter…..

and if it’s refused….’my mental health…..’

or ‘be kind’ aimed at women!

no personal responsibility ever!

YABU.

The UK has far less provision in many areas now than it used to - national school meals policy dates back to pre-World War 1

School food provision first became mandatory in 1906, when the British Parliament passed the Education Provision of Meals Act, which gave Local Education Authorities (LEAs) the role of providing free meals to schoolchildren in primary schools. https://foodmatterslive.com/article/the-history-of-free-school-meals-in-the-uk-and-the-changes-needed/

The welfare state, state education, the NHS, pensions - these are all amazing, liberating things that the state should provide.

Yes the state should teach kids how to brush their teeth, and provide meals. It is part of building a strong nation. We need to get back to the good old days.

I understand perfectly that we're taxed more than ever as government provison shrinks.

I don't know if there's a common expectation?
I dread needing care for my family or myself. Most people I know feel the same. Too many times I've seen news reports on care home abuse, only discovered after a concerned relative installs cameras. I've told my family I'd rather have assisted dying but that's my choice (and something I want at that stage of my life even if every care home was excellent). However my choice should never be expected for everyone. Compassionate care that doesn't cost a fortune should be possible. It used to.

When I was a kid an elderly relative was in what was then called 'an old people's home'. She didn't need nursing care, just a bit of extra support, but It was a mixed needs home. It was a lovely place. Safe, homely environment with good community feel, sense of companionship with other residents, variety of activities for residents, welcoming communal spaces, and kind empathetic staff.

Didn't cost a fortune either, and although wages weren't high there were no staffing issues. Because there was more affordable housing in those days, but also management treated staff well. Staff didn't have unbearable to manage workloads, and residents who needed nursing care had properly trained staff to help them.

Something's gone wrong. Care home costs are skyhigh, and (good) at-home carers are often even more expensive. The problem is the lack of affordable housing, but also I think it's the privatisation of care homes and care services.

With family caring for elderly relatives. In the past there were more SAHP so this was more possible. Now the cost of living especially housing means few can afford to give up work to care for family. This is yet another issue linked to the lack of affordable housing. Related to this is many people have had to move away from family for housing or work.

More social housing and better job opportunities in all parts of the country would help, but there's also the issue that many people have nursing needs beyond capability of their family. They need properly trained professionals. However definitely if there was better financial support for carers and affordable housing, I assume more people could care for family at home.

All the rights, no responsibilities.
Yes, I’d be happy for schools to take on all the extra responsibilities of feeding your children, potty training, brushing teeth and teaching them table manners as well as everything else.
But then, before that, the parents need to sign over those children to the school. Abdicating parental rights and responsibilities.
Need the state to raise them? Lose your right to interfere.
The Victorians had a system like that. Called workhouses.
The wealthy had a similar system. Boarding school.
Is that what you want?

Me too! I loved it when it was my turn to be milk monitor, pushing all the straws through the milk tops .

Yep I agree with majority yanbu

Seriously ? Jeez life is mad.

I agree. It’s bonkers

When the government has structured society in such a way that the COL is rising exponentially, wages do not keep up, the markets are rigged, people need two wages to sustain "normal" standards of living and need state top ups to benefit employers, which incidentally is reflected worldwide, they have a choice:

Change things so that social mobility and equitable circumstances exist, or keep a significant amount if people under the thumb to be vilified for the crime of essentially being poor old, sick or disabled.

The whiff of eugenics by stealth gets stronger every day.

Absolutely this. It makes me so cross to read "the Government should pay for X...." - are people really so dim that they don't understand where the money comes from?

Free in Infant school then. Think had already been abolished in juniors.

I used to have the job or collecting milk crate in for my class and poured my own down the drain everytime. Still can't drink milk