Confused re attitude to benefits and work experience

It is interesting that no one has answered OPs question - ie what gives people in this country the right to expect such a high standard of living when there are people staving?

It is also interesting that those arguing that the fact that our country has a huge deficit means that we cannot afford to sustain this artificially high standard for all are giving rational arguments; whilst those arguing that we can have free money for all have resorted to throwing insults.

So is anyone arguing for the entitlement-culture going to try to justify it or are you all going to continue to name call?

Does anyone have a reason why people in this country should feel entitled to computer access, choice in supermarkets etc, in addition to basic health care, food and accomodation, whilst people in other countries are so much worse off?

I hope you pay for your medical treatment then tilly minto. If not don't worry because soon we will ALL have to rely on ourselves and ourselves only. Not such a nice philosophy when it's services you and yours use...

Actually I am confused.

As a soon to be benefit claimant I understand that this will come from taxpayers.

Without benefits I and my son would not have a roof over our heads, be able to buy food, pay any electricity bills etc.

So we would then presumably grow sick and eventually die "thus decreasing the surplus population" - oops - actually that's Charles Dickens isn't it?

I am assuming that even the most hard faced would baulk at this.

So the point of this thread is ...er....what exactly?

If you don't want people to die through lack of shelter, heat, food then benefits have to exist . In this country we are relatively wealthy and as such we support those who need it.

Are people saying this support should stop?

Yes, I'd agree with 3/10, Shirley, for exactly those reasons. Plus the casting around for new themes whenever the pot cooled.

or until they realise that whatever the rights & wrongs, pulling yourself up is the way as you are the only person you can rely upon.

Part of me thinks that maybe all this will be OK, because it's clear now that the poor will just keep getting hit over and over until...vive la revolution!

Don't forget that everybody pays tax, no matter how much they earn. It all goes in one pot, income tax and all;
Vat
Duty
Then there is business tax etc

So sorry OP, you are not solely responsible for paying the benefits bill.

MrsHoarder - yes - if i hadnt got a job myself, i would need do something different. & jobs i have done & learnt from, were unskilled. i now have a very good income. i dont see the unskilled ones as less valuable to me than than any other.

Yes usual, totally free.

It's hardworkingtaxpayersmoney doncha know

Well I dont know Shirley. 9/10 for sheer Draconian vitriol I'd say.

Can I have some of your money Tethers please. I'm a bit skint this month.

Is it Free money?

I'm going to give it a 3/10 all things considered. The thick as shit aspect has spoiled it for me, but a fairly good effort all the same. Managed to upset some people, vague accusations of racism and hard headed deliberate and wilful misunderstanding earns it at least three points in my book.

Actually cat, it's my money paying for the benefits. And I don't really mind.

Your money is paying for troops or something.

Because that's definitely how tax works.

Sorry, my benefits? What makes you think I'm on benefits?

You can still put your money where your mouth is, by cancelling your private health insurance and using that money to help people in Africa, who have so much less than you do. Set an example. Don't preach.

MN is delightful today, isn't it? I'm sticking with the kittens

I don't understand why you are castigating people for not helping those in Africa, when you are paying for private health insurance. Surely the money you spend on that would do more good paying for a new well, seed, a goat etc, than it does paying your health insurance. After all, you could help so many more people if you weren't so selfish. And we do have an NHS which provides better health care than those poor sods have in Africa. Think of the drugs they could buy with your insurance money!

Put your money where your mouth is.

I would like to point out though that if I paid for child care and transport to work for nothing I would become bankrupt quicker.

I am applying for any job; professional jobs, cleaner, shop assistant, admin assistant etc. The only jobs I exclude are those I am not physically or legally able to do eg hair dresser or gas safe engineer.

TheReality: Are you really claiming that if you had no income then you would spend money (and time) on getting to a "placement" where you will not recieve any new skills (because a lot of these are unskilled) and which would restrict your ability to attend interview for actual paid work.

i would rather do any job (including workfare) than do nothing. i dont understand why anyone who is a healthy and not a carer would not work.

i have worked for £1 ph as a teenager (& did 50h per week in the holidays). & £3.25 ph pre minimum wage. manual jobs. factory jobs. enjoyed all of it.

Actually is Cat really Edwina Currie incognito? I think we should be told

No dear.

I've spent half this thread telling you about actual individual Africans you can personally help with in the things you claim are so dear to you. And every time you've ignored it or made some excuse.

FWIW, I willingly agree that you show exactly as much concern for the welfare of people in Africa as those in the UK: fuck all.

HTH.

Lots of companies only offer part time contracts or worse still 0 hour contracts or use agency workers , maybe you are moaning about the wrong people?

Cat try working in nursing - I used to visit lots and lots of families and believe me, poverty exists. It might not be the absolute poverty you are describing but it's still valid.

Yes I am talking about relative poverty. The outcomes between the richest and poorest in the UK when it comes to public health are vast. So don't tell me to look up the meaning of poverty because I know the differences. In THIS country we are relatively well off but the poorest STILL die younger and have poorer health outcomes than the rich.

How we tackle this as a country is always up for debate but we address nothing if we don't acknowledge it's existence.