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Original poster

The Poor have never had it so good!

104 replies

Catmeouws · 21/08/2018 03:14

There has never been such a good time to be poor as now! Compared to 50 or 100 or 200 years ago the poor in the UK and other developed countries have never had it so good!

OP posts:
BoiledFrog · 21/08/2018 04:05

Seem fair enough results, why do you think you have some view that puts you above others? Your op is ridiculous.

BoiledFrog · 21/08/2018 04:09

We could have done though blair Grin

BoiledFrog · 21/08/2018 04:15

Let's see you be poor for a monrh

Original poster
Catmeouws · 21/08/2018 04:15

Myotherprofile, what I am trying to say is that the lot of the poor has improved over the long term.

OP posts:
BoiledFrog · 21/08/2018 04:15

*month

Original poster
Catmeouws · 21/08/2018 04:16

what does that mean?

OP posts:
BoiledFrog · 21/08/2018 04:17

It really hasnt

Original poster
Catmeouws · 21/08/2018 04:19

So what do you mean by being poor for a month

OP posts:
Want2bSupermum · 21/08/2018 04:20

Grades at school don't mean that much. I got ok grades and wouldn't accept anything but a redbrick. I studied hard because being educated and interested in education of one self is highly valued in my family.

I worked FT, ran club nights (hiring a club and running nights like loop, vodbull etc) and renovated homes. Got a 2.2 but graduated with £35k in my savings account and no student debt. I funded myself through school.

I had the confidence to take the risk because I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. I had a fear of being poor because I had grown up in a sea of privilege and was left to my own devices to provide for myself. I absolutely hated being poor and having to be inefficient because I didn't ha e enough money available. Worst case I'd lose and be bankrupt. I literally had nothing to lose to try. Someone who has a child young or doesn't have the education that gives them the confidence or knowledge of how business works will find it much harder.

15 years post graduation the kid who got a first works in a call center and lives in a flat around the corner from his parents. He is absolutely brilliant. He could literally do anything he wanted but he wants to stay close to his roots. Meanwhile I'm the one who is a CFO under 40 because I never took no as an answer and made decisions such as moving away from my family, so my career could grow.

The gap between the haves and the have nots is widening. As someone who is a 'have' I am concerned by this widening gap. History tells us that when the gap gets too wide expect a revolution. OP, don't be so blind as to see how divided we are and how so many who are at the lower end of middle are being pushed back down.

BoiledFrog · 21/08/2018 04:23

Being poor for a month, spending what you have to for a month

Want2bSupermum · 21/08/2018 04:24

My friend who works in a call center is amazing at helping people and navigating the maze as he calls it. He is very happy and fulfilled in his life. I love that he has identified what makes him happy and has achieved that for himself. That is a major accomplishment.

mummabearfourbabybears · 21/08/2018 04:25

Goady post but to some degree true. We are lucky to have the NHS since WWII. Obviously a huge improvement to health across the board. Immunisations, free formula milk, education for all, benefits and Council housing have all had a positive affect. Life now for 'the poor' is obviously significantly better than workhouses, no free health care, little to no education and lack of government housing. We have a long way still to go. Children are still living in poverty, still going hungry and cold. People who did well at school are still struggling to feed and clothe their families and with the wealth in our world that just shouldn't be happening.

BlairWaldorfsHeadband · 21/08/2018 04:26

Council houses don’t even exist in some areas now

MyOtherProfile · 21/08/2018 04:37

Myotherprofile, what I am trying to say is that the lot of the poor has improved over the long term.
It did improve. And now it's hurtling in the opposite direction. We are losing the NHS, losing council housing, so many jobs don't pay a living wage. But there's no point trying to reason with someone who is drunk and goady.

Bluelonerose · 21/08/2018 04:41

Well I'm not thick I have a levels, nvqs but I'm poor. However I'm not quite poor enough to sit smoking weed all day.

Well congratulations op I have now lost my Biscuit virginity on here

HavingALittleBabyToolshed · 21/08/2018 04:42

What’s the deal OP? Why the need for the wind up?

I’m sure at some stage or another every generation has though the youth/the poor/the disabled have never had it so good. Hoo-frigging-ray we have progressed as a society.

This is distasteful in the extreme.

maxoverload · 21/08/2018 04:51

I'm poor. It's 4.50am and I'm awake worrying how I'm going to pay my bills next month. I have never felt so lucky.

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 21/08/2018 05:15

I think, in a cack handed way, op is trying to say that the lot of the poor today is comparatively better than say,a hundred years ago. Which is true I guess. My great grandma was widowed with three children and had nothing, she took in washing and died of a ruptured spleen lifting a wash tub. Her children went to the orphanage. My mum grew up with 5 siblings, her dad (one of the orphans) was injured in ww1 and they. Moved around as he looked for work in the depression. My husband's ancestors were itinerant farm workers moving round Norfolk looking for work. But all this is comparative to today. Poverty is still here-as witnessed by posters above. Walk through any city centre you will see people sleeping on the streets, talk to any teacher they will tell you about children dirty and hungry. If you can't feed your family, if you can't meet bills, if you can't put a roof over your head-you are poor. Ok, not sleeping 4 to a bed with your dads army coat to keep you warm, dying in the work house at 60 poor, but poor just the same. And that, in the 21st century, in a developed country, is appalling.

Sleephead1 · 21/08/2018 06:13

well obviously things have improved for everyone havnt they. And if you look at things from 100 years ago then yes of course people are in a better position. We now have the nhs and people on certain benefits can get help with medication costs and dental treatment , housing benefit and other benefits for children with disabilities , carers benefits which I imagine people didn't get previously, tax credits to top wages up but cost of living goes up and up and obviously if people have lots of outgoings , debts ECT then loose their jobs well they will still have lots of outgoings sometimes housing benefit won't cover all the rent , if they have debts ECT benefits can't pay them. Where I live housing costs are lower so mostly your rent would be covered by housing benefit so I think it's probably slightly better here than in some places.

CrispsAndDip · 21/08/2018 10:59
Biscuit
MrsSteptoe · 21/08/2018 11:03

We've certainly progressed since the Middle Ages. But I'm not entirely sure that it's time to rest on our laurels yet. Hmm

Childrenofthesun · 21/08/2018 11:13

Yup, poor people in the UK now also have the chance to not live as long! Biggest decline in life expectancy in the Western world, other than the US.

Yay!

Monday55 · 21/08/2018 11:14

Would I rather be on welfare in year 1920 or in 2018...I know what I'd pick!

didyouseetheflaresinthesky · 21/08/2018 11:15

Whatever you're on, can I have some?

StrangeLookingParasite · 21/08/2018 11:43

Bang goes that theory then. I worked hard at school and got 4 A levels. Mind you that was back in the day before A levels were made easy. A lot of people waste their time smoking cannabis when they are young and then wonder how they end up with nothing.

Dear me. Not much for thinking. Or with much life experience.