Just so concerned about this country

[ninnynonny]

To be honest, we, as a family are 'ok'. We're by no means well off but have a reasonable income and not huge outgoings (at the moment); but I am so worried about the state of the country economically. Just watching the national and local news today - the cost of living is insane; the Government is a huge mess - with no sign of any of them giving a monkeys about the populus, and so many thousands of people are struggling and will be in a terrible position over the next few months.
How on earth is this sustainable? What is going to happen when people simply cannot afford to, well, live, basically.
I work in the homelessness sector and can only see more families and individuals coming through the doors - and with massive funding cuts, honestly, what will happen?
I'm feeling a little hysterical over it all, for want of a better word!!
Will things improve - what has to happen?

@Joined4this

You can get false eyelashes in the poundshop, ditto hair styling products. Please do not immediately assume that she is spending just on herself. This is a real stereotype- single mother on benefits going to the nail bar. I know many people who take care of their appearance and value what they have while spending very little- in fact that’s WHY they do it. They looker richer and that gives them higher status because why would you want anyone to know you are on your knees and watching every penny. Pride is free you know.

This!!!

Judgemental people boil my piss

@ninnynonny

Really interesting points of view. Also unimpressed with the assumption that 'the poor' aren't allowed to look nice. Scruff them up a bit eh, or they must be lying - ffs

Yes. It's stereotyping. Ignorance at its finest.

@balanceo

Eight million more people in the UK since 2001. The elephant in the room nobody ever talks about. About time we had an adult convervation, about how many people can stand on this rock.

Did you know that the amount of land given over to housing in this country is less than the amount of land lost every time the tide comes in?

www.newstatesman.com/chart-of-the-day/2021/09/how-the-uks-low-gas-storage-capacity-leaves-it-vulnerable

@Georgeskitchen

Watching the news tonight , interviewed a single mother who was struggling to feed her kid. Beautifully coiffeured hair, false eyelashes, sculpted eyebrows. Looked expensively made up. Speaks volumes

You are the cliche here

Storage is equivalent to just 2 per cent of annual demand here versus an average of 25 per cent in Europe. The lack of storage is largely because ministers allowed the owner of British Gas, Centrica, to shut down a huge facility in the North Sea responsible for 70 per cent of UK gas storage in 2017

Betting someone somewhere told the Ministers it might not be a good idea.

The poor are getting poorer and the rich even richer.

@TerraNovaTwo

The poor and downtrodden are invisible in this country. It's an absolute fucking disgrace.

It’s because they’ve had their hair done.

By the time the new expected energy price cap kicks in then the number of houses in fuel poverty, in which it amounts for more than 10% of household income, from 9% to 27%. Which is crazy.

^^

Yup. That's make or break for some people.

@Georgeskitchen

Watching the news tonight , interviewed a single mother who was struggling to feed her kid. Beautifully coiffeured hair, false eyelashes, sculpted eyebrows. Looked expensively made up. Speaks volumes

Damn her (expensively made up - btw what does this even mean?) eyes for not looking like a Dickensian ragamuffin. I mean she's obviously loaded because she brushes her hair.

Also, your post speaks volumes about you. Cringetastic.

I must admit I was surprised at how quickly the hairdo commit appeared!! Its definitely the new wide-screen tv!

*comment

@balanceo
Eight million more people in the UK since 2001.
The elephant in the room nobody ever talks about.
About time we had an adult convervation, about how many people can stand on this rock.

What exactly are you hoping for? Nazi style deportations?

Watching the news tonight , interviewed a single mother who was struggling to feed her kid. Beautifully coiffeured hair, false eyelashes, sculpted eyebrows. Looked expensively made up.
How dare someone poor not be dressed in rags!

I feel as a nation the rich/poor gap is increasing. Recent political events only make it more obvious to me that the leadership do not care. The media is out of control and pushing their own agenda. What we need is a pause and reset button. I had hoped that once Brexit had been dealt with that the Tories would use this as a springboard to really focus on the issues.We need new options at the polling booth. Parties that really listen and strive to do what is best for England not their mates. I have no idea how/if this will ever happen.

I would like a party that removes zero hours contracts and replaces them with minimum wage/guaranteed hours contracts. How can anyone can live on a zero hours contract and budget effectively?
I would like a party that appreciates the diversity of England, welcomes difficult conversations and tackles cancel culture.
I would like a party that encourages people to take responsibility for themselves.
I would like a party to review the education system and make changes to bring it into the 21st century, so young people leave school with not only the skills they needed to be a part of society but the appropriate qualifications in order to give them a real chance.

I do not think I am asking for much but for the first time, I am really unsure who I would vote for in future elections both local & national.

Anyone else feeling like me?

The brexit dividend will start to kick in this year, that's what I'm hoping. Bit more money all round.

Wrongkindofovercoat Wed 19-Jan-22 20:24:39
Storage is equivalent to just 2 per cent of annual demand here versus an average of 25 per cent in Europe. The lack of storage is largely because ministers allowed the owner of British Gas, Centrica, to shut down a huge facility in the North Sea responsible for 70 per cent of UK gas storage in 2017

Betting someone somewhere told the Ministers it might not be a good idea.

When Centrica's 'Rough' storage facility was in use, it was - year in, year out - loss making, ie. that resulted in higher bills for British Gas customers ! It was eventually shut down because it was unsafe (estimated repair costs £100+ m) - just this week there was a fire at SSE's gas Yorkshire storage facility. Even when in full use, total UK gas storage, was about 12 days supply. So you fill it up with (you hope) 'cheap' gas. After 12 days, it depletes....then what ? If you had 100x the storage capacity, when you fill it up you are making a call on which way prices will go.....if you are wrong, and they fall, you have lost a shitload of money, and single mothers living in council flats in Gateshead pay for your mistake with higher bills.

The brexit dividend will start to kick in this year, that's what I'm hoping. Bit more money all round.
Is this a joke?
Even the biggest Brexit fanatics seem to have dropped the economic benefit lie and accepted it will cost us a fortune.

Kendodd Wed 19-Jan-22 20:40:30
@balanceo
Eight million more people in the UK since 2001.
The elephant in the room nobody ever talks about.
About time we had an adult convervation, about how many people can stand on this rock.

What exactly are you hoping for? Nazi style deportations?

As said, I'd like there to be an 'adult' conversation about population, sustainable population, whatever....maybe we need more people ? Let's hear it. Your kneejerk response clearly shows you incapable of joining such an 'ADULT' conversion.

@balanceo that's interesting. Do you think a just in time system is better than the old system ? If there is a sudden dip in the price of gas, how long do you think it would be before the customer sees that in their fuel bills ? I imagine it will be harder to switch now so many companies have folded or do you think they will make a comeback ?

The elephant in the room nobody ever talks about.

Really?
You think nobody ever talks about immigration?

It's such a shame. There are so many people in this country living in poverty already, many of them full time workers, and even more will be joining them soon. Hoe can anyone have enough faith in this society to comply by its rules? The population have been treated horrendously for years now. Enough is enough.

@AuntyBumBum

The brexit dividend will start to kick in this year, that's what I'm hoping. Bit more money all round.

The elephant in the room nobody ever talks about.

Mostly because it has fuck all to do with the recent increase of cost of living?
These were mostly caused by COVID and Brexit fucking up trade on a large scale, and global gas price increases (+ our stupid government having got rid of all our gas reserves)

But yeah, blame immigration, always a vote winner.

I agree with you OP. I think this is how life is going to go now. Consumption and oil industries have to stop - this is how it will happen. Life will get more and more expensive and quality of life will reduce. We’ve talked about it for years but now it’s happening.

It’s depressing for the future and for our poor kids.

I keep hearing this but I don't see it...I'm not denying it's happening but everywhere I look there are brand new cars and houses with loads of building work going on.

There's big inequality particularly amongst the generations so some won't notice it.