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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Benefit Bashing

823 replies

Kendodd · 18/02/2011 16:40

A mum I know and her DP with two children live in a two bed (nice) HA house. Neither of them work and have not worked for as long as I've known them (two years) I don't know about before then. She has told me they are trying for another baby, not to get a bigger house or anything, just because they want four children eventally. I would love four children but can't have that many because for one we just can't afford four.

AIBU to feel a bit pissed off that they can have more children and I can't or am I just a jealous benefit basher.

ps They are both nice and don't have a flatscreen TV.

OP posts:
LadyOfTheManor · 18/02/2011 21:30

Starlight, you didn't "high five" me for agreeing with you.

StarlightPrincess · 18/02/2011 21:30

It's social housing LOTM.

CrispyCakeHead · 18/02/2011 21:31

local authority/council/social housing...call it what you will.

StarlightPrincess · 18/02/2011 21:31

"High Five" Grin

LadyOfTheManor · 18/02/2011 21:31

Ok, what's the difference between Housing Association and Council?

usualsuspect · 18/02/2011 21:32

I work.. so stick that up your sanctimonious arses

usualsuspect · 18/02/2011 21:33

In fact I've worked for 30 fucking years so do my views count?

LadyOfTheManor · 18/02/2011 21:34

So if people work, how do they get "free/cheap" housing? I thought it was only for people who don't want to/can't work? (I've tried to follow the thread but it goes a little fast)

StarlightPrincess · 18/02/2011 21:34

Housing associations are not for profit organisations that lease houses for a low cost. Council accomodation is owned by the Local Authority.

StarlightPrincess · 18/02/2011 21:35

So if people work, how do they get "free/cheap" housing? I thought it was only for people who don't want to/can't work? (I've tried to follow the thread but it goes a little fast)

God knows how me and my DP got it. But I'm damn glad we do.

NoSuchThingAsSociety · 18/02/2011 21:36

usualsuspect - and you're happy to spray your taxes on subsidising the underclass to over-breed - many of us aren't.

LadyOfTheManor · 18/02/2011 21:37

Then why doesn't everyone who works just live in a cheap/free house (aside from certain estates in certain areas)...I mean why am I paying out for a mortgage if there's free houses available? I didn't know they were "open to the public" in such a way.

Gosh I've lived a sheltered life.

ShirleyKnot · 18/02/2011 21:37

I am actually exhausted.

Seriously, I PAY TAXES I work 40 hours per week. I pay my taxes and NI via PAYE

I pay 20 % VAT

I pay interest on my saving, presumably, cos I sure as shit aint getting fuck all interest.

I pay council tax, I pay for all of my outgoings.

I pay my taxes, am I entitled to an opinion?

My opinion is this: I am sick and tired of the constant harassment and vilification of the poorer people in our society. ALL OF YOU who looking for a scapegoat and choose the most vulnerable and poorest elements should be DOWNRIGHT ASHAMED.

Look at the true thieves in our society. Look at those who dodge millions in taxes; look at those who seek to change the laws to benefit the rich, look at those who choose to leave this country who has paid them well in order to avoid a tax bill they can well afford.

Look at those people before you turn on those who are most in need of HELP and DIRECTION.

LadyOfTheManor · 18/02/2011 21:37

Ha ha ha! "Underclass"

I shall start jumping over the heads that are about to roll.

StarlightPrincess · 18/02/2011 21:37

I'd take a wild guess and say that the majority of people in this country aren't, hence why DC has proposed this reform!

CrispyCakeHead · 18/02/2011 21:37

and the number of housing associations rose dramatically after the Thatcher sell off of council housing stock. More need for it.

i think tarring all people in social housing with the same brush; ie wastrel layabouts, is actually pretty short sighted. Stop Press....not all people in council/HA are unemployed you know.

Wook · 18/02/2011 21:38

ladyofthemanor, nosuchthing, starlight and all you others of their ilk, there but for the grace of god go any one of us ..... but hey, I'm not even human because I once queued up in the school hall for my free school meal ticket and therefore my views are irrelevant because I was feeding myself aged 10 at the expense of truly decent folk such as yourselves.

spikeycow · 18/02/2011 21:38

Here we go here we go here we go (clap along) here we go here we go here we go oh here we go here we go here we go here we go HERE WE GO!!!

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 18/02/2011 21:38

ShirleyKnot... Don't be so patronising. Of course I know that there have always been the poor and the working poor. Back in Victorian times things would have been very different. We've got a great benefits system in place now, available to everybody but then again, it's not an endless post is it?

People have to work to pay the taxes to go into it and I can't understand why, if people are struggling to get by on benefits, they would actively choose to have more children without the means of supporting them. It is selfish and irresponsible.

The decimation of industry has been attributed to many things but I think the Unions certainly had a hand in that. They were all powerful back in the 70s and it did the industry no good at all, perhaps it hastened the decline of manufacturing here in the UK?

LadyOfTheManor · 18/02/2011 21:39

Surely if you can't afford to have any more children, or a property to contain them, then you shouldn't have anymore? OR even be "given" a house to contain a larger family? Doesn't the government have more important things to spend its money on?

spikeycow · 18/02/2011 21:39

Oh good Wook and US are here! And Shirley. Let's do it

usualsuspect · 18/02/2011 21:40

NoSuchThingAsSociety yes I'm happy to pay my taxes so children eat ....

Wook · 18/02/2011 21:40

ladyofthemanor I am sure God is truly proud of his born again little believer and her truly humane perspective.

StarlightPrincess · 18/02/2011 21:40

I'm glad that the majority of benefit apologists on here are the minority in RL.

LadyOfTheManor · 18/02/2011 21:40

Wook- thank you for your "insightful" if not moronic post.

I have just joined this forum, and I haven't said poor people or people in council houses cannot have an opinion.

You can have an opinion. Good for you.