To think: if you can fly first class, you shouldn't have a council house?

[Mexxo]

Facebook friends of mine (friends of RL friends really) making lots of comments this week about their impending holiday to Mauritius on which they'll be flying first class and staying in a 5 star hotel.

This couple have lived in a council house for many years (no kids yet), though this year so far she has got a new (not brand new, a year or two old but still v nice) BMW and he has a new Ducati.

One of their friends has commented on FB "Wow, did you win the lottery?!" and the wife replied "no we just saved a long time for our dream holiday".

First class flights to Mauritius are £4k each. A week in a 5 star hotel must be at least £2k and probably more. That's £10k for a week's holiday. AIBU to think that if people can squirrel away that much money for a holiday, they shouldn't be living in a bloody council house subsidised by taxes from the rest of us?

shewhowines, you're right. It's just that this thread left me feeling absolutely battered this morning by the completely unnecessary bitching and baiting and frankly, I don't think anyone has to take that lying down.

Council housing is NOT A BENEFIT - arghhhhhhh.... it is a SERVICE provided by councils... paid for by tenants

No vt, we don't live together.

You shouldn't start such ridiculous threads then op

And my children are very legitimate. Born within the sanctity of marriage (when it was still sanctified).

Rubbish Mexx, council houses are not a benefit. The council sets the rent - and they manage their housing stock on the income they receive from rent. If that rent just happens to be lower than what you call "commercial rent" for that area then so what. Again its attacking it from the wrong angle - private rents should be cheaoper and have more secure tenancies. Why do some people always want to drag people down instead of using their energy to improve it for others?

Everyone can get excited, and everyone can get personal, but THIS is the problem: bottom line, end of.

[George Osbourne hated for telling the truth]

Well done, George. Well done, Mitt. Both men are being criticised this morning for being honest enough to admit a simple truth ? the outrageous debt burdens found in Western countries have largely been caused by giving too much to too many when there are too few to pay.
The recovery must be led by working people, not wards of the state, and the economy needs to be reoriented to look after the provider, not the plutocrat who avoids tax, or the panhandler who can work but won't.
Britain and America have similar problems. Their debts are high, their deficits are increasing and the window of opportunity they have to get their houses in order while the bond markets are distracted by the eurozone is closing.
Problems in both nations amount to this: they spend more per person than they collect. The middle class in both countries is already taxed up to the hilt while inflation is running ahead of wages and hitting consumption and growth. I think we are well past the peak of the Laffer curve already. If we want to address the debt problem, we must do it by addressing the £116.1bn annual welfare spend.

IT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE. And it doesn't matter WHO is in power: Labour liars or horrible Conservatives. Benefits must go, and anyone who can work, must work. Any work.

abit what are you on about. We are talking about council houses. Not benefits

did trying to vilify your friends on this thread make you feel better about yourself op?

because its doesnt make you a better person

And what kind of lala utopia is it where all these jobs can be found eh? Today in the paper for example it is reporting that one of Scotlands largest councils, North Lanarkshire are axing at least 1300 jobs.

usual it wouldn't surprise me one little bit

So now we are comparing the UK to America.

F.F.S.

I think, rather than trying for a council house, most of which are now shitholes in shite estates the good ones are bought, we should aspire to become MPs: free second homes worth a lot more, well-paid jobs for relatives, cars, gold-plated pensions and every eejit in the country directing their ire towards people in those crummy council houses. Now there's a have!

Mitt Romney, PMSL!

Meant to say though bit did you post on the wrong thread?

Mine isnt a shit hole in a shitty estate

That's why I said most, LST, and you are a benefits scrounger just for living there!

I know if they kick me out my goats will go hungry!

(Just for the record me and DP do actually work full time)

It's those bloody poor people who are ruining this country.

Not banks or bankers, or ridiculous unwinable wars or large companies (and rude comedians) wriggling out of paying tax.

It's the poor, it's always the poor. Feckless to a man and woman.

Then you should be paying da Man, a private landlord, for the privilege of paying the mortgage on his second, third or what have you house. You probably bought those goats using state funds! Give them to Gideon to cook up for his mates.

When I read this I was reminded of a character Karen Dunbar played in Chewing the Fat. For those of you not in Scotland she could sniff out a bad lie or scam. "I think I can smell shite, yes akin definitely smell shite"