To start a benefits "myth busting" thread so that I can link the thickos of Facebook to it

[MarmaladeTwatkins]

When they start moaning about how people on benefits can afford diamond shoes and other such items.

I'll start.

1. Housing benefit is mostly paid out to WORKING people. So all of this talk of going out and getting a job and buying their own home if they don't like the bedroom tax is a flawed argument.

Not everyone living in social housing is on benefits.

Not everyone on benefits is a scrounger or a benefit cheat!

Firstly maisie, are you near Croydon (you said you were involved in the riots, or did you say you were 'up north' - long thread & tired eyes)? I would be interested in your building work if you still need someone. I need more work and know other people who do too.

Secondly since there are some very distressed posters upset about paying for other people's benefits can anyone reassure them by suggesting what they could pay for instead. My taxes can go to benefits, yours can go to UK citizens who lose money in Cyprus bank accounts, export guarantees, enterprise zones and child protection social workers. UK taxpayers do loads of stuff with the intention of making our country a better place to live, there must be some of it you agree with.

Oh Penelopee, what fabulously articulate points you make.

I am in awe and barely know how to answer them. Not.

Sorry Lemonmuffin I missed your erudite and articulate post, perhaps you'd point me in the right direction.

RTFT dawn.

I agree with Saskia, there are some on MN who appear to be astroturfers. They only post on threads like this to put the neoliberal view. You don't see them on normal non political threads.

Do you have a definition for astroturfer? New one on me...

People who "sign on" (job seekers) are not necessarily getting money for nothing. Some people just get pension credits and aren't able to get weekly money as their partners/ spouses work 16 hr+ per week.

Ahem.

"Foreigners come over here pretending they want work, then just sit on their arses and watch the dole come in"

Genuine comment from BIL.

A quick google confirms that he's deluded, and in actual fact for a migrant worker to be eligible to claim Jobseeker's Allowance, they need to prove they've been in continuous employment for 52 weeks!

Lemon, had you RTFT you would know that Dawn has commented aplenty on this thread and had already RTFT.

hth

Great article from Ricky Tomlinson on benefits myths:
www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/apr/02/ten-lies-told-about-welfare

this is a quite brilliant graphic about benefits myths

PeneloPeePitstop Wiki entry for astroturfing en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfing

Wow that is incredibly interesting Saskia this Mumsnet thing is an education