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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to wonder why people are entitled when it comes to benefits and general life?

430 replies

toomuchentitlement · 30/06/2015 14:50

It is becoming increasingly obvious, from threads here and conversations with people IRL, that quite a lot of people are so entitled. Obviously, everyone is anxious about the budget coming out on the 8th and what the proposed cuts will be, and so most of the talk has been revolving around benefits and the Tories (the party and those who voted for them). It is beyond frustrating how much entitlement there is in this country!

Firstly, there are people who have lots of children and then complain that the government doesn’t give them enough to feed their children. Well – the government (i.e. the taxpayer) had no part in having these children so should you not be grateful for whatever amount they do give you? I firmly believe that when you have children, they are your responsibility. This is where people say ‘Should it only be the rich that have children?’. No , just those who can afford children – if you can only afford one then stop at one. If you cannot afford any , without ANY state help, then do not have any. If you choose to have more children than you can afford to have, then you accept that you and your children will suffer as a result of your selfish decision. Yes, I totally understand that sometimes you can have children that you can afford and then life changes course; these are not the circumstances that I’m talking about. I’m talking about people who are struggling with the children they have (or don’t have) and then decide to have more. Someone will talk about contraception failing – which is rare- and even then you have choices; abortion, adoption, keep your children and struggle.

Second key area I have noticed is about housing. So many people argue that they shouldn’t have to move house ( to find a job or to be in a cheaper area) because they have family around or they grew up in a certain area. Absolutely you don’t have to move – if you can afford to stay where you are without state help! If you are relying on the state to help you and complaining about lack of jobs, then you will have to move somewhere cheaper. Plenty of people move. Family will still be family wherever you are.

Finally (well there’s a lot more but I realised I’ve typed a lot) , is regarding work. There quite a few people who absolutely believe that we shouldn’t have to work more than part-time because its not family friendly. On some threads, I have noticed people make snide comments about ‘ what a shame they live to work and not work to live’ and insinuate that these are bad people. They will bitch about these people and tear down people in highly-paid jobs but then turn around and demand more from them (in tax). My point being ; if you do not approve of full time work or highly paid jobs, why then do you want to take so much from these people who earnt the money doing what you don’t approve of?

This was mainly to vent because it is getting ridiculous and I didn’t want to shout at my friends and family (the ones who also behave this way). Apologies for any typos in the very long post !

OP posts:
LuisSuarezTeeth · 01/07/2015 23:30

you do seem obsessed with how much money people not on benefits have.

Why?

Luis, building straw man arguments isn't relevant, you do know that was an independant panel that suggested the pay rise

Cameron had the option to object/block it. All MPs have the option not to accept it.

Should we get rid of 0 hour contracts, despite evidence that the majority of those on them are happy with the t&c's and not looking for further work and that the last coalition outlawed exclusivity contracts whilst also ignoring the 0 hour contract job market is minuscule in comparison.

Where's your evidence?

LineRunner · 01/07/2015 23:30

Me too, Dawn. By the way, I just watched a compelling C4 Dispatches documentary, Kids in Crisis. Bloody heartbreaking, about how the cuts are removing beds / treatment for children with ASD and mental health crises, and how they are being located hundreds of miles away from their very caring parents.

Justanotherlurker · 01/07/2015 23:31

Same here, will address tomorrow, if I have made it personal let me know.

LuisSuarezTeeth · 01/07/2015 23:32

I'm not talking economics theories, just real people, real lives, real hardships.

Justanotherlurker · 01/07/2015 23:37

Where's your evidence.

Sigh, a quick google on 0 hour contracts will back up what I said, you can even search my previous posts to find these stats if you can't be arsed(yes your not going to like what I posted previously and make assumptions!, as I'm of to bed.

Maybe we should ask you for figures to back up your claims....

LuisSuarezTeeth · 01/07/2015 23:43

I'm not making claims, just having opinions.
I'm googling away but not finding anything that says the majority are happy with them, sorry.

wheelycote · 01/07/2015 23:43

I want to add something about the children's act / rights but very warm and tired so will keep it short. Again It's about the kids, not the parents receiving benefits but the kids having enough so that there BASIC needs are met. An individual has no control over the situation they're born into and as children have minimal control over the life choices of their parents

LineRunner · 01/07/2015 23:44

Let Them Eat Zero.

LineRunner · 01/07/2015 23:46

Agree, wheely. I have seen the results of shit parenting and I wouldn't want to see those children disadvantaged any further.

Atenco · 02/07/2015 05:13

The children are indeed the baseline. All these people who want to punish the parents for having had them by starving them to death.

Fauxlivia · 02/07/2015 07:31

Not read whole thread yet but want to comment before I have to rush off and get dc ready.

People feel entitled because they are entitled - to a decent standard of living, healthcare, a home, education etc.

The state isn't some separate entity, providing money out of the goodness of it's heart. That money belongs to us and we are entitled to access it when we need it.

It exists to pay for housing and kids welfare etc, it doesnt belong to the govt to squander on bank bailouts and dubious foreign policy.

A lot of people would love to work but the jobs where you can earn enough without state top ups are few and far between.

Also agree that inheritance tax is morally wrong. The deceased has already paid tax on earnings, stamp duty etc. And I say this as someone who wont inherit anything apart from a hideous clock which my dad is leaving me as a joke because he knows i hate it

Superexcited · 02/07/2015 07:36

According to the BBC news just now the govt are considering plans to cut ESA to the same level as JSA which will mean a cut of £30 per week for those claiming ESA.

Baddz · 02/07/2015 07:45

The parents won't suffer.
They will still drink and find money for cigarettes.
The children are the ones that will suffer.
the % of families like this are relatively small IMO.
And it's not that they dint love their kids, but that their parenting skills are inadequate.
Poor parenting begets poor parenting.
Which is why the closure of sure start centres and libraries is such a ridiculous thing given fhe five rhetoric about tackling the root causes of poverty.

Alfieisnoisy · 02/07/2015 08:07

The OP is full of hatred...how sad.

I always wonder how empty someone's life has to be if they can spend time worrying and envying those who have so much less.

Yes if a person CAN work and the work is available then they should do so. Financially it's better, life tends to be better due to friendships in work etc and there is a satisfaction in coming home knowing you've done a good job.

Fact is that there are not enough jobs to go around, housing is expensive (we need to double our house building) and so is childcare.

When my DS was small we paid a huge amount for childcare but we earned to enough to afford it and had factored it in.
If you are on a limited budget then planning going back to work might mean looking at tax credits and working tax credit.

As for zero hours contracts...our local council says they are now the biggest cause of rent arrears. People often font know what they will earn from one week to the next and housing benefit drops sharply with every extra £1 you earn.

It won't be any better with UC. The local JS advisor says "it teaches people to budget". Er...no it doesn't. ...it just sticks however much in their account each month and tells them to sort it all out themselves. Those who are maybe learning disabled...but not enough to need ESA etc will quite simply flounder. Still never mind eh?

LuisSuarezTeeth · 02/07/2015 08:18

Super I just read that too. Only a proposal at this stage but depressing reading nonetheless.

swisscheesetony · 02/07/2015 08:19

I have fallen down the rabbit hole.

I have in times of angst considered giving away my children. I cannot provide for them. If I didn't have to look after them then I could earn enough (ironically) to look after them. But if I didn't have them I would have no life worth living and would not wish to be alive.

That is my choice. Muddle along thanks to my "entitlement" and the kindness of strangers or simply draw a line under it all.

LuisSuarezTeeth · 02/07/2015 08:20

Link to BBC report on proposed cut to ESA

longtimelurker101 · 02/07/2015 09:23

Isn't it ironic how IDS a great promoter of benefit credit cards, has had is own House of Commons one stopped because of his erroneous payments on it.

Luissuarez, I point you in the direction of this: www.jrf.org.uk/publications/cultures-of-worklessness

piece of research which refutes much of your "gravy train" anecdotal evidence.

The politics of envy works both ways, but keeping the middle classes angry about what the poor have means that they are less likely to notice their bosses running off with the majority of the loot.

Superexcited · 02/07/2015 10:46

I have just read you link luissuarez, I had only heard it in brief on the news this morning. I note that the part of the justification for lowering the amount to the same as JSA is that 'people won't have to worry about getting the wrong outcome from their assessment'. There is no mention of the fact they will just worry about meeting any additional costs associated with their illness.
I don't know much about the criteria for getting ESA but I can imagine that it is fairly difficult to meet the assessment criteria so the people claiming it must have some level of need which restricts their capacity to work.

It seems that these cuts are set to penalise everyone in need except pensioners. Disabled, the sick, children, the working poor....

Dawndonnaagain · 02/07/2015 11:49

That would mean a loss of £144 per month for us. Time to stop eating or should it be heating. Gosh, what choices we have...

Dawndonnaagain · 02/07/2015 11:50

(the loss for the support group is greater)

LuisSuarezTeeth · 02/07/2015 11:55

longtimelurker101

It's not me spouting the gravy train bollocks! Have a read back please

LuisSuarezTeeth · 02/07/2015 11:57

I'm still waiting to find out who all these people are that like their zero hour contracts!

Justanotherlurker · 02/07/2015 12:08

fullfact.org/article/zero_hour_contracts-38391

65% of ZHC people do not want more hours
'only' 27% dissatisfied with having no minimum contracted hours and only 11% wanting a new job.

Kind of says the majority of those employed on Zero hours are happy.

Also I am sure you can use google to find the CIPD reports and the ONS ones.

Electrolux · 02/07/2015 12:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.