To be in tears over the news today?

[KnockMeDown]

71 migrants suffocated in a truck. Countless scores drowning in the Med. There doesn't seem to be an answer - they will keep coming, searching for a better life, wanting just the basics for their families.

I've kept it at bay up to now, but that truck... What were they thinking at the end

I don't know what to say, or think, or do, but I am incredibly upset over it.

There is plenty of money for everyone in the world. But at the moment it is distributed very unevenly. see above - 67 people have more money than 3.5 bin put together.

After the revolution we shall redistribute it.

The 67 richest people have more than the poorest 3.5bn people.

bears repeating.

Macadaamia Fri 28-Aug-15 23:26:05
sam the government? Maybe. They can find some if they dig deep enough

really? this government that are cutting services(the same services that refugees would need access too)\who are targeting the disabled and vulnerable ?
I want to help refugees , they need help, but who will pay for it

It just grates a bit that they were moved in ahead of others who had waited ages and were fleeing DV etc

And you know this how? Did someone from the delivery company tell you that?

Most of these poor people aren't coming here for a better life and lots of freebies though are they? They're coming here for a life. They are refugees fleeing war in their own countries. War that very often has been caused by the western powers stirring things up one way or another.

Economic migrants, from poorer parts of the EU, well I reckon we can do without those. Refugees are a different matter though.

This government are of course a particularly odious bunch of cunts but we're talking about what we think should happen.

I agree that our infrastructure at this moment in time can't cope, however it could if money was spent in a different way, if more was invested in public services and a strategy was implemented to help these people, the money is there, this country is rich despite what the government keep saying, it's just being spent making rich people richer and poor people poorer at the moment.

No cruick course not. But there's a huge social housing list here, with people from the same hostel I waited in on it. People with larger families actually, at that time. I think the social housing list is even longer these days

they need help, but who will pay for it

There are plenty of savings that can be made:

• scrap Trident = saving of £3 billion a year
• cap private rents to the same level as LA/HA rents = saving of £12 bn HB a year that currently goes to private landlords
• scrap Universal Credit = saving of £12 bn

renationalise the railways = saving around £1.2bn a year

• stop using NHS so-called 'private management consultants' ie former MHS staff who have decided to outsource their services = £640 million a year saving

That would all pay for a fair few houses/schools etc to be built. And don't forget that once people are working they are contributing to the economy in tax take.

But actually, I'm quite proud ( of our country/organisations)that my neighbours were placed straight from YW and helped quite quickly ... Just a shame resources like this can't be extended

Another quote from UNHCR

Does the UK have more asylum seekers than most countries?

No it does not. With an estimated 173,100 asylum applications, Germany was the largest recipient of new asylum claims in 2014. The United States of America was second with 121,200 asylum applications, followed by Turkey (87,800), Sweden (75,100), and Italy (63,700). By comparison, the UK received 31,300 new applications for asylum by the end of 2014.

Sweden takes in more than twice as many asylum seekers as us. Turkey takes in even more.

If they can afford more so can we.

Germany have agreed to take 600,000 refugees, we've agreed to take 0.

*Macadaamia, They can be extended, just because they aren't doesn't mean they can't be.

So where are Germany placing them? Isn't there the ex military camps which British families have just left? Could be a good place?

Yes waffly to the people already in the hostels first, making room for the refugees. But it takes time. The help needs to be in place now

Macadamia, and have you asked the family whether or not they got the house without waiting? Do you have any idea of how long they have been in the UK for? Or if indeed they are refugees at all? Asylum seekers are housed in accommodation centres while their claims are determined - they don't just walk off the lorries and into council houses - they are only entitled to very basic state support on top of the accommodation during that time. Even if their claim is successful, they are only entitled to housing support on exactly the same basis as UK nationals. They are not given preferential treatment.

its easy if you don't have someone who is affected by the cuts. to magic up money. cos this government is so generous.
sadly any money that is needed to help these very vulnerable people..will be taken from other very vulnerable people.

that is why I don't know the solution. we have a housing shortage,
we have disabled people having their benefits cut.
yet mn magic....there is money

Well, I've just shown how there is money.

And I am very much affected by the cuts - my income will go down by almost £1.5k a year thanks to the Tax Credits changes. Also, I am very much affected by the shortage of social housing - paying through the nose for private renting, no possibility of ever buying and, despite years on the waiting list, no possibility of council housing either now that our council has moved over to the choice based letting system, because there will always be people with higher priority than us bidding on the same properties that we are.

But, even though I have been shafted by this govt I still think we could and should be doing a lot more.

Are you reading others' posts? cruikshank gave a list of where money could come from none of which involves taking money from the vulnerable in this country.

No one is suggesting we take from the vulnerable here.

i am
but we have a government in this country that target the most vulnerable. so do you really think they will raise the money to help, by taking money from the rich??

Exactly, wafflyversatile. And that list is far from comprehensive - it's just what I thought up in a couple of minutes on mumsnet. I'm sure that with time and a load of advisers looking at the budget properly there is much more money that could be found. It would only be an initial outlay anyway - once people have leave to remain and work, they would be contributing to the economy.

No we don't. We know they're a bunch of cunts who wouldn't piss on us if we were on fire. But as already said, but mysteriously not seen by you, we're talking about what we think could and should be done, not what we think the government will actually do.

Completely in tears. I was so moved by the candlelit vigil. I commend Germany's handling of the refugees. These poor people don't have anything but a vague thread of hope. They must be supported. Absolutely.

wafflyversatile Sat 29-Aug-15 00:16:02
No we don't. We know they're a bunch of cunts who wouldn't piss on us if we were on fire. But as already said, but mysteriously not seen by you, we're talking about what we think could and should be done, not what we think the government will actually do.

i get you. in that far away dream land, we would do the right thing and save people

Maybe we could do a swap, for every refugee we take in we send a Tory MP or supporter to Syria. That way we might get a more helpful government next time. [thumbsup]