To think that people are actually getting more ridiculous in their expectations??

[Youmadorwhat]

I mean ffs, 9.99 for Netflix per month Is justified because it’s entertainment but never mind the fact that you are in deficit every month🙄

Childcare, anything medical (including hospital car parks), education, school dinners and housing should all be subsidized substantially or FREE (and 24/7) I mean should the government not just collect the babies from the maternity ward and hand them back at 18!

I even saw a thread a while back where someone stated that all extra curricular activities should be subsidized for children 🙄

I know people are struggling I get that but the government CANNOT afford to prop up everyone!! Especially when a lot of people are actually at a tax deficit anyway!! Rant over!!

And how is it fair that a childless couple would pay tax for a system they are getting nothing out of??

I don’t know how you figure that anyone who lives in society is “getting nothing out of” the system.

And how is it fair that a childless couple would pay tax for a system they are getting nothing out of??

Then your argument is against all tax, in essence. My tax pays for things I don't use. That's the point of tax - a nation/community/country collectively pays for the benefit of all people in that nation/community/country. My house has never burned down but I've still paid to maintain the fire services.

The money is there to e.g. spend on pointless Brexit preparations, bribe the DUP, hold a state visit for Trump, but not for the NHS and school meals. This would suggest the issue is not the availability of money but political will.

Oh, and a childless couple would still benefit from lower crime rates, less benefits having to be paid and higher general mental health despite not using the child services themselves.

30 years ago you could work in a basic skilled job and afford to buy a 3 bed semi.

True, but their standard of living was considerably lower as they didn’t pay for:
Mobiles x 3 - £40
Car - £200
Internet - £30
Unplanned food - £100

That’s just my bills and off the top of my head. Whilst it may not help you buy a 3 bed semi love wasn’t always as rosy and rich as people make out. Let’s not forget no central heating, outside toilets, poor diet, poor education.

"And how is it fair that a childless couple would pay tax for a system they are getting nothing out of??"

Oh boo hoo. Poor childless couple. They are paying tax for the privilege - and it is a privilege, make no mistake - of living in a relatively civilised country, where you have a reasonable expectation of living in peace, having access to electricity, water, a road system, freely available food in supermarkets, healthcare. I don't have children. But I don't grudge a penny of the tax I pay that goes to education (some other things, not so much).

Paying tax is one of the most grown-up things you can do. People who pay a lot of tax should be appreciated and thanked. Tax avoidance should be as much of a taboo as drink-driving, because it's just as harmful to society.

If all extracurricular activities were subsidised for children, what impact do you think that would have on the youth crime rate and associated costs?

Totally agree. My city is full of gyms, leisure centres, swimming pools, trampoline parks, drama studios, football pitches, tennis courts, climbing walls, a white water centre, and during the working week they're all practically empty. What a massive massive waste! I doubt it would even cost that much to bring kids in to have a go at activities in these places during the day, would give their teacher chance to catch up on marking/all the other non-teaching stuff they have to do, and provide employment for youngsters who are enthusiastic about these things. You might have to extend the school day a bit, but that would mean parents not having to find as much money for after-school wrap-around care. And who knows, if a disaffected kid had a fun activity to look forward to in the school day, he might have a better attitude towards going.

Should imagine there's plenty of logistical problems with my suggestions, but if kids are given good quality active stuff to do, maybe we'd have a few less weight problems in our youngster population.

Whilst it may not help you buy a 3 bed semi love wasn’t always as rosy and rich as people make out. Let’s not forget no central heating, outside toilets, poor diet, poor education.

Erm 30 years ago was 1989, not the dark ages I know that things were/are bad for many in this country, but it was certainly not unusual to have a car, central heating or indoor loos

Here you really deserve one

Well, the children that tax goes towards educating etc are going to be the adults who keep the economy going and provide care and countless other services for people when they are elderly. If a childless couple doesn't want any of their taxes going towards educating and health care for these children then they best opt out of receiving care or other services from them when they are grown up.

@CanILeavenowplease yeah as they should but they shouldn’t have to pay for everybody’s children’s extra curriculur activities or food, that’s a parents job!! And I say that as a parent!!

What's the point of a ? Try to tell a poster you don't agree but you can't come up with any valid reason why?

Anyway, OP I disagree with you about hospital car parks. Yes, they should be free - if you have to take time off work for going to said hospital, it's not a luxury, a choice or the time to penalise you.

At least free parking for patients, chargeable for visitors if hospitals really need the funds, but I am not even sure they see them.

And how is it fair that a childless couple would pay tax for a system they are getting nothing out of??

Fine, they can opt out as long as they don't want an educated work force to take care of them when they grow up and as long as they didn't receive an education when they were children.

Ridiculously selfish for people to expect to cream all the good things out of society while giving nothing back.

I saw a lady, quite well off, getting aspirin as part of a prescription. My query is, aspirin is 30p a packet but how much does NHS pay for it on prescription?

Most “childless couples” I know would be happy to live in a society that supports children and young people properly because these “childless couples” aren’t dicks

The point of the is to some up just how much I disagree. Her opinions are so wrong I dont even know where to start. Op you really come across as someone who has no clue what has changed the last 30 years. All people expect is to be able to live the same level of lifestyle their parents generation did. But they cant. As this country has gone tits up and the poor are certainly not to blame for that!
There is nothing wrong with expecting to be paid a decent wage for the work you do and to be able to afford housing and some small creature comforts. This really shouldnt be a race to the bottom! It is people like you who promote that bottom racing mentality.
YABVVVVU

The OP’s views aren’t unusual. It’s one reason why the Tories are repeatedly voted in despite a large proportion of the population being impoverished by austerity policies. The austerity narrative was very appealing and people love to think that others bring misfortune upon themselves. The idea of the “deserving poor” (with a subjective and patronising view of what “deserving” entails) is still prevalent

It’s nice isn’t it, OP, to convince yourself that other people’s struggles are their own fault. Makes you feel better about nobody doing anything to help them, salves your conscience. They deserve to suffer, don’t they.

Well said madeline and montypython we are a society ( despite Thatcher stating there is no such thing and inspiring generations to latch onto her rightwing, insular thinking ).

Denmark decided 35 years ago to invest heavily in early years education: affordable for all; excellently trained, well-paid staff and what do you know? 35 years later it's paying for itself due to the savings made in social work involvement, education, the criminal system and their health care system ( in both MH services and admissions due to anti-social behaviours).

In this country there is no longevity just a grabbing for quick fixes.

I agree with what Viques said about healthcare. Other European countries manage to manage high standard equitable provision that is nothing like the American model.

hersymphony exactly!

yeah as they should but they shouldn’t have to pay for everybody’s children’s extra curriculur activities or food, that’s a parents job!! And I say that as a parent!!

And as a tax paying parent, I am quite happy that there are children out there who receive free school meals and nursery education. You are paying tax into a generalised pot and a Government makes decisions about how that pot is spent. If you don't like what a Government is doing, vote for a different one or start your own political party or do some campaigning. Nigel Farage is an idiot but at least the man is out there standing up for what he believes in.

Very unpopular opinion, but I think that we ought to hugely dial back on what is covered under the NHS. It is the biggest drain on taxpayer resources, and IMO should be providing just essential and emergency medical care.

And what would that constitute, in your opinion?

I stopped buying the story that there is not enough money to sort out housing and the NHS when Theresa May just casually gave the DUP £1 BILLION(!) for their support.

Clearly there is cash, but using it for things which actually benefit people's lives is not on the agenda.

I'm a floating voter BTW lest I be accused of political bias.

Oh OP I TOTALLY agree and thank you for saying it!

Almost posted something very similar a while ago after seeing a few very ‘entitled poor’ threads 🙄😡 but figured I’d get so much abuse for it I didn’t bother!

‘Poor’ is not being able to feed your children or keep a roof over your heads before spending on any luxuries!... not angrily ranting about how unfair it is that your child can’t get the iPad their friends are for Christmas!!!😡

I grew up in a struggling WC family- I didn’t get to do expensive activities, go on nice holidays or have expensive gadgets- I survived and my parents certainly didn’t bang on constantly about how it was all the governments fault.

We (mid twenties-late thirties generation) are HORRIBLY entitled and just think that we/ our kids should not miss out on anything - why should we be held back by a stupid issue like how much money we have? 😡

I recently saw a mother wanting to start a go fund me so her DS could attend a residential trip with his hobby (sports). What happened to the ‘if we can’t afford it then you simply can’t go’ common sense!

🙄 What REALLY annoys the crap out of me is ALL of the parents complaining about the price of childcare- like it was some big mystery before they had kids.
EVERYBODY knows the score - it’s expensive. So IF you CHOOSE to have a child then don’t act like somebody just jumped out in a balaclava and mugged you!

When I hear parents complain about the cost of childcare I inwardly roll my eyes and consider them irresponsible and badly planned-

‘Well maybe they were made redundant- maybe their partner got sick- life changes you know!’

Yes I know Becky! But nothing changed for YOU did it? You weren’t financially stable when you chose to have your baby and now you’re struggling .... SURPRISE! You made a really bad financial decision - you took out the human equivalent of a pay day loan and now you’re angry that the government won’t pay it off for you!

I’m sick of the 100 hiding behind the completely unique circumstances that 1/100 May face and using that as a shield for their own irresponsible choices!

Yes SOME people may have mitigating circumstances and maybe more help would be offered to them if less people CHOSE to enter into those circumstances. How can the government help people who have ended up on a difficult situation through no fault of their own when SOOO many people are just choosing to end up there.

An ex friend of mine (who had never held a job for more than 6 months and and was in £50k of CC debt) had a baby a few years ago and I was like 😦🤯 - fully planned baby! What’s wrong with people?!?

How about we just take the FREE healthcare, CB, TAX CREDITS and FREE education... and consider ourselves bloody lucky.

Unless you’d rather live in the US in which case simply giving birth would cost you upwards of £3k

🙄 bloody ungrateful the lot of us!