Stop implying it's not so bad now because you grew up with no central heating and scraped ice off the windows.

[flashbac]

FFS

I also had no central heating in the house as a kid. There was a hole under the bathtub that cats would use to come in while you were freezing arse off on the loo. It was bloody grim. I don't wish it on anybody. People shouldn't have to be uncomfortable in their own bleeding homes for goodness sakes. It shouldn't be happening in this day and age. Stop defending it.

Given that the price rises are lower elsewhere in the Europe I think this is an issue for government discussion, really one for quick legislation if possible.

Completely agree. That’s also how I grew up....no heat and scraping ice off windows. Going to bed with a coat, woolly hat, mittens and three pairs socks. Not good at all. People still die from the cold and this will cause more deaths.

We had ice on the inside of our bedroom windows, a coal fire in one room. I still think this is shite and shouldn't be happening, because I hoped we'd left 30 years ago, 30 years ago.

Bet the people posting this pompous shit are not having to choose between heating and eating, and are not having to scrape ice off the inside of their windows.

Yes, everyone should be securely housed and warm enough.

This phrase isn't usually used to mean that they shouldn't be.

It's used to remind people that we haven't got it uniquely tough, and that it was just as bad (fuel crisis, inflation) in the 1970s

We coped then. We'll cope now.

And perhaps between times we will learn to make the changes when the country does have money to make a difference

YANBU

why are people happy with the bar being set so low? We live in one of the richest countries in the world and yet wealth is distributed in such a way that people are being forced to live in the cold without enough money for food.

The social contract between citizen and government has been ripped up and spat upon by this government.

@KalaniM

Given that the price rises are lower elsewhere in the Europe I think this is an issue for government discussion, really one for quick legislation if possible.

Not true for all of Europe…Germany has swingeing increases as well - of between €1,000 and €1,800 just for electricity! France is protected by its nuclear power, but even so holding prices is costing EDF at least €8billion, which the French tax payer will pick up the tab for eventually.

www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/german-households-feel-heat-rising-power-gas-bills-2022-01-04/

I was a child in the 80s I grew up in predominantly council area and was told I was posh for my clarks shoes. I really hoped that we would have progressed by now - nope it’s still shit and it’s getting worse. It’s not bloody right.

@RancidOldHag

Yes, everyone should be securely housed and warm enough.

This phrase isn't usually used to mean that they shouldn't be.

It's used to remind people that we haven't got it uniquely tough, and that it was just as bad (fuel crisis, inflation) in the 1970s

We coped then. We'll cope now.

And perhaps between times we will learn to make the changes when the country does have money to make a difference

Quite. I lived like that and wouldn't want to do it now but I survived it and now have the know-how to do it again if I had to. I don't think anyone has mentioned the power cuts and three day week in the 70s. No electricity at all for hours every night and it affected everyone whatever their income. It would be harder now as we are so much more reliant on electricity .

@Pissyduck

YANBU

why are people happy with the bar being set so low? We live in one of the richest countries in the world and yet wealth is distributed in such a way that people are being forced to live in the cold without enough money for food.

The social contract between citizen and government has been ripped up and spat upon by this government.

It isn't right and I don't think anybody is saying it is.

It isn't a race to the bottom. With each generation we should collectively want things to improve for everyone, not get worse. I really don't understand why people think because when they were kids they had to sleep with 4 layers and survived that I or anyone else should want that for their kids.

@Sceptre86

It isn't a race to the bottom. With each generation we should collectively want things to improve for everyone, not get worse. I really don't understand why people think because when they were kids they had to sleep with 4 layers and survived that I or anyone else should want that for their kids.

Nobody has suggested that it's OK.

Absolutely agree. If I see one more fucking post on Facebook from someone reminiscing about how life was much simpler back then I'm going to scream.
It's selective memory and the people posting it tend to be the generation who have benefited hugely from social improvements (NHS, welfare state) increased wages, improved standard of living, increased social mobility and wider opportunity to travel but like to disregard all of these things and put it down to purely their own hard work as they start to pull the ladder up from everyone else.
Arseholes.

Absolutely. Amongst some people there seems to be this idea that they had it tough so why shouldn’t everyone else? But what’s the point of carrying on civilisation if it’s not to make life better for those who come after you? The government need to step up and sort it out, although I doubt they will. The Tories have always been all for “Victorian values” and now we’re getting Victorian Living conditions.

I do remember all this stuff - poorly insulated houses, no heating bar a coal fire, and a paraffin heater in the bathroom.
I also remember the joy of moving into a house with central heating (in 1997). And having my first washing machine. I don't want to go back to the days of being cold but as we rely on oil for our heating we are having to get used to it again.

And perhaps between times we will learn to make the changes when the country does have money to make a difference

The country certainly has the money to make a difference. The government just chooses to allow it to make a difference to those who already have money rather than those who don't.

@Sceptre86

It isn't a race to the bottom. With each generation we should collectively want things to improve for everyone, not get worse. I really don't understand why people think because when they were kids they had to sleep with 4 layers and survived that I or anyone else should want that for their kids.

It's the survival thing. I'm one who has posted ideas from my childhood. Not it chastise buy to help. In the short term we can do fuck all about the situation other than face it and figure out how to survive it as best we can.

I find it odd that some people find it hard to imagine the changes in behaviour required, but rather than judge, get annoyed, I'll share my experiences, ideas on how to reduce heating bills. No, matter don't expect everyone to be able to do everything suggested but it is only sensible to make some changes.

That's not a race to the bottom of anything, it's adjusting to a real life problem.

I agree. I grew up in the 60s with only 2 gas fires downstairs, no heating upstairs an immersion heater...it was grim. I'm a firm believer in wearing layers and being sensible regarding heating. But those conditions were awful.

The country certainly has the money to make a difference. The government just chooses to allow it to make a difference to those who already have money rather than those who don't.

So true. The money is there, in all the wrong places. People shouldn’t have to scrape by, be cold, decide whether to eat or be warm.

YANBU OP

Ah I'm one of those people. Would obviously not want to go back to those days and indeed noone should have to however it wasn't that bad so having to consider heating fewer rooms and cutting back doesn't phase me at all. I've got bigger issues to worry about!

We had 0 heating, bar coal fire in one room. House always frozen. Toilet water used to freeze
This was in the late 80/90s, so not that far back when.
It was horrible. We were all always I’ll all winter. Cold, flu, downright miserable.

Heating is essential. Most places ‘ in the olden days’ had decent open fires going all day in multiple rooms, an arga or fire in kitchen. Etc

@raspberryjamchicken

And perhaps between times we will learn to make the changes when the country does have money to make a difference

The country certainly has the money to make a difference. The government just chooses to allow it to make a difference to those who already have money rather than those who don't.

Absolutely.

I grew up with ice on the inside of the bedroom windows. Bizarrely, we DID live in a house with central heating, but my parents were too mean to switch it on very often (& they could afford it). That's probably why I like my house to be toasty hot now 🤣

I was one of those kids, it was shit. By the time you have to choose between Heating or Eating, your diet is already poor.

I’m one of those people too. This is how the Boomers grew up.

We got out of it in the 70s by getting behind the unions and Labour, and having a top income tax rate of 75-83%.

We know what to do, but is there the will to do it?