Page 2 | to wonder if people expect the government to solve all their problems?

Gh12345 · 25/10/2022 18:58

The way I see it - I don’t care about paying taxes as long as poorer people are taken care of. Just came off universal credit as we’re now earning over the threshold so I definitely know what it’s like to struggle. So I didn’t need a tax cut really as truss tried to do. We as one of the biggest economies in the world need better standards and that starts with government.

Worriedddd · 25/10/2022 19:00

Yep and it really ramped up during COVID. Money was printed , handed out left right and centre. People now seem to think the government is going to bail them out of energy rises and mortgages. Not going to happen they printed/borrowed half a trillion they don't have the money left to give out handouts, they can't use QE and the interest is rising on that debt the gov need to service. People were demanding more furlough and more lockdowns how did they think it was going to get paid?

The bills come in so buckle up, it's going to be very painful and no government Tory or labour will be able to fix it quickly.

Artygirlghost · 25/10/2022 19:01

The level of general ignorance is really staggering in this post.

It is the government who is ultimately responsible for inadequate building regulations that allowed developers to build poorly constructed housing with dodgy material that led to the cladding scandal
It is the government that is failing to bring a windfall tax on utility companies and failing to renationalise them so they are not longer using their customers as cash cows. Most EU countries have kept prices lower through government intervention
It is the government who put the bigger tax burden on people on low and middle income rather than putting in place higher taxes for the rich or capping bankers' bonuses.

and on and on it goes.

What do you think I pay my taxes for? I expect it to go on health, social care and housing so that people can have a decent standard of living.

My taxes are not for a few Tories and their mates to line their pockets while everyone else is suffering.

And I doubt very much that you are a Labour voter.

Woolandwonder · 25/10/2022 19:01

Whizzi24 · 25/10/2022 18:54

No government can change the fact that some people are rich and some are not

Policy decisions can reduce the gap between the richest and poorest, which is why you see less wealth inequality in most other European countries than you do in the UK (and why you see an even bigger gap in the USA).

This.
There is a huge wealth inequality in the UK. We are the most unequal developed country other than the US which is disgusting. We are an incredibly wealthy country who chooses to maintain a group of people who struggle and suffer. I expect them to do something about that.

speakingofart · 25/10/2022 19:02

No. I do however expect them to not keep creating me new ones.

Believeitornot · 25/10/2022 19:03

Worriedddd · 25/10/2022 19:00

Yep and it really ramped up during COVID. Money was printed , handed out left right and centre. People now seem to think the government is going to bail them out of energy rises and mortgages. Not going to happen they printed/borrowed half a trillion they don't have the money left to give out handouts, they can't use QE and the interest is rising on that debt the gov need to service. People were demanding more furlough and more lockdowns how did they think it was going to get paid?

The bills come in so buckle up, it's going to be very painful and no government Tory or labour will be able to fix it quickly.

Have you caught covid multiple times and suffering from memory loss?

I guess so.

Believeitornot · 25/10/2022 19:03

So much idiocy on this thread, I just have to mute it.

AutieAdult · 25/10/2022 19:04

I agree that some may be things for individuals but others really are for government to control.

No government can change the fact that some people are rich and some are not.
agree

Or that wars in other countries and/or pandemics will affect the price of things.
not the international price no. Governments do have choices about how the increases then affect people-
some countries still own energy production and have controlled gas/electricity prices for the consumer. Other options are the amount to every bill payer or increase in benefits (I’m not saying that’s a good or bad idea as someone still needs to pay)

Inappropriate content on social media.
agree

Unsafe cladding on blocks of flats put there by private developers.
Maybe not the remediation but was all this only possible due to the extent of deregulation? Do taxpayers owe anything to leaseholders that now have properties that are worthless without remedial work that they cannot afford? I’m not sure

Being housed outside of your area by the council.
something more for local government but impacted by general planning law and housing priorities

Zero hours contracts.
I think absolutely something that the government can decide whether to control or not and the extent. For example currently in England a zero hours contract cannot ban a worker seeking other work
www.gov.uk/government/publications/zero-hours-contracts-guidance-for-employers/zero-hours-contracts-guidance-for-employers#employment-rights
Some countries ban altogether

Quitelikeit · 25/10/2022 19:05

So should the government keep topping up lower earners until their income is on par with higher earners?

Stellaris22 · 25/10/2022 19:06

YABU. There is a lot the government can do to help people and just don't.

Look at how schools are unable to cope due to inadequate funding.

Yes, people can take steps to help themselves but for some there are huge barriers to overcome where the government is failing.

sageandrosemary · 25/10/2022 19:06

Middledazedted · 25/10/2022 18:38

You think political decisions don’t impact on wealth inequality? That legislature has no impact on safe building practice? That the law has no influence on contracts of any sort?

if you think that then there might not be much point belonging to any party.

This ^

Quitelikeit · 25/10/2022 19:09

The welfare budget was 254 billion in 2021 compared to housing only receiving 11.1 billion

so how can people complain? There’s a whole host of earners, like teachers, nurses etc who are hardly entitled to a penny! Maybe some child benefit……

Sistanotcista · 25/10/2022 19:10

Facecream · 25/10/2022 18:48

It entirely depends on what you mean by “all” their problems..
I don’t expect the government to sort out my DD’s sleep or make her not disabled or frequently I’ll.
I do expect them to enable a functioning and properly funded health care system.
i don’t expect the/a government to help me get a job, despite this current government’s assertion that carers choose to be carers. I don’t have a choice because of the extent of my DD’s disabilities. I do expect a government to be aware that there are “tiers” of carers and that when someone like me who is intelligent and capable should be able to work but I’m destined to poverty because carer’s allowance is a nod to my caring rather than a salary there might be a way of assistance that doesn’t denigrate me to a “benefits scrounger” .
i don’t expect a government to make my daughter of even average intelligence but I do expect them to find and enable schools to provide the therapy that she needs.
i don’t expect a government to resolve the disgusting manner that the NHS deals with sexual assaults by NHS staff but I do expect them to consider and enable independent investigations (same applies to police eg ) but as I’m only addressing some of my problems..

This

Quitelikeit · 25/10/2022 19:11

But I agree all that money should be spent better

I’m hoping Rishi Sunak can use his financial brain to do this!!

WonderingWanda · 25/10/2022 19:14

The government makes the legislation that regulates all of the things you've mention so yes, people do expect the government to act on problems by changing that legislation.....that is exactly what they are there for.

SilverGlitterBaubles · 25/10/2022 19:20

I certainly don't expect them to be making everything worse by testing their fantasy economic ideology on the country.

DreamingOfSoftWhiteSand · 25/10/2022 19:20

GreyElephantsWearingYellowPyjamas · 25/10/2022 18:34

Yes a lot of people do. You hear a lot of moans of ‘They’ should do this and ‘They’ should do that without actually being proactive and doing anything themselves.

This!

pointythings · 25/10/2022 19:24

Most of your examples are exactly the remit of government. Why would it not be the government's job to ensure that the people of a country have access to safe and affordable housing? If nothing else, enabling people to live near where they work is good for the economy and the environment. And of course regulations around working conditions are a government's job. If it weren't, workers would be completely at the mercy of their employers, who are only in it for the profit. And of course minimum safe housing standards are a government responsibility (although the current shower of shit refuse to legislate that rental homes should meet minimum standards of fitness for human habation).

If all the things you list are not down to government, let's just not have a government at all.

Echobelly · 25/10/2022 19:25

I don't think people expect the government to 'sort out their problems'; but I think they quite reasonably expect them not to add to them, as this government frequently does.

lightand · 25/10/2022 19:25

No government can change the fact that some people are rich and some are not.

It most certainly can to a certain extent.

hattie43 · 25/10/2022 19:26

Angharad78 · 25/10/2022 18:40

as someone who is affected by cladding, believe me - leaseholders are trying to “sort it out” but the situation is so complex and the players so big that only a Govt stands a chance of resolving it.

I think Michael Gove will help here , he is a good appointment for Leaseholders

luxxlisbon · 25/10/2022 19:26

orangeisthenewpuce · 25/10/2022 18:54

I definitely agree and because I remember the times when we had very high inflation and high interest rates I have noticed the shift in the expectations of people for the government to prop them up, compared to years ago.

Really? And the people paying high interest rates but claiming their entire interest as tax deductible weren’t being propped up?

Some people have a very short memory.

lightand · 25/10/2022 19:28

Zero hours contracts as well.

As I have got older I see more and more how responsible or irresponsible governments can be. They have more power than I realised.
And are quite capable of grabbing more power too.

LibrariesGiveUsPower · 25/10/2022 19:28

LadyHarmby · 25/10/2022 18:31

Just listening to the news, interviewing people in the street.

No government can change the fact that some people are rich and some are not. Or that wars in other countries and/or pandemics will affect the price of things.

Inappropriate content on social media. Unsafe cladding on blocks of flats put there by private developers. Being housed outside of your area by the council. Zero hours contracts. All issues that the government seem to be expected to sort out? Is it reasonable?

BTW I’m a Labour voter so this is not about the Tories, more government in general.

“Inappropriate content on social media. Unsafe cladding on blocks of flats put there by private developers. Being housed outside of your area by the council. Zero hours contracts. All issues that the government seem to be expected to sort out? Is it reasonable?

all things the government absolutely should sort out yes.

the fact that some are rich and some are poor, no, that’s just life.

Thebestwaytoscareatory · 25/10/2022 19:28

I don't expect them to solve all my problems but I do expect them to ensure a more level playing field for me to run the obstacle course of life on.

Right now they're actively planting land mines and bear traps while giving their friends a tank and map to the finish.