Fuck it - the government will look me

[Phonicshaskilledmeoff]

I am becoming increasingly frustrated with the way our country is run. I love my country, but what on earth can I do to fix it? the Rachel reeves pension and stamp duty rumours have tipped me over the edge.

I believe 90% of our lives is the summation of our own choices. Bar (some of) our own (and families) health and tragic life events, there is very little we can’t choose in this country.

I’m not saying that the playing field is fair - I absolutely acknowledge that some groups face structural barriers that make good choices harder. Others are unaware those choices even exist. That’s where government should step in—not to equalise outcomes, but to equalise access to meaningful choice.

I think we all acknowledge that bad governments are ones that take away choices. This government, however is also taking away choice by incentivising bad choices. Policies should nudge people toward self-sufficiency, not make state reliance easier than self-reliance, or rewarding short-term decisions over long-term

Our Government should be working towards equitable availability of choice (not equal - see below) to make sure those choices are as easy and available to everyone. Policies should be in place to make sure people are encouraged to make the right choices.

I increasingly feel like I make the right choices and think what was the bloody point!

I’m going to wish I never paid into my pension soon and went on holiday instead! Should I just spend my money, move into a smaller house and quit my job. At this point I think I’d be better off.

Jargon Buster - EQUALITY - It’s assumed there is a level playing field and everyone gets the same resources. EQUITY - Everyone gets what they need to succeed, which may mean different levels of support.

90 percent of our lives isnt down to our own choices though. There is very little you can actually control.
Where you were born
Your parents
Your family
Your school
Your teachers
Your education methods and curriculum
Your IQ
Your looks
Many aspects of your health
Your tax contributions
Youth facilities in your area when growing up
Actions of your friends and family
The company you work for making redundancies
War and famine affecting global markets
House prices
Availability of food
The cost of living
Government spending and changing tax policies
The global crisis in human migration
What time the sun rises and sets
Gravity and physics
Train timetables
Global economic crashes
Food conglomorates

I think there is very little you can control by choice. You can try and make the best choices that you can make, and also influence collectively to push for changes you would like to see.
However, someone who id affected greatly by all or any of the above will not be able to make choices alone that can improve their circumstances. Even with support, their mental state may be too damaged by the issues to make rational and informed decisions. Choices about your future are hard or impossible to make if you are spending the whole day hungry, abused and unloved.

Well, that’s patently absurd.

I don’t subscribe to removal of the scheme - I do like to understand the veracity of some who claim the scheme is being abused though.

They fund them themselves. That's what I said, and it's right.

Yes, maybe out of some benefits. But, if they didn't fund the car, they could spend those benefits on gin. And in many cases, the car enables them to get to work!

Yes. Unless this said child benefit, is not the type paid into people’s bank accounts taken from taxes or government borrowing in the name of taxpayers and their future productivity. And you have discovered some other kind of child benefit.

Last time I checked all benefits are funded by the taxpayer, or through government borrowing or wuantative easing done in the name of the taxpayer funded- specifically net contributing ones.

It’s basic fiscal reality and math really. No intellectual contortionism required.

I drive a Mercedes as a motability car because it's a WAV and means that my son, his wheelchair and everything else he needs can be transported safely.

As long as suitable WAV's are available I really don't care what make it is but I certainly didn't pick it based on luxury.

I wish we didn't need it because I wish my son wasn't disabled.

Finally we agree. Funded by taxpayers. Thanks.

we have unequal choices- I think the role of our government is to provide equity. Try to equalise the availability of those choices.

Is there nothing that could be done at an early age that would go a long way towards providing those choices?

Why are those single mothers in those hostels - is it because our government aren’t stepping up to provide choices to get them out?

So, if they didn't buy this tax payer funded car with the child benefit, they could spend all the child benefit on cocaine, and you'd be OK with that? As long as they don't choose to spend it on a car?

i don’t think most people have a clue what living in Scandinavia is like. I would assume most have never even visited. What people in England don’t want is what we’ve got currently and what they definitely don’t want is to pay more for what we have currently as it deteriorates further.

So then, do you think people should be allowed to spend their benefits as they see fit? Or are you only concerned about how disabled people spend their benefits?

Personally I’d love to see a move to vouchers instead of cash payments to ensure the money is being spent appropriately but recipients would be up in arms!

Is that the best you’ve got? Come on, do better. There’s always chat GPT if you’re struggling.

@Woodlend I think vouchers would offset a lot of the negative perception.

Yes, you have started to understand my point.

People have a choice what they spend their benefits on. Some choose the car scheme. For some reason you don't like that. But you agree it would be fine if they spent it all on gin.

What you're really saying is that you think the lives of disabled people should be restricted and they should not be able to live as good a life as, say, you. It's simple envy.

And people spend PIP money entirely on therapy and disability goods anyway so it shouldn’t be an issue.

For all benefits or just certain ones?

Is there nothing that could be done at an early age that would go a long way towards providing those choices?

Yes it’s called education and the rights to have an excellent one. If you worked in education you would have your heads in your hands, so definitely don’t do that.

That would be really cumbersome to administer and would cost more than giving people cash benefits. I don't think pensioners would be happy.

What do these vouchers look like? Are you allowed to choose the supermarket? Are you allowed to choose the items? Is it all brought out to you in a big shopping bag that says "COURTESY OF THE TAXPAYER" in big letters so everyone knows you're on benefits?

Perhaps you need to work on your short-term memory as well as your reading comprehension skills since my post was obviously a response to a previous post of yours in which you wrongly stated that none of those who have Motibility cars work.
I do not have access to the application forms of every successful PIP claimant so I do not feel confident stating that they are all claiming fraudulently. You, however, do seem to have access to all of this sensitive personal and medical information, which is quite concerning as it suggests a potential cyber security lapse at the DWP.
I assume you have all of these details since you are so confident in asserting that none of these PIP claimants should qualify for the benefit. Either that or you are just quoting, without any reliable or verifyable evidence, ridiculous claims and anecdotes about imaginary PIP-claimants you have read on MN and extracting fictitious figures from your fundamental oriphice.

All. Each and every.

Yes. Unless this said child benefit, is not the type paid into people’s bank accounts taken from taxes or government borrowing in the name of taxpayers and their future productivity. And you have discovered some other kind of child benefit.

@WildLimePoet but plenty of those receiving child benefit will be paying taxes & some will even be net contributors!

Not just the recipients. I think it's a disgusting, dehumanising idea.

Do you get paid on vouchers by your employer so they can restrict what you spend your money on? Should pensions be paid in vouchers so those pesky old people don't spend it on fripperies?

What I am saying is proving difficult for you to understand. Even though it’s quite simple. The definition of other people’s money vs money you earned. Money given to you by other people is not money you earned.

Including child benefit and the state pension?

At least that's consistent.