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.

If you don’t think they are tell mnhq instead of this

Employer social security costs are also higher in countries with better public services.

What are posters saying about IMF bailout? Other than saying it isn’t going to happen. Is yours and their crystal ball more effective than economic indicators?

And you’ll have to ask the IMF on the raising of pension age. Like I said, they won’t be asking for anyone’s opinion on here, they’ll have their own modelling as to what the right number is. I’m sure you can find their address on google.

@WildLimePoet your responses are bizarre, I assumed you wanted to at least try and discuss but clearly you are just ranting.

That is not true ES. There are only two contribution-based benefits. One is time limited, the other is not if you meet certain criteria. But you can't get either if you haven't paid into the system.

All other benefits are not time limited and have nothing to do with whether you have contributed or not.

So it is not true to say "the less you have contributed the longer you can get benefits".

Which would be a far fairer system and would reward a work ethic.

You not understanding stuff doesn’t make it bizarre. Try harder. What exactly are you wanting to discuss. Your questions don’t make any sense.

If they cut off our country’s access to finance or insist on a loan call-in, we won’t have the money for pensions so they’ll have indirectly stopped their payment.

The current government was left with a total shit show and Brexit economic basket case by the Tories. Brexit is costing us £100billion a year in lost trade and Labour can barely whisper it because the still-deluded loony Brexit brigade will start screaming about them 'undoing brexit'.

Their choices are very limited as to how to improve the country's prospects and they look like they are flailing around.

No one seems to have any better ideas , Reform and the Tories say punish the poor and reward the rich and the wealth will trickle down. This has never worked in history (which us why the are all for it) and where the country is now is this result of decades of that debunked policy.

I sometimes wonder why Labour even bother trying to get into power every time after this Tories have been screwing everything up for years. It's a completely thankless task. Blair managed to fix the country that the previous lot of Tories had screwed up but of course he hadn't inherited a Brexit sized disaster.

I believe in welfare, just not how it is right now. It’s unsustainable. The general public are turning against welfare in general. The public have been groomed to not see pensions and child benefits as welfare. To an extent UC as well. The kite flying coming from the Labour government is on purpose. They want people to target someone to be angry with. This time it is disabled and sick people. It is coming directly from those in government. Think about that.

They came for the ‘rich’, those who could afford private school, private sector workers. Now it is people in fairly average jobs and the disabled. You vote in a party who has the type of divisive rhetoric Labour have, this is what happens.

I think PP’s answer to any rational explanation is ‘well a bailout just isn’t going to happen’

aka ‘la la la la la’ I can’t hear you’

or ’now that you have explained it and I’ve got nothing more to come back with’.

Right.

What if they have other income, from savings etc? PIP is not means tested, remember? It's to help fund the additional costs of being disabled.

As a country we do not pay anywhere near enough tax through income, employers & employees NI to support our healthcare model & the state pension. With an ageing population, a lack of investment that has lead to years of little growth we cannot afford these models.

I don't know how you fix it now but people are still arguing that others should be paying/suffering to make it affordable. That isn't going to work.

You not understanding stuff doesn’t make it bizarre. Try harder. What exactly are you wanting to discuss. Your questions don’t make any sense.

I've asked you lots of questions on the thread, which you have either ignored or said you can't answer due to a lack of a crystal ball.

Ahh now we are on to the awkward truth. No we don’t. However, that is not the higher earners, broadest shoulders or whatever. They pay exceptionally high rates compared to other economies. We have a very distorted and upside down tax system. Harsh reality is, lower earners and middle earners pay no where near enough. We are also outliers on our welfare system. Many counties are time limited and contribution based. We have far too many people not contributing comparatively because our system allows it.

UC isn’t time limited is it?

Do other countries have the same thing?

Don’t make that bet. You won’t be able to afford it! 😂

Pardon? Doesn’t that fall into the health category that isn’t a choice?

And wouldn’t you prefer a government that supports him to be able to have choices?

During this parliament?

Then the point stands. If they don’t want a car or can’t drive, why is the taxpayer giving them money for one?

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

nope. That’s just not true.

Some people clearly want to limit choices of disabled people. Vouchers wouldn't save money and it might make some people feel better but it isn't going to help disabled people or give disabled people more choices as an example.

So how does my profoundly disabled daughter who will never live independently, has no concept of time or money and would basically die if she had to live by herself get incentivised to go to work.

Oh and the £83 a week Carers Allowance I get for her wouldn't even touch the sides of the amount of money the government would have to pay out if she was in full time residential care.

I am going to step away from this thread now as I can feel myself getting angrier and angrier.

Yes there probably are people who cheat the benefits system just as there are many wealthy companies and individuals who con the government out of tax they should be paying.

I am tired of being made to feel ashamed because I happened to have a profoundly disabled child. I had a professional career but sadly my choices did not include my partner dying. I also volunteer for a charity one day a week and the number of times I have had to cancel because my DD is unable to go to her special school because of health issues makes me feel guilty. I am lucky they are so understanding.

I am so sick of all people on benefits being tarred with the same brush despite all the faux protestations of "oh of course we don't mean you".

This country has serious issues but I really don't think that cutting welfare is going to solve them.

Oh and by the way from April next year the element of UC that is awarded when a person is unable to work due to illness or disability is being cut by 50%.

I spend every day of my life worrying for my daughter and I don't need people saying she just needs a bit more incentive.

@Legolava Interesting - off to research this now. The question will be “how can we replicate the culture of those countries?”.

@Swiftie1878 I don't believe we are at the point now of needing an IMF bailout, I'm happy to read a credible source that says we are? I don't believe all state pension payouts will stop if we did get to the point we needed an IMF bailout.