To think that the welfare state is too generous if people in council flats have way more stuff than those on middle income can afford (no really lets have a discussion)

[splodge2001]

Maybe it's where I live (central london) maybe it's me (hmm, I don't think so) and It's definitely something that's been ruminating around my head for a while. An argument I've tried to unpick but I always come to the same conclusion.

I'm sure I'm going to be lynched but I'm keen to get other people's perspective on this....Here we go...

Where I live private housing is expensive and intermingled with social housing. It's hard to tell the difference between the social housing and the private dwellings. Certainly on the open market they fetch very similar prices. I'm feeling grumpy because we (DH and I) pay a lot of tax which goes to the people down the road in social housing, of course we should pay tax to support those on low earnings BUT, it does start to grate when though people in subsidised housing seem to have much bigger disposable incomes. eg. everyone I know who lives in the council flats near us can afford a car, we cannot. They can afford several holidays per year, we cannot

Isn't the welfare state just a bit too generous to enable those on low incomes to afford more than those on higher incomes? Surely the point of welfare isn't to subsidise cars or 42inch TVs.

I'm sure I'll be told to move out of London if I want more but this doesn't address the issue that I'm raising. Why should I subsidise people living in central london when I cant afford to live here myself.

Analogy moment....

I have 5k and would like to buy a car, instead I'm forced to give up my 5k to the government, who instead gives it to someone else so that they can buy a car. Boo hoo!!!

Go on let the stoning begin!!!!

clara - yes I told her to fuck off. I too have worked in "Africa" (oooo that grates on me) - and lived there for 2 1/2yrs. I married an "African", I nearly made "Africa" my home (only political unrest just after we got married changed those plans). I therefor think I'm just entitled to poo poo her opinions as she is mine.

FWIW - it made a nice change to hear that "Africans" think our benefits system is wrong instead of the usual "they come here to scrounge"

@ the call SS comment .

Just to clarify, I am not suggesting these views are Splodge's personally but rather those (or potentially those) of others who every day are thinking, 'why do I bother?'

always I am so sorry stupid, stupid me.

God I'm a twat.

it's ok Ninks - just hits a bit hard comments like that at the moment, especially as right now DH is staying at a friends house after we rowed last night after he'd been to the pub. And my reasons for being upset with him all boil down to SS's decision.

I know you were only joking - and tbh it's a comment that I could quite easily have typed on a thread on a different day/period of my life.

tobacco and vodka are deffinitely essentials in my household at the minute. DS doesnt go without but i've got to have what can help me through

? extremist???
thanks but no chance of that buck - see earlier post

but i may start party based on right to have violin lessons

always looking - I hate "Africa" too, I have travelled enough there to know the difference between, say, Egypt and Cameroon. .

Op- mabe you should get a better job if you want more stuff?

well it all depends on the personal sacrifices you're willing to make. It's amazing how much you save by skipping breakfast (for yourself only) and just having some toast for lunch, oh and of course living in one pair of trainers for nearly a year.

But I'm sorry it wasn't just what you said, it was some really nasty snidey comments that came afterwards from people calling her a "trustafarian" based solely on her comments. Just like people living on benefits don't like assumptions being made about them, I am sure she does not either.

Clara - you know what used to make me laugh and cringe all at the same time when I was living out there.

Every time my Aunt sent me a letter/card etc (in her 60's born and bred, and lived in a rural Yorkshire village all her life......just to try and make a few excuses for her lol) it would be address

Alwayslooking
blah blah
blah blah
Zimbabwe
South Africa

I didn't mean you were an extremist. I meant that people in your position who are working hard and constantly thinking, 'why do I bother?' often turn to the extreme ends of politics whether that be right or left.

This is borne out by history, sadly.

one pair of trainers in one year -i make mine last for 3

god some people, you underline the fact that the welfare state is too generous, you really do Always, you underline it in great big fat red pen

what you make a £5 pair of trainers last for 3yrs wearing it every single day and walking everywhere.

God tell me what the shoe shop is please. Trainers at church, trainers at funerals, trainers at parents evenings, trainers at concerts - yeah it was fucking great (mind you I suppose the pink boots are only marginally better )

You want to swap me right now - fine - come right ahead. My door is open, my life right now is all yours. I would very gladly walk away from it all right now and live a semblance of an ordinary life, working, paying my taxes, having a life. I'd even do the bloody night shifts again like I did previously if that's what it would take. And people that have seen me talk about my working nights will know that it's not something I would usually say.

It is all about sacfrices as always says.I certainly do not live lavishly

Time for my bed as I have 3 children who will all be up sometime before 6.45.
Night all.

shell - i've managed to get back up to toast for lunch and a DS3 sized dinner - might make it up to a "slightly smaller than DS1/2's) soon..

alwayslooking - mind you it's a lot worse in America. They think we all speak the same language in "Eurooop".

ooops sorry I have fallen into my own trap and made assumptions about all americans - of course only SOME americans think like that....

thats good always, my total today is half a sandwich and 2 cocktail sausage rolls lol

I've had 4 slices of toast and a little bit of scrambled egg (and lots of coffee) - oh and jaffa cake at Coffee Cup this morning that J forced on me lol

haha, no need to mention lots of coffee to me lol

lol Clara.

I tell you I was so embarasssed getting my post. I worked in a VERY large (100+ teaching staff, plus lots of staff that worked on the grounds and also lived there) school and the post would all be collected from the post office each moring and sorted before being put into our pigeon holes in the staffroom.

When ever I went to the office I always knew if I'd got a letter from her as they'd be grinning and smirking at me