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!!!!

OP is clearly quite right. Anyone who lives in social housing should be forced to wear sackcloth and ashes. And restricted to a 20" CRT TV that can only receive four channels. As a special favour to the disabled, they should be allowed channel 5. But only if they shop at Aldi and Lidl and can demonstrate how to feed five children on one tin of baked beans, two slices of (wholemeal) bread and an egg.

OP HAVE YOU MET BIDET LADY AND EXAMINED HER ACCOUNTS?

Hully - I dream of a bidet. My mum has one ( she's really very wealthy! ), so I visit her as often as possible !

oh shut up edam - im clearly not saying that at all

SPLODGE HAVE YOU MET BIDET LADY AND EXAMINED HER ACCOUNTS?

"how to feed five children on one tin of baked beans, two slices of (wholemeal) bread and an egg."

oh I could I could (well just about - they may whinge they're still a bit hungry after) but I could do it, can I have the new TV please - our 28 inch is going to give up the ghost one of these days and I could do with a new one even if it is a bit smaller than the 50inch plasma I'd been told I'd get while on the benefits

How very kind of you to give 'your' tax money to the people down the road

And I thought it all went on the NHS?

Tax money is not your money. It is the government's. They can throw it in the sea if they like.

If you don't like the way the government spends their tax money, use your vote and elect another.

As an aside, some of the worst poverty in the country is in central London- it's just well hidden.

But Undercover, no-one really washes their flange in a bidet, do they?
Unless it has extra squirty jets, I suppose.

Always thought they were for washing your feet in when you were on a beach holiday, all that sand in between your toes.

Splodge - your repeated refusal to answer means that you are talking complete bollocks and I shall leave you to DM land.

maybe that an exaggeration Riven, but as Bree Van der Camp once said "perception is reality"

as an aside - we as a family of 5 would be better off with one of us earning £12.5k a year (topped up with WTC) than we are on benefits.

"even if it is a bit smaller than the 50inch plasma I'd been told I'd get while on the benefits"

Oh I know, they ripped us off on this benefts lark. I was expecting a gold toilet and a limousine

hullygully-do what u like- i answered you before - i bid thee good day

Lizzylou - they do make a very good sink for children! (as long as they are clean!).
But you're missing the point, I only want one cos I've heard that poor people get them for free. Why should they get all the good stuff.
They'll be giving bidets to the Asylum Seekers next. This country is going to the dogs!

so she tried to cause an uproar and then when we all start larking around get p*ssed off and buggers off.

Oh come on OP - some of us are just starting to have fun

Of course there are people on benefits that know how to work and fiddle the system - but there's just as many working people doing the same.

A friend of DP's is a builder - in the good times he has easily earned £150k a year. But he's mostly paid cash and he only declares a £30k income.

Oh, OK, I want a bidet too!
And a 50" plasma and a few foreign holidays

HAHAHAHA - - how's this for a thread juxtoposition in Active Convo's

"
Do I need a new VCR?

Am I being unreasonable?
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)
"

I am a single mum of 3 on benefits, if I need something like a new washer for example, then my mum puts it on her credit card and I pay it off weekly. People who are genuinally claiming benefits and not supplementing their income cannot afford new cars and flash holidays.

My neighbours have all of the flashy things and claim benefits, but they also have people knocking on the door 24/7 for whatever the latest knock off thing is that they are selling.

ok ill make this simpler - who here thinks that households on more than 45k should be entitled to government subsidised housing?? coz there are enough of them

I'm late to this thread - but I just want to say in all seriousness that I'm struggling to live on benefits. So, IMO, benefits aren't ENOUGH. Because I'm under 25 I get absolutely naff-all. Yet I can't go and get a job, as I have a disabillity that makes me virtually unemployable. Particularly in the current climate.

Plasma screen tv's and gold toilets? Pfft. While a gold toilet would indeed complete my life, I'm more concerned with where my next meal is coming from and how the hell I'm going to afford it.

So you people talking about us being spongers, can STFU.

ooo I forgot the pre-cut fruit - cor riven do you remember that really nice lunch we had out in that little place in Bristol a few months back - that was really nice that was (we won't tell them that we used "their" money to pay for it will we )

I really don't understand why some people are so envious of those on benefits. If you have a particular need to be envious, wouldn't it make more sense to focus on the rich? Seems a bit arse over tit to me.