Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
News
Original poster

Benefit cheats

82 replies

JuxaLOTmoreChocolate · 05/04/2009 11:44

These people are paid from our taxes; that's our money for which we work hard. They can also get extra if they want it, if they play the system right.

Then they spend our money on new kitchens, barbecues, garden plants, holidays, new TVs, new hi-fis, luxury items that I, certainly, can only dream of.

I thought benefit cheats were roundly punished, yet our MPs seem to get away with little more than a figurative slap on the wrist.

Why?

OP posts:
Nancy66 · 05/04/2009 21:08

I was having a whinge I admit that - and yes, compared to many I'm very lucky.

The point I was trying to make is that we're both in professions where we work hard and yet we really don't have any leisure money. We pay our mortgage and our bills and our food. We're taxed to the eyeballs and everything from a gallon of petrol to a joint of beef costs a fucking fortune.

People who don't work probably have the same standard of living as we do. I don't think that's fair. As Sorrento said - the lesson that was always drummed into you as a kid was: study hard, get a good job and you'll be rewarded. Everyone I know in those very jobs is struggling. Hard working, tax payers aren't rewarded - we just pay for everyone else.

neenztwinz · 05/04/2009 21:15

Nancu, yes, I can see why if you have a high-powered, stressful job and can't afford to have the rewards you feel you deserve that is depressing. But I very much doubt that people who don't work have the same standard of living as you.

What if you moved to a less-stressful job, fewer hours etc. You would earn less but would maybe be happier (although that is very simplistic, many low-paid jobs are very stressful).

FAQinglovely · 05/04/2009 21:18

right I'm confused - is this an MP's bashing thread or a benefits claimants bashing thread???

but whatever - sorrento - just as well you're not getting HB hey - you'd not get your 5 bedroom house with 5 kiddies

and nancy - I wouldn't know how much a joint of beef is - I'll take you word for it that's it expensive - I never both looking at that bit of the meat counter as I know it's all out of my price range

neenztwinz · 05/04/2009 21:19

Yeah I thought same re joint of beef! Lentils are very cheap

Sorrento · 05/04/2009 21:21

One would not being being utterly unreasonable having both put in 5 years of study, followed by licking the corporate ass for 10 years pre children to expect to be able to buy a joint of beef, surely ?

FAQinglovely · 05/04/2009 21:25

sorry I assume that the poster bought the said beef and was just saying how expensive it was - not that she couldn't afford it at all....

Sorrento · 05/04/2009 21:30

I was just going to say, the lower paid jobs are just as if not more stressful.
When I had the children I thought I'd drop down a level in order to just do 9-5 and not be responsible for anybody else would be less stressful, how wrong I was much better to be handing orders from on high.
Actually am considering becoming an MP myself, it seems to involve talking about stuff you don't actually believe in to get elected and then changing your mind on absolutely everything, having no morals and getting paid a fortune, what's not to like

neenztwinz · 05/04/2009 21:32

Maybe the problem is that we are conditioned as children to believe that success equals top degree followed by high-paid job, big house and expensive holidays (and joints of beef ).

For me, happiness is knowing my bills will always be paid and I will have a few nice camping holidays each year and maybe a meal out once a month with DH. We do not struggle and DH has a high-paid job (less than six figures) but I am SAHM and we cannot afford many luxuries but we don't feel we need them. I actually think not worrying about the bills is a luxury in this climate.

FAQinglovely · 05/04/2009 21:32

I think you'd make a fab MP Sorrento

(wouldn't vote for you mind - I don't think I@d agree wtih your policies) LOL

neenztwinz · 05/04/2009 21:34

I would not want to be an MP! I do think they take the p*ss but I do not think it is an easy job. Long hours, being away from home, open to scrutiny/ridicule etc.

Sorrento · 05/04/2009 21:36

Ah but that's the point FAQ you wouldn't have any idea what they were until I had the power at my finger tips I don't remember anyone mentioning ID cards or more CCTV than in Alcatraz in the 1997 elections !

FAQinglovely · 05/04/2009 21:38

ahhh - but I've seen your posts on MN when discussing housing/benefits etc

Sorrento · 05/04/2009 21:39

Bugger I'll have to change my name from Sorrento then when I stand for election !

FAQinglovely · 05/04/2009 21:43

...

twinsetandpearls · 05/04/2009 21:58

I have considered a political career in the future, have always been very active in local politics. I was very shocked by some of the recent cases especially McNulty.

I dont get the need to compare yourself to others and feel hard done by that others have more than you. As a teacher I dont earn an amazing wage but earn a good one it provides all that we need and we are happy. There will always be someone richer than you, someone who has more so getting your happiness from material things is never going to be a winner.

I have had a lot of money in the past and am ashamed of how materialistic I was, I thought I was happy but certainly wasnt. We can afford a join of beef once a month, today we had stew rather than splash out on a roast. But that doesnt make me unhappy, on the contrary I had a lovely day teaching dd how to make dumplings.

TheMightyBoosh · 05/04/2009 22:13

'People who don't work probably have the same standard of living as we do. I don't think that's fair.' wanna swap?

I'll take the job (I have the degree / ability etc, you take the kids disabilities (+£53 a week carers benefit) and redunancy notices for the DH? Yes?
Now if you were to rephrase it 'people who choose not to work I'd agree emphatically.....'- believ it or not seeing my life ambition vanish further daily (This week: Is Peachy's only NT ds2 actually NT? See SENCO for details of suspected disorders list...(I am Peachy btw,my mn not letting me change name back)10 years ago as a wedding gift.

Agree about MP's (coming from the Chartist Town as the museum declares I totally get why they need decent pay but its getting very silly indeed)

Any otherrandom themes I should be pulling in here?

TheMightyBoosh · 05/04/2009 22:15

sorry that didnt come out right, errant toddlersyndrome

My tv isnt new, it wasa wedding gift 10 years ago

there. much better. and the toddler finaly dropped off

twinsetandpearls · 05/04/2009 22:16

I just dont get why people are bothered about how others live their lives or what they have.

Quattrocento · 05/04/2009 22:20

Re a career as an MP

Good choice Sorrento. All you need is the gift of the gab and elastic morals. The basic pay is quite poor but I believe the perks are out of this world. What other employer offers multiple houses and free porn to its unskilled middle managers?

Portoeufino · 05/04/2009 22:25

With regards to the MP pisstakers, which i think the OP was about, this is easily sorted. You don't need a second home, the govt should supply some flats for all those MPs that live nmore than 1 hour out of London. That's it.

TheMightyBoosh · 05/04/2009 22:27

Me neither T&P but I think we all have our measures- mine ishappinessand theability to pay the rent, others havedifferent needs. I think I am lucky though- 4 kids, lovely dh- somaybe that's enough?

I would have loveda politics career, been asked tostand locally but found I wasexpecting 2 weeks after. The image of the politician bothers me too much though: there seems to be a semantic disparity between 'I'd like to be an MP' (and represent my constituents / contribute to my locality) and 'I'd like to go into politics' (and get on a smooching old etonian style gravy train)

MintyyAeroEgg · 05/04/2009 22:35

Back bench MPs earn less than £70,000. They should have a higher salary and fewer claimable expenses which, I think, is what they are now looking in to.

Portoeufino · 05/04/2009 22:51

70k sounds more than reasonable to me! Like I said, they need to be in London, pay for some accomodation and make a "reasonable" allowance for the running of the constituency office. T'would sort the men from the boys, so to speak.

TheMightyBoosh · 05/04/2009 23:00

It's got to be comparablewith decent-ish London professional wagesso peoplearen't excluded from standinfg for pure financial reasons, have no idea how £7ok rates in London though, £20k is good here.

Certainly state owned accomodatioon, allocated for the duration of a term for privacy, not craply basic (again wewant the right people not just thosewho can faceit) but not silly either; a small one bed flat, ultimately an ownership asset for theCountry as opposed to write off cash.

Allsecretariesetc paiddirect by Parliament so as to avoid costly staff claims.

MintyyAeroEgg · 05/04/2009 23:06

No one would do it for £70,000 only. Its not enough.

Swipe left for the next trending thread