Confused re attitude to benefits and work experience

[catontheroof]

Your thoughts please - why has it become so politically incorrect to suggest that fit adults in this country should be expected to work for a living?

I believe that we need a safety net but cannot understand why people should not have to take jobs that they are qualified for if those jobs exist. I also cannot understand why people "deserve" tax credits etc.

If large chunks of our population do not work then our GDP is low. The only way that we can afford to have so many on benefits with a relatively high standard of living is by importing goods from other countries where the workers live and work in atrocious conditions.

Why do we think that it is right and proper that people in this country sit around being paid not to work whilst tens of thousands all over the world work in sweat shops to provide them with a lifestyle?

If our fit population all worked then we'd increase GDP and have money to help people in other countries where there is real poverty.

I have just stopped work to concentrate on caring for my autistic child. I will be claiming housing benefit, council tax benefit, income support and carers allowance ....all for the first time since I left school in 1982.

Don't know how hard it will be but am dreading it tbh. My son is awake half the night leaving me exhausted in work and prone to errors - as a nurse this is obviously not ideal.

So - a period of time on benefits it is - at least until I can find work where somebody's life is not potentially in my hands.

So workfare - I will NOT be doing.

And poverty is relative folks - we are rich by the level of poverty in the Third World but poverty in the UK is still poverty, Internet access or not.

we are not in poverty because we get tax credits tax credits in general take most people in this country way over any sensible definition of poverty. Poverty means watching your children die, not feeling a bit bad because you don't have a washing machine.

Pretty damn hard to look for a job these days without internet access..

My DH was only made redundant 15 weeks ago the computer was bought over a year ago with DH's wages. I wasn't aware we had to ask your permission before we bought anything, I'll try and remember in future. Broadband. we got a good deal and pay less than a fiver a month. It is not only used for MN but more importantly Job applications. Is that OK for you?

The only benefits we are getting are Child Benefit and Contribution based JSA which will stop in June. FYI I do pay tax and up until December DH had paid taxes for 17 years.

POVERTY IS RELATIVE!

All the thickos not realising this need to take note!

poverty in the UK is still poverty no it isn't - try looking up what poverty actually means. You are talking about relative poverty which is completely different.

POVERTY IS RELATIVE

Meant to add since redundancy we have spent money selfishly on rent, CT, food, nappies and fuel bills over and above the bb. Therefore I really must apologise to miss high and mighty OP.

Catontheroof, I can't help feeling that you think you are better than others because you earn a good wage.

Cat try working in nursing - I used to visit lots and lots of families and believe me, poverty exists. It might not be the absolute poverty you are describing but it's still valid.

Yes I am talking about relative poverty. The outcomes between the richest and poorest in the UK when it comes to public health are vast. So don't tell me to look up the meaning of poverty because I know the differences. In THIS country we are relatively well off but the poorest STILL die younger and have poorer health outcomes than the rich.

How we tackle this as a country is always up for debate but we address nothing if we don't acknowledge it's existence.

Lots of companies only offer part time contracts or worse still 0 hour contracts or use agency workers , maybe you are moaning about the wrong people?

No dear.

I've spent half this thread telling you about actual individual Africans you can personally help with in the things you claim are so dear to you. And every time you've ignored it or made some excuse.

FWIW, I willingly agree that you show exactly as much concern for the welfare of people in Africa as those in the UK: fuck all.

HTH.

Actually is Cat really Edwina Currie incognito? I think we should be told

i would rather do any job (including workfare) than do nothing. i dont understand why anyone who is a healthy and not a carer would not work.

i have worked for £1 ph as a teenager (& did 50h per week in the holidays). & £3.25 ph pre minimum wage. manual jobs. factory jobs. enjoyed all of it.

TheReality: Are you really claiming that if you had no income then you would spend money (and time) on getting to a "placement" where you will not recieve any new skills (because a lot of these are unskilled) and which would restrict your ability to attend interview for actual paid work.

I am applying for any job; professional jobs, cleaner, shop assistant, admin assistant etc. The only jobs I exclude are those I am not physically or legally able to do eg hair dresser or gas safe engineer.

I would like to point out though that if I paid for child care and transport to work for nothing I would become bankrupt quicker.

I don't understand why you are castigating people for not helping those in Africa, when you are paying for private health insurance. Surely the money you spend on that would do more good paying for a new well, seed, a goat etc, than it does paying your health insurance. After all, you could help so many more people if you weren't so selfish. And we do have an NHS which provides better health care than those poor sods have in Africa. Think of the drugs they could buy with your insurance money!

Put your money where your mouth is.

Put your money where your mouth is

That is what I want to do. Do you not realise that it is my money paying your benefits?

Part of my point is that it is my money which I earn which is part paying the benefits bill in this country. I want to put my money into getting people in real poverty out of it. I do not want to spend my money on a huge welfare bill subsidising people who feel entitled to a higher standard of living than they can afford.

MN is delightful today, isn't it? I'm sticking with the kittens

Sorry, my benefits? What makes you think I'm on benefits?

You can still put your money where your mouth is, by cancelling your private health insurance and using that money to help people in Africa, who have so much less than you do. Set an example. Don't preach.

Actually cat, it's my money paying for the benefits. And I don't really mind.

Your money is paying for troops or something.

Because that's definitely how tax works.

I'm going to give it a 3/10 all things considered. The thick as shit aspect has spoiled it for me, but a fairly good effort all the same. Managed to upset some people, vague accusations of racism and hard headed deliberate and wilful misunderstanding earns it at least three points in my book.

Can I have some of your money Tethers please. I'm a bit skint this month.

Is it Free money?