Nick and Margaret: we pay...

[TattooEnvy]

Anyone watching?

I'm hoping Nick and Margaret are going to take a balanced non judgy view...

[finefatmama]

It's hard to watch. I was one of 4 kids in a single parent family and although we didn't think toilet roll, juice or yogurt were essentials, my mum was not so despondent about it. There's something about our system or society that seems to reinforce despair and no one seems to be able to put a finger on it.

The bit the hasn't been emphasised is that there isn't the money to pay higher wages or more benefits. it seems like it's about redistribution of the little we have is the issue. That is our very sad situation.

[bico]

6 job applications a month is seriously rubbish.

[LynetteScavo]

God job DH left the room or he would start shouting about Kelly having a hamster.

[timidviper]

breatheslowly because they are all in Spain spending their heating allowance innit?

Student debt puts some young people off going to uni yet, as you can see, it doesn't have to be paid back until you are earning so people like the chap on here who chooses not to work never have to repay it.

[bico]

Liam is why I won't be encouraging ds to go to university unless he wants to do a job that requires a degree.

[sailorsgal]

Doing voluntary work can lead onto getting a job. It will at least give him confidence and a reference.

[Jellykat]

Liam does have a plonkerish attitude, certainly NOT an indicator of the unemployed graduates i know!

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

And voluntary work is contributing to society. It is very much undervalued.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

In all of this I'm reminded of the recommendation today that the mps get a 9.3% pay rise. I can't reconcile the two ideas.

[beatback]

Yeah take from Pensioners who have paid in to the system for 50 years . Pensioners Rich or poor deserve everything they get in pensions whether state or private as they have paid in to the system all their working lives, it is quite right they get some of their tax back. I know pensions is classed as welfar, but it is not its all the tax people have paid dripped back to people in very small amounts. Maybe some people on here believe that some "RICH" Pensioners, whatever rich is should not recieve any state pension. I do understand though that is very difficult to live on benefits. The people picked by the program were very carefully picked to create a television program and quite possibly sterotypes and not normal.

[Helpyourself]

I missed the bit about Liam not being a prat - does he volunteer somewhere?

[bico]

There is definitely an expectation amongst the graduates that I meet that they should have good jobs. There is no interest in starting at the bottom and working your way up. I'm not sure why that has changed in the last 30 years since I went to uni but I wonder if the huge fees encourage this attitude?

[TattooEnvy]

I don't think they're stressing that a percentage of that is housing benefit.. I understand that it is a benefit but it's not that she's got 16000 in her pocket every year.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

I think it might be the fees bico. There's an idea that has been touted politically that graduates should pay for their education and can because of their higher earning potential. Unfortunately the operative word is potential.

[Chubfuddler]

Some pensioners haven't done anything of the sort beatback. And I'm afraid the money they paid in whilst working has gone - just as "my" taxes are being spent now and not put in a golden piggy bank for my retirement.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Helpyourself, he does, but I missed where.

[Goal]

So what. Everyone who earns their money has to pay rent or mortgage it isn't money in the pocket either!

[smokinaces]

Oh dear god. I cannot get into words how much this programme has fucked me off. "I am a taxpayer" shit. Everyone pays fucking tax.

[ubik]

There are many, many young people who would love to 'pay into the system.'

I pay into the system but don't expect to get much back when I retire. Will probably have to top myself so DDs are not burdened.

[Goal]

Christ Liam is a waste of space. What a joke that he is a supposed graduate.

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Liam needs to get over it and get something. Too much pride.

[TattooEnvy]

Fair point Goal, I understand that. I just think that the way they are putting this across is that they've got such and such amount to spent willy nilly.. Not the case.

[LynetteScavo]

obviously not everyone smokinaces

[susiedaisy]

Start at the bottom and work your way up, I agree with that idea!

[bico]

Why can't Liam do intern work in a company that he'd want to work in as a paid employee? At least that way he would be getting experience relevant to his chosen career.