Failure and bitterness.

neas

Whats coming out of this thread is that people on benefits should be encouraged to get back into work.. one way or another.

Be it by lowering their payments or forcing volunteer work on them to help the community as a whole....

Something needs to be done to stem the tide of little britain-esque characters putting a claim on my hard earned cash.

Generali

neas wrote: »

Whats coming out of this thread is that people on benefits should be encouraged to get back into work.. one way or another.

Be it by lowering their payments or forcing volunteer work on them to help the community as a whole....

Something needs to be done to stem the tide of little britain-esque characters putting a claim on my hard earned cash.

The US-ians had a policy introduced in the early GW Bush years whereby you could only get subsistence-type benefits for a limited period (2 years I think).

That appeals to me and seemed to work well over there. Perhaps a trade off could be a higher benefit for a shorter period of time.

Conrad

mower5 wrote: »

Are you trying to imply that being on benefits is a mental illness?

Do you believe in every childs pre-ordained fate to follow in parents footsteps? I think the state can stop making people unmotivated and uninvolved in there own lives. Free the people from state intervention!

As I said, some people have the ability to overcome adversity and surpress thier childhood imprints, yet others do not.

I agree state intervenetion in one sense is a cruel enslavement in that life on benefits can establish an inter generational cycle.

Having said all this, it is the case people are to a large extent a product of thier upbringing.
We do not chose our parents, it's pure luck, so to then tar and feather such people is akin to stringing nup someone for being born into wealth.

treliac

Conrad wrote: »

I agree state intervenetion in one sense is a cruel enslavement in that life on benefits can establish an inter generational cycle.

What the state's created, the state should try to put right.

PaulHick1975

It is the nanny state we live in now. This benefit culture we have seem to have adopted.
I have no problem with the people who geniunely need help but alot of people seem to see the benefit culture as a lifestyle choice - WRONG WRONG WRONG.
I don't know if it would be any better under the tories but we need to get this lot out before this country goes to hell in a handcart.
John Gaunt for Prime Minister.

torontoboy45

mower5 wrote: »

Are you trying to imply that being on benefits is a mental illness?
This is a new idea to me! Prove it please, has research been published in the Lancet.
Do you believe in every childs pre-ordained fate to follow in parents footsteps? I think the state can stop making people unmotivated and uninvolved in there own lives. Free the people from state intervention!

when gaitskell(?) bemoaned 'the poverty of aspiration' amongst the working class back in the 40's perhaps he was hinting at neurological connections but too polite to say so clearly.
a 'negative state of mind' probably sounds better.

neas

while i belive the whole benefits system was truly a remarkable thing... its being abused in a fair few situations.

Why not have it that its based on national insurance contributions? just like when you pay alot into a pension you receive more benfits if you are made unemployed.. but for a limited period of time....

If you come out of school at 16, cant be bothered to work or get a bad job then get sacked for dole money.... it won't be alot ... not enough to survive... and that will deter alot of people to earn money...

I believe it is an upside down world where reasonable earners, hard workers are crammed in 1 bed flats while their peers who got maybe a 2 C's and rest D's at gcse have a nice 3 bed council flat, 2 children and a regular income coming in.... how is that fair? and hardly worked a days work in their lives.

mower5

torontoboy45 wrote: »

when gaitskell(?) bemoaned 'the poverty of aspiration' amongst the working class back in the 40's perhaps he was hinting at neurological connections but too polite to say so clearly.
a 'negative state of mind' probably sounds better.

Maybe Darwinism in action. Poorer people with get up & go have got up & gone! Mainly to gated middle class enclaves in USA, UK and AUS. Leaving behind rotten communities with terrible schools ravaged by a generation of marxist teachers who believed competition was evil and high standards were bougoise rubbish.

SingleSue

I used to think the same way Neas.......then found myself a single parent on benefits.

Imagine my shame...oh and embarrassment, when those who I had been rather vitriolic about, then saw me in exactly the same situation as them. I was the worlds worse at blaming our societies ills on the benefit claimant, labelling them work shy baby producers whilst there was us working our little socks off just trying to keep our heads above water...and succeeding at it too (eventually!) and they got everything handed to them on a plate.

It is really quite amazing what a change of circumstances will do to long held beliefs...I am so sheepish about it all that I cross the road to avoid those same people I 'abused' rather than face my embarrassment.

I'm not so verbal in my opinions anymore, much safer

mower5

Hi SingleSue
Compassion for people who run into bad luck/ill health/child care is fair enough BUT perhaps the responsibility cuts two ways, if someone can contribute to society by work and tax paying then they should.