Rich-Poor Divide Widening

Wookster

I've just listened to Harriet sprout, in contradiction to the report she commissioned, that the gap between the rich and poor has narrowed under Labour.

They just don't get it do they.

donaldtramp

The issues raised would need "sustained and focused action", Equalities Minister Harriet Harman said.

"But for the sake of the right of every individual to reach their full potential, for the sake of a strong and meritocratic economy and to achieve a peaceful and cohesive society, that is the challenge that must be met," she added.

So Halfwit Hatemen is at it again.
Trying to "equalise" everything and everything.
If they keep making everyone "equal" we'll all end up on our sofas watching Jeremy Kyle on our Sky system.
Who's going to pay the bills then eh?

Poverty is relative.
Nowadays people think Poverty is only having the basic sky subscription, 2 flat screen TVs, free health care, free social services, a house paid for, a disability car and everything they are "entitled" to.
Should try some different countries to see what REAL poverty is and what you'd get for doing nothing.
Poverty is defined as a percentage of people that are in a certain earnings bracket.
They will always be there in terms of definition.
In reality our people who are in "poverty" are a great deal better off than in almost any country in the world.

marklv

chucky wrote: »

do you really think that buying a house is the be all and end of all of achievement in a persons life?

No, but it's an essential step - pretty obviously!

marklv

DaddyBear wrote: »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8481534.stm


Well, after three rounds of a labour government, the rich-poor divide is worse than in the 70's. That's progress.

The article doesn't seem to mention house prices in this, not surprisingly. With an increasing number of first time buyers relying on the Bank of Mum and Dad, it's only going to get worse. Unless you earn a huge wage, owning your own property is only going to be possible if mummy and daddy have lots of money. In other words, if you aren't born into money there is no chance for you.

All this thanks to Blair's 'cool Britannia'. Let the rich get richer and the rest of us wallow in misery. Thanks Tony! :mad: That man should be strung up.

lemonjelly

chucky wrote: »

do you really think that buying a house is the be all and end of all of achievement in a persons life?

Anyone who really subscribes to this, is potentially delusional.

However, study after study has shown that issues such as poverty and housing are inextricably linked, and will go on to affect so much in your life. It will affect the quality of the medical care you recieve (eg postcode lotteries with nhs funding). It will affect your education (best schools are usually but not always in well-to-do areas surrounded by owner-occupiers). It will affect local sevices, it will affect issues around justice & policing, it will affect career choices & prospects (I've sat on panels shortlisting & seen some who won't consider candidates based upon their postcode!)

In this day & age, whereby a great deal of who we are, who we see our selves to be, & how we are percieved by those around us is based upon the accumulation of wealth & material objects, and this supports our staus in society & therefore our social standing, and therefore our image of self worth, then it does kinda matter.

Apparently it is getting better for those who are retired though... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8482570.stm

marklv

Generali wrote: »

Tony Blair was an ex-CND dyed in the wool Labourite. You can see that from the economic chaos he left behind.

Whatever he was, he certainly was (and still is) a total idiot and a poodle of his financial backers - and the Americans.

inspector_monkfish

how many houses have yo got mayte ?

marklv

donaldtramp wrote: »

So Halfwit Hatemen is at it again.
Trying to "equalise" everything and everything.
If they keep making everyone "equal" we'll all end up on our sofas watching Jeremy Kyle on our Sky system.
Who's going to pay the bills then eh?

Poverty is relative.
Nowadays people think Poverty is only having the basic sky subscription, 2 flat screen TVs, free health care, free social services, a house paid for, a disability car and everything they are "entitled" to.
Should try some different countries to see what REAL poverty is and what you'd get for doing nothing.
Poverty is defined as a percentage of people that are in a certain earnings bracket.
They will always be there in terms of definition.
In reality our people who are in "poverty" are a great deal better off than in almost any country in the world.

You are really a brainless plonker, aren't you? You like to spout your propaganda without any logical reasoning.

Why the hell should we compare ourselves to third world countries? We should be comparing ourselves to other Western European countries instead. And therein lies the issue. And if you think that all poor people in this country are relaxing on sofas watching plasma screen TV all day then you're an even bigger idiot than I took you for. The point is not trying to 'equalise' social standards of living, but to ensure that rises in wealth at the top are also reflected in the middle and at the bottom as well. This is something that all UK governments since 1979 have utterly failed to do.

marklv

Joeskeppi wrote: »

I think this was discussed the other day, but a lot of people insisted renting was always better. Personally I agree with you.

Renting would be good if private rents were affordable, but they are not. Lots of people used to rent before WW2 - it was commonplace in London. Then the government allowed slum landlords like Rachman to come in and take over the market, and that was the beginning of the end.

chucky

lemonjelly wrote: »

Anyone who really subscribes to this, is potentially delusional.

and there are many that think this on here...

lemonjelly wrote: »

However, study after study has shown that issues such as poverty and housing are inextricably linked, and will go on to affect so much in your life. It will affect the quality of the medical care you recieve (eg postcode lotteries with nhs funding). It will affect your education (best schools are usually but not always in well-to-do areas surrounded by owner-occupiers). It will affect local sevices, it will affect issues around justice & policing, it will affect career choices & prospects (I've sat on panels shortlisting & seen some who won't consider candidates based upon their postcode!)

In this day & age, whereby a great deal of who we are, who we see our selves to be, & how we are percieved by those around us is based upon the accumulation of wealth & material objects, and this supports our staus in society & therefore our social standing, and therefore our image of self worth, then it does kinda matter.

Apparently it is getting better for those who are retired though... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8482570.stm

i might sound arrogant or even high and mighty (i don't care if you think that btw )but to be able to fit into the above or be part of the above you can't do it overnight. it's a progressive process that comes in stages all linked to the foundations you've laid through your life experiences