'Should we starve the jobless back to work?' poll discussion

VIBondGirl_2

Firstly, Jamespir, tr6p is a pensioner and perhaps has a visual impairment so his big post is easy for him to track down and see replies to - I'm VI too and I liked it (and I don't make big posts as I'm fortunate to have an IT package that does it on my laptop)

Next, a number of posters want people to engage in voluntary work - you are all missing the point, VOLUNTEERING is about wanting to do something, if you HAVE to do it then it's not VOLUNTARY anymore. I have worked in the voluntary sector for nearly 10 years and am a complete advocate for the benefits of volunteering and do believe that people on benefits should be encouraged to volunteer to improve themselves and chances of employment. However if you are going to force people into it then it's National Service or similar.

The question, I voted for £150, leaving £100 a week after rent. Both my husband and I were made redundant last year five months apart and I have applied for every single job I feel I could turn my skills to and some more on top. I've tried all the big supermarkets, shopping centres, high street stores for anything and apart from around Christmas there has been nothing. I volunteer with 2 different organisations and the role which I do for one used to be a paid position, which brings me on to my last point.

Someone said above, "people should be taken care of by familes and the voluntary sector" well, what if you don't have a family, what if you are in a caring role for older members of your family? In Scotland, more than 500 voluntary sector organisations have closed in the last 18months due to the financial crisis, I don't know which community the poster lives in but these community organisations to take care of all the poor and unemployed do not exist. I won't go further on this one as it's off topic but honestly, take a good look around your community and see what's out there.

cw18

DebtHater wrote: »

What a disgusting thing to say MSE..... "starve the jobless back to work"

They're purely quoting Lord Jones - it wasn't an MSE suggestion !!

ItMightBeUsefulOneDay

I think this whole concept is the wrong way around which is why we now have generations of work-shy families who've only ever known free handouts from the state. Why should anyone have the hassle of getting out of bed, travelling and having to work when you can sit on your @rse all day playing on the X-box, chatting to your doley mates and having a laugh while smoking your free B&H and quaffing a free can of special brew. Generations of children have watched their parents do exactly this - why bother actually grafting when all this is available for free?

I'd make 3 simple changes to benefits:

1. (MOST IMPORTANTLY) If you've never paid in then you can't claim anything. Stops the endless generations of benefit families and illegals flocking here in droves to claim their free money in a stroke.

2. Make people work for their benefits. There's loads of jobs out there from graffiti removal to bog cleaning. Yes it's a scummy job but that's the point. If you don't like it then get a real job.

3. Pay in vouchers so it cannot be spent on fags, sky tv and holidays abroad. I know of families where no-one works but they still have a plasma, sky (with all the sports channels) and go to Spain every year for 2 weeks.

jamespir

ItMightBeUsefulOneDay wrote: »

I think this whole concept is the wrong way around which is why we now have generations of work-shy families who've only ever known free handouts from the state. Why should anyone have the hassle of getting out of bed, travelling and having to work when you can sit on your @rse all day playing on the X-box, chatting to your doley mates and having a laugh while smoking your free B&H and quaffing a free can of special brew. Generations of children have watched their parents do exactly this - why bother actually grafting when all this is available for free?

I'd make 3 simple changes to benefits:

1. (MOST IMPORTANTLY) If you've never paid in then you can't claim anything. Stops the endless generations of benefit families and illegals flocking here in droves to claim their free money in a stroke.

2. Make people work for their benefits. There's loads of jobs out there from graffiti removal to bog cleaning. Yes it's a scummy job but that's the point. If you don't like it then get a real job.

3. Pay in vouchers so it cannot be spent on fags, sky tv and holidays abroad. I know of families where no-one works but they still have a plasma, sky (with all the sports channels) and go to Spain every year for 2 weeks.

your being very judgmental not everyone on benefits is like that
what about those who are unable to work

pollypenny

This was briefly touched on in an earlier post - giving a figure neared to the last income for a period would help those who are short-term unemployed.

In a previous life I was a civil servant; Unemployment benefit include an Earnings related Supplement (ERS) for 6 months. UB was paid for a year then. (1968)

aliplaysdrums

I know a few people with Diabetes. But I'll just speak about 2 of them.

I've obviously met both of them, and the one with the worse Diabetes, who has to have a full on health check every 2 weeks or so at the hospital works full time whilst at university.

The other one, with the less bad (political correctness police) Diabetes, claims benefit, his brother claims dependancy to top up his salary, and he gets a car out of the council due to be being 'unfit' to work.

Its all a matter of perspective. Those who want to, and need to, will work.

I'm a big believer that there's a job for everyone, and "incapacity" should not stand in the way. One guy I know crashed a moped (very badly), broke his leg, and wanted to be back in work the next week.

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jamespir

aliplaysdrums wrote: »

I know a few people with Diabetes. But I'll just speak about 2 of them.

I've obviously met both of them, and the one with the worse Diabetes, who has to have a full on health check every 2 weeks or so at the hospital works full time whilst at university.

The other one, with the less bad (political correctness police) Diabetes, claims benefit, his brother claims dependancy to top up his salary, and he gets a car out of the council due to be being 'unfit' to work.

Its all a matter of perspective. Those who want to, and need to, will work.

I'm a big believer that there's a job for everyone, and "incapacity" should not stand in the way. One guy I know crashed a moped (very badly), broke his leg, and wanted to be back in work the next week.

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just because they dont look ill to you does not mean they are not diabetes can affect people in all ways

jamespir

aliplaysdrums wrote: »

no offence, but just because he was stupid when young and did some bad things, why should the taxpayer have to pay for him? his own bloody fault. should get naff all!
saying that, the prison system needs reform for this to be the case.
take the xbox's out of prison, and turn them into places more like shawshank. places people REALLY DONT want to end up in. then, theoretically, the stupid young mistakes will be kept to a bare minimum.

ive been to prison for not paying council tax and i didnt get an xbox (and no one in the area i was in had one) in fact it was a horrible experience

jamespir

aliplaysdrums wrote: »

no offence, but just because he was stupid when young and did some bad things, why should the taxpayer have to pay for him? his own bloody fault. should get naff all!
saying that, the prison system needs reform for this to be the case.
take the xbox's out of prison, and turn them into places more like shawshank. places people REALLY DONT want to end up in. then, theoretically, the stupid young mistakes will be kept to a bare minimum.

he wants to work though

adouglasmhor

gems2381 wrote: »

some people post in large as they have difficulty seeing the screen, they've already stated that they are a pensioner so may have done so through failing eyesight!

well then they need to turn up the font size on their browser or use the built in magnifier on their os instead of messing up the formating