Tories are certainly getting stuck into our benefits system...

chucky

JonnyBravo wrote: »

Now if only I could spot his latest re-incarnation......

Say, someone who has bought recently? Probably talking a lot about paying down a mortgage? Probably up north so he doesn't have to keep up the pretence of being in Hayes.

Is it really only me that spotted it days ago?

nope it's not only you, spotted it a while ago - it's RM

Coeus

Finally, a Government I can be proud of.

Thanks to the OP for posting this up - short and sweet! My two-cents worth on some of the points:

Civil Unrest (Mr. English)

It's a given more or less that in (or immediately proceeding) a recession crime rates rise due to higher levels of unemployment. Not that this would count as 'civil unrest' however. But since when does not tackling those engaging in criminal activity warrant not improving efficiency within the system? If anything there is an opportunity to (i) employ further in the police force as required and (ii) enforce those within the criminal system to work off their debts to society.

Cuts Are Not Enough (The_White_House)

Perfectly agree in this matter but the move from a Labour to a Conservative (let's not kid ourselves) government and collection of economic and political systems is a transitional programme. This has been the first major sweep of the scythe - the rest are on there way I'm sure. This is not a bad thing (speaking on collective terms here people) - a rotation of governments is advantageous. Labour build up the public sector to the point of inefficiency often relying on booms periods then Conservatives break it down again into a well-oiled machine. The circle of governments and markets.

DLA - Those That Need The Benefits (Leveller2911) (SingleSue)

Absolutely those passing strict, regular medical examinations should received a DLA sufficient to provide and adequate standard of living. Some peoples are not as accepting on the introduction of regular medial assessments however if the system can be manipulated (God knows it has) it must be regulated. Just like the FSA and the financial sector. This is easy for me to say - young, healthy, employed... however I do strongly believe that controls must be in place. Also as Leveller 2911 notes - Labour have had a good run in making disability discrimination more difficult - so if you can do a job, any job, you should do.

Focus on Unemployment Levels (ash28)

No one can deny how important it is for the process of moving off benefits into employment relies on the level of jobs available. However one should have nothing to do with the other in my opinion. Benefits availability (focusing on those more not related to immediate unemployment) should never be determined by the level of unemployment as one would serve to heighten the other - spiral of inefficiency. Personally was on JSA - hated it felt degrading however secured a job through personal research (do not rate the JSA) in 3 weeks of JSA in recession period. Lucky - perhaps, determined - definitely. Again youth, education and experience all worked in my favour - but is the job market so bad that anyone who really want's a job (any job) can't get one? Other's may be inclined to ride the JSA wave as long as possible - this cannot be allowed.

Foreign Aid (drc) (ash28)

Simple viewpoint here. Foreign aid should continue - there are those in this world much much worse off than we are. This is something every individual in the UK should be proud to be contributing to (the working among us anyway) - it's a shame the efforts are not more publicised. Would generate a 'feel good Britain'. I would much rather my money be spent on fresh water wells in Africa than for a long-term unemployed £m council housed drinking smoking 8-child benefits supported family whose parents purposefully chose to leave work as being 'better off on the benefits system' and bang one out every year to continue the benefit stream - I know this is a rarer case in the benefits abuse world but one that's been in the news recently - really annoy's me - imagine how many NHS beds that's worth... no shame at all.

leveller2911

Coeus wrote: »

Finally, a Government I can be proud of.

Thanks to the OP for posting this up - short and sweet! My two-cents worth on some of the points:


Foreign Aid (drc) (ash28)

Simple viewpoint here. Foreign aid should continue - there are those in this world much much worse off than we are. This is something every individual in the UK should be proud to be contributing to (the working among us anyway) - it's a shame the efforts are not more publicised. Would generate a 'feel good Britain'. I would much rather my money be spent on fresh water wells in Africa than for a long-term unemployed £m council housed drinking smoking 8-child benefits supported family whose parents purposefully chose to leave work as being 'better off on the benefits system' and bang one out every year to continue the benefit stream - I know this is a rarer case in the benefits abuse world but one that's been in the news recently - really annoy's me - imagine how many NHS beds that's worth... no shame at all.

I agree with most of your post but IMO foreign aid should be at the very least concentrated on the smaller countries where real good can come of it. I find it completely wrong that we are giving £1,000,000,000 to India.

A country that has a bigger and better Navy than ours, more modern aicraft and spends £million and millions on a fricking space programme. I don't really give a damn if the money we give them goes directly to their poor its not our job to do that its the job of the Indian Government .We should be giving money when we can afford it to smaller countries who are genuinely have little or no natural resources or true government...

At present we could renovate a fair few schools with £1 billion ,support small businesses, create real apprenticeships etc which would help us to compete with the rest of the world and in doing so we become richer and can the afford to give more in Foreign aid..

The UK was praised by the UN for being the only country in Europe that gave all it promised after the Sunami the likes of Italy, France and Spain like always promised the earth and gave nothing.....



Just a additonal post to one of my earlier posts regarding a friend of my sisters who has a young son .He is disabled and needs a new wheelchair as he is growing, he is still waiting months later with no sign of a wheelchair in sight as apparently theres no funding.What I find amazing is that the tax-payers are still funding Motability.Theres something perverse about not funding a wheelchair but funding Brand spanking new cars ,paying all servicing,Tax etc etc for people, whatever happend to prioritising and whats wrong with 2nd hand cars.........My sisters Motability car was £16k why?

Would just like to emphasise I dislike with a passion all political Parties and party politics.....

Brallaqueen

Isn't this an old thread?

Has anything changed since the OP?

carefullycautious

mbga9pgf wrote: »

Bl00dy hell; I would break the wifes legs if it meant we could get a new car for nothing every 4 years!

:rotfl:

Id break my own legs for a new car every 4 years