BBC show on council housing now - 21:00 4th May

chewmylegoff

LydiaJ wrote: »

It may work affordably in Denmark, or wherever it is, but that's a different context - a much smaller country with a very much more homogeneous social structure. You can't just transplant the idea to this country, with its much bigger population, and already exisiting multi-generational workless underclass, and expect the economics of the plan to work out the same way as they did in Scandinavia.

yes, it's just nonsense that there is any sort of quick fix for the underlying social issues. if it was as simple as just sticking up a couple of cheap hostels and bingo, problem solved, that would have been done long ago.

there needs to be a coherent long term joined up strategy to gradually reduce dependence on benefits which runs for several parliaments. there is no magic potion which can cure it overnight.

ninky_2

Jimmy_31 wrote: »

No, luckily I was blessed with a bit more common sense than all the proud new fathers at my school.

inspired another thought...

how about introducing chemical sterilisation of all males unless they can prove they are earning enough to support a child?:D

Loughton_Monkey

ninky wrote: »

inspired another thought...

how about introducing chemical sterilisation of all males unless they can prove they are earning enough to support a child?:D

Physical castration might be more robust.

ninky_2

Loughton_Monkey wrote: »

Physical castration might be more robust.

now that's a bit harsh. i was thinking something temporary administered with benefits that would wear off on entering the workforce.

Really2

ninky wrote: »

now that's a bit harsh. i was thinking something temporary administered with benefits that would wear off on entering the workforce.

Better turn of phrase please.

Percy1983

I am pretty sure they can do a temp job on all males now, so why not do it to all young males and they need to have evidence of being able to support a child before its reversed.

People will say its against human rights, but what about the rights of the poor children born not for love but for houses/benefits.

ninky_2

Percy1983 wrote: »

I am pretty sure they can do a temp job on all males now, so why not do it to all young males and they need to have evidence of being able to support a child before its reversed.

People will say its against human rights, but what about the rights of the poor children born not for love but for houses/benefits.

or the children born for a momentary bit of sexual satisfaction more like. i really don't think that many unaffordable conceptions are that well thought through.

ninky_2

seriously though the benefits bill for unbudgetted for kids is the price we must pay for the sort of liberal society we live in. it's the sort of society i actually want to live in. one that allows for fookups and fookwits. the alternative is to introduce in a strict moral code of no sex before / outside marriage and harsh penalties for doing so (e.g. iran).

there is a positive and negative to every choice. the positive of the society we live in is freedom and the negative is mistakes that have to be paid for from somewhere with the means (in this case the taxpayer). personally i think it's worth paying the taxes not to live in an authoritarian regime.

Percy1983

But at some point people should have to suffer due to there own actions, all child benefits should stop after 3 children, if they continue to have more and can't afford it and plead poverty take those children they can't afford off them, don't reward them with more money and a bigger house.

pinkteapot

Too lazy to read 7 pages of this thread... Who was first to suggest bringing back workhouses?

EDIT: Ha, just read it, only took a few pages huh?

Both sides seem to agree that what's needed is for the minority of people with this sense of entitlement to have a change in attitude/behaviour. So how exactly do you bring that about?

Carrot or stick - make social housing unpleasant so that they start to actually want to leave it (but then what about the people in genuine need of it?), or make the alternative life (work, private housing etc) more attractive so they want it. Any actual suggestions on how to accomplish the latter?