BBC One tonight: Poor America

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

The NHS and Public Services are an supreme act of Civilisation, this is a salutatory reminder of that fact.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

This is how our Tory Chums want us to be or the sympathetic voices that say 'let them starve/die'!

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

The BBC is an Echo Chamber for the Right and NOT the Left who are marginalised on it's Channels.

globalds

Hey it's being followed by another program on a family of benefits grabbers.


Nobody talks about the rent they get paid for them ...

an9i77

What channels the benefit grabber programme on? Diamond queen was on after panorama - bit of a contrast!

BigAunty

an9i77 wrote: »

This programme reminds me of why I am at heart a lefty. Thank f*** for the NHS!

You'll enjoy this article - it's about benefit claimants in America that are anti-welfare, described by one reader as '

cognitive dissonance'.

They are claiming the US equivalent of tax credits, free school meals and getting medical care but feel that the policies are wrong.

It also focusses on the fact that welfare has actually increased over time but the expansion is to the middle classes at the expense of the poor.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/12/us/even-critics-of-safety-net-increasingly-depend-on-it.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=general

Generali

The US has less than 5% of the world's population yet almost a quarter of the world's GDP even after a depression (of sorts). They're clearly doing something right!

Mr_Mumble

BigAunty wrote: »

You'll enjoy this article - it's about benefit claimants in America that are anti-welfare, described by one reader as '

cognitive dissonance'.

They are claiming the US equivalent of tax credits, free school meals and getting medical care but feel that the policies are wrong.

It also focusses on the fact that welfare has actually increased over time but the expansion is to the middle classes at the expense of the poor.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/12/us/even-critics-of-safety-net-increasingly-depend-on-it.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=general

A person gets mugged for £100, the mugger gets caught and is told to return £50 to the victim. Is it "cognitive dissonance" on the part of the victim to be unhappy with events? Of course not.

Yes, that is an analogy for what government does when they tax you and give a little back. But the analogy holds true even if the mugger gives £200 back, it is still a dispiriting experience.

"Cognitive dissonance" is a matter of thought process - you can't judge thought processes from acts forced upon the person. Paying tax is not optional!

Also, that NYT article has come in for criticism on factual grounds, e.g. Medicare is an earned benefit and not part of the "safety net" the pithy Instapundit has a summary.

lionelator

The only thing Ill say is I am so happy to be in this country where people are guaranteed a certain level of life, respect, and healthcare.
I wouldn't trade that in for anything.
So proud of the UK.

PasturesNew

misskool wrote: »

OK, sorry this is really depressing. People have life threatening illnesses that they can't treat or do anything about because they can't afford the bill.

This happens in the UK too ... routinely.

There are many drugs out there that might fix people, but the NHS says "nope".