We all pay your benefits

Jennifer_Jane

I watched the second episode too. I was moved not by the "stars" of the show, but the ones with whom they were working. They all seemed to have been long-time unemployed, but were in work, and making a good fist of it all.

I did wonder why no-one mentioned the in-work benefits you get though. These people would not just be earning the £19,000 a year or whatever, which appeared to be below some of their benefits, but would have working tax credits; free money for pensions; and perhaps other perks (even being at work saves electricity and gas bills when it's cold). Apart from this these are probably starter salaries, and things improve once you're in a job.

Apart from that, the cleaner woman was just useless - she did a terrible job and appeared to be exhausted from that. Would hate to have had to use the toilets that she had "cleaned". She didn't have a clue. Her own home must be awful.

Jennifer_Jane

atush wrote: »

I find comments like this astoundingly Naive.

Did the carer work hard at school, pass her 11+ and go to University, work hard get a first class degree?

Sometimes people are educated and do work hard. Sometimes they get paid more than those who left school w/o meaningful qualifications.

And I remember the days when bankers weren't the devils, but estate agents and lawyers were.

There are many reasons why people don't go to university. There are also many reasons why people failed the 11+. One of which is that there were gender quotas, and more boys had to pass the exam than girls. At least this was the case in my young day.

I have two full-time diplomas (one in Marketing Management and the other in Financial Planning: both of which are 3-year diploma courses at college) which I did whilst doing stressful and energetic jobs. I have an IQ of about 125 or so, yet I failed the 11+. My brother became the youngest fully qualified solicitor in the UK at one time, and he also failed his. He also did not go to university but was articled.

The carer was doing a fabulous job, she clearly wasn't stupid. The moron who presumably had got his 11+, gone to university and got whatever degree in media studies couldn't hold a candle to her.

Desperate_Housewife_2-2

I watched the programme and thought it raised many important points for discussion.

The system that encourages a 'benefit' lifestyle choice where people can't afford to go to work as they are better off on benefits is clearly flawed and in need of review. However as part of the social security safety net such a change needs to be employed intelligently where the unemployed are supported back to work with training and help.

I also think a person's future can be set at birth due to the way society is set up and the downward spiral of poverty most people experience. It is so hard for people to get even a poorly paid job these days and requires a vast amount of mental and physical energy that a lot of people don't possess.

I agree that everyone should contribute something when they are on benefits but disagree with the demonization of unemployed people.

I have always worked, when the kids were small I worked nights and didn't go to bed in the day as we needed the money, I'm a nurse so it was a hard job but I do it because its the right thing to do and I worked towards a future for me and my family.

We all should be helping each other in society, I don't trust the tories to sort this out as they simply cannot comprehend the life poor people lead.

Having said all this, the country can't afford to continue with paying people not to work and it needs looking at.

Its not just poor people who are screwing the system over, what about bankers and mps claiming expenses for duckhouses etc also bankers taking risks with our money and ruining the country?

atush

Jennifer_Jane wrote: »

There are many reasons why people don't go to university. There are also many reasons why people failed the 11+. One of which is that there were gender quotas, and more boys had to pass the exam than girls. At least this was the case in my young day.

I have two full-time diplomas (one in Marketing Management and the other in Financial Planning: both of which are 3-year diploma courses at college) which I did whilst doing stressful and energetic jobs. I have an IQ of about 125 or so, yet I failed the 11+. My brother became the youngest fully qualified solicitor in the UK at one time, and he also failed his. He also did not go to university but was articled.

The carer was doing a fabulous job, she clearly wasn't stupid. The moron who presumably had got his 11+, gone to university and got whatever degree in media studies couldn't hold a candle to her.

All interesting, and I agree about the media studies numpty. However, did not answer my basic point in that demonising those on higher salaries than you is just ridiculous. I went to university in the USA and had to pay for every dime of it. If you had gone, sounds like you were in the free days plus grants.

I am all in favor of those with advanced degrees and professional qualifications being paid higher salaries than those in unskilled professions. Otherwise, why would you study for so hard/long?