Stop Bloody Moaning!!!

James_B.

Graham_Devon wrote: »

In what sense, may I ask?

I've never claimed any benefits, only child benefit comes in.

I work, I pay tax.

I mean that, for example, you seem to blame others (i.e. how society is organised, taxed and funded) for you not being able to afford the home you want in the location that you want, and seem to think that the world should be rearranged to help you get it.

You are the product of your decisions. If you are not where you wanted to be in life, then it genuinely is down to choices you made.

As above, had you been born in Somalia, then this may not be the case, but you were born (I believe) into one of the world's richest and most stable democracies. To not be where you want is not down to anyone else.

James_B.

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Life has many variables. Easy to plan. Not so easy to see these plans through.

And if you can't, then you may well not end up where you want to be.

Of course, "not seeing them through" tends to mean taking the easy route at work, borrowing money, having children before you can afford them, etc. It's vanishingly rare in the UK for a person to make the right decisions and end up struggling. Barring serious ill-health or injury, it's close to impossible.

James_B.

Jason74 wrote: »

But I’m acutely aware that while my own efforts were a big part of my favourable situation, the good start I was given played a huge role too. I'm certainly not arrogant enough to believe that I ould bein as good a position as I am without that.[/FONT][/COLOR]

But everyone born healthy in the UK gets that same start. We've schools provided for us, and an NHS that, despite moans, is still excellent.

To be born here and still say "I never had a chance" is just ludicrous.

Bantex_2

James_B. wrote: »

You are the product of your decisions. If you are not where you wanted to be in life, then it genuinely is down to choices you made.

Is that the case?
Some people will be born with the ability to earn more than others. Right or wrong choices are not everything.

James_B.

Bantex wrote: »

Is that the case?
Some people will be born with the ability to earn more than others. Right or wrong choices are not everything.

No-one other than the severely disabled is born in the UK without the ability to earn a healthy living. The fact that some manage to earn a lot more does not affect this fact.

Bantex_2

James_B. wrote: »

No-one other than the severely disabled is born in the UK without the ability to earn a healthy living. The fact that some manage to earn a lot more does not affect this fact.

Suppose that depends on definition of a healhty living.

If you define it as being able to to buy a modest house in the South East , I would suggest that it is not the case.

James_B.

Bantex wrote: »

Suppose that depends on definition of a healhty living.

If you define it as being able to to buy a modest house in the South East , I would suggest that it is not the case.

I think that if you work your hardest at school, pick the right degree, aim for the right career, and work diligently and hard at that for a decade, then you will find that you can afford a pretty decent house.

I've really not come across anyone that did everything right from a young age and who still struggles.

I think that it's vastly more often the case that people slack off early, want the benefits before working for them, and compromise their future standard of living for a quick hit in their twenties or thirties.

I, like many around me, lived like a monk until my late twenties, and then like a Stakhanovite until my mid-thirties, and so am not surprised by the outcome.

Do you yourself know anyone who's done it like this, yet who did not find success?

Bantex_2

James_B. wrote: »

I think that if you work your hardest at school, pick the right degree, aim for the right career, and work diligently and hard at that for a decade, then you will find that you can afford a pretty decent house.

I've really not come across anyone that did everything right from a young age and who still struggles.

I think that it's vastly more often the case that people slack off early, want the benefits before working for them, and compromise their future standard of living for a quick hit in their twenties or thirties.

I, like many around me, lived like a monk until my late twenties, and then like a Stakhanovite until my mid-thirties, and so am not surprised by the outcome.

Do you yourself know anyone who's done it like this, yet who did not find success?

I know quite a few people who were never clever enough to get a degree etc but work incredibly hard and long hours but will never earn more than an average wage at best.

Seems wrong that they should be excluded.

Thrugelmir

James_B. wrote: »

I think that if you work your hardest at school, pick the right degree,

University isn't for everyone. So 50% of the population will most likely fail your first benchmark. Schools too have differing standards. Right down to the teacher you have in any subject.

What's required is opportunities. I know many people that left school unqualified but later in life found a successful niche. Now this simply happens less and less.

padington

Generali wrote: »

I don't imagine it's the case. Most of France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Italy and Germany have pretty clement weather really.

It's a nice theory but not one I would subscribe to.

All of which had empires or were very powerful relatively at one time or other.