Big Bruvver

[Amy]

Sorry Steve, your right, I didnt mean to hijack what is a serious point.

We shouldnt tar everyone with the same brush and assume that steryotypes are a one size fits all label.

[SteveH]

 That's OK, we can get back to being silly now....

[lightfoot]

So can we stop perpetuating the old "On Benefits = Sponger" myth as proposed by the predominantly capitalist tabloid press... & recognise it is not those at the bottom of societies pile that need kicking it's the thugs, extortionists, & financial Bully Boys in suits who are to blame for the woes we find ourselves in....

Well said Steve,

I'm all for getting on your bike, rolling up your sleeves and making a honest effort to provide for yourself and family etc, as and when possible - Rather than being dependent on the rest of society for handouts etc.  But in principle, I believe in a Welfare State and a fair / healthy redistribution of wealth. 

You only need to look to the States etc to see where a 'Sod you - I'm alright Jack' approach can lead and the negative effect it can have on us all.  I much prefer a 'Give when you can - Take as you need (not want)' approach to life....but the door has to swing both ways for it to work !



Lightfoot.

[Amy]

That's OK, we can get back to being silly now....

Are you growing those whiskers for a bet or is it a Kris Kristofferson / Jeff Bridges look alike competition?

[Amy]

Well said Steve,

I'm all for getting on your bike, rolling up your sleeves and making a honest effort to provide for yourself and family etc, as and when possible - Rather than being dependent on the rest of society for handouts etc.  But in principle, I believe in a Welfare State and a fair / healthy redistribution of wealth. 

You only need to look to the States etc to see where a 'Sod you - I'm alright Jack' approach can lead and the negative effect it can have on us all.  I much prefer a 'Give when you can - Take as you need (not want)' approach to life....but the door has to swing both ways for it to work !



Lightfoot.

I couldnt disagree less.
After watching the Axemen on CH5 lately, im building a mental picture of the realities of middle America where in the land of the free, the average working man seems to be one paycheque away from poverty.

A 2 day layoff after a violent storm and the axemen are desperate to get back to work as they have payments to make on homes and pick up trucks and the dangerous nature of the job is more scary cos you dont get paid for illness and cant afford insurance on low wages.

As my step dad would say, ........All that glitters isnt gold.

[SteveH]

Are you growing those whiskers for a bet or is it a Kris Kristofferson / Jeff Bridges look alike competition?

 I have psoriasis & wet shaving can cause all sorts of cut/infection problems...

 That & a double genetic pre disposition to hirsuteness courtesy of my mother... (Sorry Mom... I did like the "Wisker Rubs" honest)...

 If I let it go too far I do unfortunately end up looking like a cross between David Bellamy & Bill Oddy ...

 Such is life...

[Amy]

My Grandad had a very dark beard growth and my cousin inherited it. When Mike was in the RAF he had to shave twice a day to keep looking tidy.

Have you tried Teatree oil face balm?  its supposed to be realy good for skin probs and is very moisturising too.
You can also get soap free shaving products which dont agrevate or dry your skin.


Please send the next patient in. 

[Mike N.]

Have you tried Teatree oil face balm?  i

We had a builder who thought he was told by his GP to use teak oil on his athletic feet until his wife suggested that he might have misheard 

Mike

[Amy]

Pardon?

Oh i see, maybe he had antique feet?

[Mike N.]

Pardon?

Not offended by my use of the word fe*t I hope?

Mike

[Amy]

So a man went to the docs and said, "Doc, ive broken my arm in two different places"
Doc says,  "Dont go to those places again"


A man goes to see his psychiatrist wearing nothing but cling film.
Shrink says (shrink, get it? - clingfilm?) "I can clearly see your nuts"


Ok, anyone want a cuppa? 

[Amy]

Not at all.
You said the mans wife thought he might have misheard. Thats followed by "Pardon"

[northern installer]

Pity it cant be utilised for 'sponging off the state',
'over enthusiastic breeding while on benefits' or other,more useful things......

 Hmmm... Having spent time on Jobseekers, also a considerable time on Incapacity Benefit... I'm getting a little tiered of the constant references to  'sponging off the state'.

 I do agree with the "over enthusiastic breeding" point though I wouldn't just apply it to the group I seem to fit into. (I have no children through choice). I think you may need to look to other groups, religious & social for that also...

 Maybe we should also be including all those people who receive "Child benefit" & "Family Tax Credit" in this category too, even if they do use the lame excuse it's not for me it's for the family/children...! Also have to include anybody who has or who gets a grant from Local/National government... I know this doesn't really apply so much now, but wile I was waiting on Incapacity Benefit for my hip replacement, I suffered a tirade of vitriol from a local farmer about being a "Sponger"... Turned out he was getting far more in "Farmers Benefit" (subsidies & set aside..etc) & was far better off than me just as a result...

 I accept that there are a few who exploit the benefits system, although it does seem that the tabloids blow it out of all proportion & if it's done legally why shouldn't they... It only falls into the same category as Tax Avoidance...

 I did voluntary work for CAB wile awaiting surgery & from that perspective I can say that the majority of benefit claimants are in that position because they are not able to work... Yes some will not work because they are more financial secure on benefits... but if in their position I guarantee 99% of people would do the same...

 So can we stop perpetuating the old "On Benefits = Sponger" myth as proposed by the predominantly capitalist tabloid press... & recognise it is not those at the bottom of societies pile that need kicking it's the thugs, extortionists, & financial Bully Boys in suits who are to blame for the woes we find ourselves in....

 
steve,if you took that personally,my sincere apologies,however if you are genuinly entitled to benefit,you are not a 'sponger',my comment is directed to the number of people for whom this system has become an alternative to work rather than a necessity.

[SteveH]

steve,if you took that personally,my sincere apologies,however if you are genuinly entitled to benefit,you are not a 'sponger',my comment is directed to the number of people for whom this system has become an alternative to work rather than a necessity.

 Not really personally NI... Just plucked at a couple of old wounds & it just seems like a bit of a "Red Herring". As I said ,I don't condone benefit fraud, or any other form of fraud... It all looks to me so disproportionate when there's all this media coverage of benefit cheats & a general stigma cast on those accepting just a few of the "Safety Net" benefits... It's just a Smoke Screen...

 The real enemies of society get away with economic slavery & worse... In my humble opinion, they are the true exploiters... There doesn't seem to be anybody chasing them or puttin public information films out about their selfish activity against the rest of us... But then they can just Bully, Bye Off, or have disappear their problems...

 I suppose I should have done some home work... but I bet there is an order of magnitude or two's worth of difference between corporate fraud & benefit fraud...

 Not a personal dig at you NI... Just having one of those Victor Meldrew moments....

[Ivan]

I think the issue is that there are certainly some 'spongers off the state' but that not all people on benefits fall into this category. When I grew up, young girls with no career opportunity ahead of them would deliberately become single mothers (this is what they told me)...I hasten to add that I was not involved! The reason being - they would automatically get a good council house, no rent, reasonable benefits by virtue of single parent family status, and, get this, £500 (which was a lot in those days) to spend on hifi, VCR and childrens videos! It secured their financial future in an uncertain world. Although I agree that people in hardship should be helped, it should never be to the extent that 1)hardworking people have to suffer due to funding the population that doesn't work 2)The benefit shouldn't be high enough that it is a deterrent to finding work (which in many cases it still is today).

I agree that family tax credit and working tax credit are ludicrous. Households with under £60k income qualify. I've never seen a £60k income as being in the poverty band! Very politically incorrect, but surely having children is for most people a lifestyle choice. Whereas low earners/non earners should receive some benefit, isn't it wrong to provide financial benefit for having children in an era when overpopulation is a major problem. The financial benefits of having say 3 or 4 children can be very significant.

On an unrelated issue, what is that blue tree in SteveH's avatar? I've seen three like that just outside Monmouth (blue, yellow, red)