Baron von Annabella wrote:
The Great BrownDuck wrote:
Allegory wrote:
I don't understand why people like to pretend so many of those on welfare are abusing it.
It's not pretend. Try living in a welfare neighborhood for one year, see how you come out feeling about it.
And it's this mentality. I get tired of when I don't hate and resent people on welfare there is this type of accusation. I agree with Allegory and I lived in a welfare neighborhood for 17 years and I worked hard and got a full scholarship to college. Part of the reason I went into social work is trying to give back on some symbolic level to my neighborhood.
Annabella,
Its a little different in England. I am from a working class family and in the area I grew up there were people who's entire aim in life was to live off the state. They would become pregnant to gain a council flat and fleece the state for every penny, wasting it on goods and services they did not need that gained them nothing of value in life.
There is also a known issue with people being trapped in a poverty trap. Once in it, it is hard to leave. There are known case studies where single parents (mainly mothers) have been trapped in the situation of being better off being on income support than working. By not working and living on the state, council tax and other bills are covered. The moment they start work, that means trying to pay bills and childcare on minimum wage with more additional bills! Insanity! There is no motivation to even try to return to work unless you earn a particular salary and that is not always possible.
So there are two issues. One is the sub culture of those who have only known living off the state. The other are those who are unfortunate enough to find themselves in the position of having to live off the state as they gain too little support to return to full time work.
My perspective is that for those that wish to work, we should give financial aid to make work PAY and not penalise them in suddenly asking for all tax bills to be paid. Someone not claiming benefit and working in a part time job is better for their long term employability and also for the state (even if they do not pay some taxes). I have so much time and gladly pay my taxes for people who try to work.
Benefits do not stop in England. We have too many people now on "disability" benefit when the real disability is just being unwilling to work. The problem with "disability" is that once on that kind of benefit an employer will be loathe to employ you.
I have no time for those who do never seek to work who could work. They should not be entitled to my tax pounds
I know you probably think I am very right wing and a Thatcher child but I am actually a socialist at heart. I just do not beleive that people should be allowed to abuse a safety net put there for people in need, not those who are workshy. The more people abusing those benefits will mean less money available for those who truly need it