Miscellaneous Forum

Give them a broom and a shovel, and a pair of wellies and set them to work in the flood hit areas! I know a couple like that, who are on benefits, and take holidays in Spain every year!

There are far too many people like that Sue and I think they are everywhere. The somehow think the government owes them a living. I wonder if they ever stop to think that is you and me who are supporting them.

To be like that Diane, I don't think they really care who it is that pays s long as it keeps falling out of the sky.

Until systems change there will always be slackers like this that we take care of. The government gets their money from taxes paid by people like us. Government rules and regulations need to be overhauled to fix these gaps. I could tell you plenty of stories about patients on welfare that my wife takes care of as a maternity nurse, but there is not enough room in this forum for that post.

For many people here being on benefits is in most ways far preferable to having a low-paid job. The government has to take some responsibility for this situation and until they do, people like your friend will continue to enjoy a world without work deadlines or taxes.

It's exactly the same here Katherine.

"The government has to take some responsibility for this situation" True oh so true under SOCIALISM. Otherwise, it is individual responsibility. :-(

Song, she totally rejects the *sheeple* mentality. She cannot follow the conforming path of get a job, pay taxes, pay your way.

So, IP are you saying that these feckless individuals will eventually be made to work?

Any time anything is offered to a large number of people, there will be a subset of those people who will seek to exploit that offering. I firmly believe that there should be a safety net of some kind, but I do not believe that a government has any obligation to support someone such as the person you know, someone who is deliberately exploiting the welfare system.

This particular individually posted on Facebook that they had deliberately spoiled the application forms in the effort to avoid employment.

May i say that i was brought up in Musselburgh in the 60's and remember visiting Penicuk often with my parents. I think we visited a tea room at a crossroads in the village, doubt if it's there any longer. I guess one's opinion regarding that particular person depends a lot on what type of person that you are. For instance if you do the same yourself you probably don't care, but if you are a hard working person who pay their taxes, you would probably object to those scroungers. Whether to report them or not is a different matter. I also have had financial assistance from the govt when i was young (when i needed it), and had friends who got the dole but were working illegally (at the time it didn't matter to me), but our views change as we get older and i have no toleration for the scroungers anymore. The country is in a bad shape at the moment, turn them in!

why not ship them off to the states where our current administration will welcome them with open arms, income, health care, housing, and of course directions to the voting booth.

oops..........Lew is at it again. Speaking the truth!!!! shame, shame....

Sue, you are in danger of upsetting some liberal minded VT'ers (LOL)

For our sins one of the unit owners in our building has sublet space to the Wesley Mission, a provider of "handouts" to those who ask. Such close exposure to their "clients" is a dangerous thing. The "clients" fall into three categories. The alcohol/drug/mental illness group. The "how did we ever arrive in this situation" group. And the largest,the working the system layabout group. The worst thing is this last group is so obvious to everybody but the charity doing the handing out.

>why not ship them off to the states where our current administration >will welcome them with open arms, income, health care, housing, and >of course directions to the voting booth. Or Australia where the boat people are thumbing their noses at the authorities and landing on our shores and taken to nice resort style accommodation in the tropics and offered a beer - all at tax payers expense. (yes I know I sound cynical - with good reason)

sadly, it is not the meek that shall inherit the earth. and so nice not to be alone here at vt for a change. drew - btw - missed you for a while.

I'm will Geoff, get them out working for minimum wage. If society supports you, then WORK for that support. Martin

I understand that benefits are needed when you life changes radically but misusing the benefit rises my blood pressure. One of my friends takes the benefits and works in their family business at the same time. Geting paid in cash of course. I've mentioned to him about how this kind of attitude is leading to these economical crises when both taxes and benefit money are lost. But I think that he and many others keeps doing this as long as benefit system is like it is now.

Hunger is a great motivator. When they are hungry, they will work. It will do them good and they will not starve, because then they will be motivated.

From what I can tell, the woman is more immoral than illegal so she likely won't end up paying back any money. I've always agreed that people should pay something back if they are able to but I remember having to help my mother in her last 6 months before her pension started and she hated having to attend job interviews that nowhere near matched her physical ability. My partner also had to deal with countless jobseekers that were sent for work experience in her charity shop. You could also argue that the state would be better off providing reasonably priced childcare for all rather that having a scheme that pays back tax up to £246 a month. This allowed me 6 days a month nursery for my son! All said and done, she should make an effort to work but there are barely enough staff to process the paperwork without actually caring about those who choose not to work.

Interesting replies. I was always taught that it is important to work and pay your way. I've always been self sufficient and don't owe any money on anything. To brazenly admit that you have no intention of getting a job sticks in my craw. I hope they get what they deserve.

As a lead on to this thread Sue and others, what is your opinion on those who accept age pensions when they reach retirement age? Are we milking the system (yes my wife and I are both 'old buggers' and get the pension)?

I'm about to get a pension myself! I saved up for a couple of private ones, there was a work related one but the state pension has been deferred for another 3 years, so I won't get everything I've worked for until I'm 63.

What do mean by "age pensions" David ?

Age pension is earned so relax and enjoy! I think that my generation can only dream about retirement at age of 63 :)

I doubt I will ever see any of the social security that I paid into.

I use to say that when my grandparents retired and then when my parents retired. But now that I'm getting close there still is some hope. But the whole system needs some huge fixes and changes.

Both my wife and I are over 65 and therefore qualify for the age pension, so both of us = age pensions. In fact we do not get the full pension, but most of it and have other funds to supplement the pension(s). In Australia just getting the pension either as a single or as a couple really does not provide enough income to live on. I believe France has a good system, but you have to pay for it over your working life.