So the UN is warning the UK goverment......

[The Spanish]

That is almost identical to my bank statement for this month. Spooky.

hahaha

 

[Ali_rrr]

Ironic that the UN is warning the UK about food banks and yet they are happy to let the Syrians massacre each other.

Totally this.

 

[keaton]

This reminds of the recent study where people who were most angry about benefits knew the least about it

 

[Simster]

and the millions of average middle class people who have until recently been basically unnecessarily claiming child benefit simply because they feel 'well we have paid in and everyone else gets it', and 'i cant afford to pay for childcare' (you can you would just be worse off), a set of bizarre and utterly self absorbed attitudes.

You're mischievously opening up a can worms there. Should people claim a benefit just because they're entitled to do so, or should they only claim if they actually need it?

 

[pork pie]

Ironic that the UN is warning the UK about food banks and yet they are happy to let the Syrians massacre each other.

Indeed, and let Iran build nukes with every chance that their maniacs will actually use them.

 

[beorhthelm]

we should be ashamed that we allow this to happen

the Inde should be ashamed they run a story that has little historic context or mention of the european wide rise of food banks, focusing solely on the UK, and portraying this as benefits issue when the recipients are just as likly (or more?) to be the low paid, not on benefits.

 

[HovaGirl]

We should be ashamed that there is a need for food banks and that the number of people using them has risen by 200k in the last 2 years yes

Indeed, but Britain is slowly becoming a Third-World country of poverty and hunger because we simply don't have the resources to feed everyone living here.

 

[Camicus]

the Inde should be ashamed they run a story that has little historic context or mention of the european wide rise of food banks, focusing solely on the UK, and portraying this as benefits issue when the recipients are just as likly (or more?) to be the low paid, not on benefits.

That raises the question of WHY low paid jobs arnt paid well enough to feed yourself on........

 

[beorhthelm]

That raises the question of WHY low paid jobs arnt paid well enough to feed yourself on........

do you really want to confront that issue? because we have too large a population, with too many people undereducated (due in parts to the school system, social attitudes and general ability) to take valuable roles that justify higher wages. harsh but the reality. no doubt you'd have a different take on it, blaming employers. but this would ignore that many can feed themselves if it werent for so many other expenses, some imposed, some not. more worms out of the can.

 

[Rodney Thomas]

That raises the question of WHY low paid jobs arnt paid well enough to feed yourself on........

They probably are enough to feed yourself on, just not a whole family. Couples on low paid jobs these days are struggling the hardest with regards to food, let alone decent fruit and veg etc..

 

[The Spanish]

You're mischievously opening up a can worms there. Should people claim a benefit just because they're entitled to do so, or should they only claim if they actually need it?

only if they actually need it. next question.

the accepting of child benefit to supplement a sufficient income because its with in the rules and, well i paid in, and well, everyone else does it, is wrong but people generally can't resist. it should, however, totally invalidate any view you have on the welfare state or taxation, in a more sane world. i am f***ing glad its being reined for people who genuinely think they arent part of the problem.

 

[HovaGirl]

That raises the question of WHY low paid jobs arnt paid well enough to feed yourself on........

Because the costs of housing and utilities are too high. Or, conversely, if housing and utilities are not too high, then wages are too low. And that was why the minimum wage was brought in. Only some employers need or want lower outgoings so pay less than the minimum wage, for cash, to the happy Poles who send it all home to Poland.

 

[HovaGirl]

only if they actually need it. next question.

the accepting of child benefit to supplement a sufficient income because its with in the rules and, well i paid in, and well, everyone else does it, is wrong but people generally can't resist. it should, however, totally invalidate any view you have on the welfare state or taxation, in a more sane world. i am f***ing glad its being reined for people who genuinely think they arent part of the problem.

Child benefit (or Family Allowance) was originally conceived to help mothers care for their children, without having to ask or beg their husbands for money. Some of you may not believe it, but there was a time when many men brought home their wages and refused to give any of it to their wives and thus the mothers had nothing to feed or clothe their children with.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

If you want to "wonder" about social injustice, my suggestion would be to concentrate your efforts on the spongers in the aristocracy (especially royalty) and some others among the super rich who think nothing of avoiding their social responsibility by paying pitifully small amounts of tax.

Worse than the tax avoidance is the fact that the sponging classes egg on the government to continue to steer them clear of any meaningful taxation system.

And the fact that they also run their own freelance taxation and wealth re-distribution system - the one that ensures that consumers are overcharged for services, and the fat cats at the top have enough cash to award each other massive bonuses.

 

[The Spanish]

Child benefit (or Family Allowance) was originally conceived to help mothers care for their children, without having to ask or beg their husbands for money. Some of you may not believe it, but there was a time when many men brought home their wages and refused to give any of it to their wives and thus the mothers had nothing to feed or clothe their children with.

shoring up the case for it to be radically reformed by the second here hovagirl!

its like nails down a blackboard when i hear middle class two income people going on about their f***ing tax credits or child benefit and how they couldnt put the kids into childcare without it. its generally bollocks that means they couldnt go on holiday without it.

its always a demonised semi-mythical section of society like 'chavs', roma gypsies or bankers and the aristocracy that are causing all the problems, not mr and mrs average who would no more want to pay any more income tax than poke out their own eyes, and will ensure they get some free money if its going out of some twisted sense of entitlement as they have convinced themselves someon is stiffing them either above or below. its an attitude that saddens me, and is frustrating as its so entrenched and, well, basically mean spirited.

people are proud to say they have never claimed the dole but you never hear anyone say they are proud they have never taken tax credits.

 

[Jim D]

The number of food banks is about to increase quite significantly........

From April 1st the Govt have deployed to local councils a scheme known as 'The Social Fund', currently being run by the DWP. In short we are talking about £500m to be given out where applicants have a crisis, a bit more to it than that but that's the basis of it. I'm dealing with a number of Council's on this and the majority are setting up food banks & food voucher schemes, rather than just give some cash away, as the DWP currently do.

Sounds good - so we'll soon be sending thousands of JSA guys to get work experience by stacking slelves at the foodbank? It's a 'Win-Win' situation!

 

[The Large One]

Indeed, but Britain is slowly becoming a Third-World country of poverty and hunger because we simply don't have the resources to feed everyone living here.

Demonstrably untrue.

We waste one third of our food.

It's not a case of one-third of our country is starving.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

I wouldn't bother, the percentage is absolutely tiny. It really is true that some sections of the media wildly exaggerate these stories.

I live on the doorstep of a small town (Merstham) which according to a respected local charity, houses 10% of the Surrey's population in poverty and these food banks are essential. The problem is caused by drugs, such that kids don't get fed sufficiently because of the scale of benefits being used to feed drug user's habits. This is why food banks are so important.

If you want to "wonder" about social injustice, my suggestion would be to concentrate your efforts on the spongers in the aristocracy (especially royalty) and some others among the super rich who think nothing of avoiding their social responsibility by paying pitifully small amounts of tax.

Thanks for the lesson

 

[HovaGirl]

Demonstrably untrue.

We waste one third of our food.

It's not a case of one-third of our country is starving.

Those who can afford to waste their food, do. That happens even in the poorest countries in the world. Those who can't afford to buy any food, go to those who are willing to give it away. Perhaps we should insist that Mr and Mrs Smith of Acacia Gardens be forced to give their wasted food to the starving?

 

[The Large One]

Those who can afford to waste their food, do. That happens even in the poorest countries in the world. Those who can't afford to buy any food, go to those who are willing to give it away. Perhaps we should insist that Mr and Mrs Smith of Acacia Gardens be forced to give their wasted food to the starving?

Completely missing the point being made. By a long way.