[Politics] When did this country become so cruel?

[dazzer6666]

but would wealthy british philanthropists banish poverty like they have in the states tho?

there maybe a flaw in your plan

Banished in the US apart from the 38 million living in poverty……..

37.9 million Americans are living in poverty, according to the U.S. Census. But the problem could be far worse.

The official poverty measure in the U.S. is based on calculations from the mid-1960s.

www.cnbc.com

 

[rogersix]

Banished in the US apart from the 38 million living in poverty……..

37.9 million Americans are living in poverty, according to the U.S. Census. But the problem could be far worse.

The official poverty measure in the U.S. is based on calculations from the mid-1960s.

www.cnbc.com

indeed, that will be news for some!

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Well, yes that was what I was saying but not what some of the early posters were saying.


Purely accidental, but I’ll be having a listen now. I suppose the real question is “would @HWT approve?”

Flux of pink indians?

They rank towards the middle of my list of favourite bands with 'pink' in their name


Pink turns blue
Kissing the pink
Pink military
FOPI
Pink Industry
Pink Floyd

Obviously 'Pink' didn't chart

 

[chickens]

41% of UC claimants are in employment

Universal Credit statistics, 29 April 2013 to 14 July 2022

www.gov.uk

Seems a strange generalisation
Low income does not equal eligible to entitlement to be in receipt of the benefit.
Each persons entitlement is is determined by individual circumstances.
A single person in full time work for example with no kids and no rent (maybe lives with parents, owns their own home) is not going to get anything as their income will exceed their entitlement

My understanding was that after these most recent rises the “AO” pay grades would fall into the category of being eligible for Universal Credit.

Having now looked at it myself, it seems more likely that it will only apply to those subject to “market rate” rent. Those whose rent is local authority subsidised, live with parents, or live in the very cheapest bits of England wouldn’t necessarily qualify.

 

[Louis MacNeice]

Just for clarity Thatcher and Thatcherism were not anti- state. In fact both were and are very pro a certain sort of very strong, active and interventionist state.

Cheers - Louis MacNeice

 

[pastafarian]

My understanding was that after these most recent rises the “AO” pay grades would fall into the category of being eligible for Universal Credit.

Having now looked at it myself, it seems more likely that it will only apply to those subject to “market rate” rent. Those whose rent is local authority subsidised, live with parents, or live in the very cheapest bits of England wouldn’t necessarily qualify.

Too many variables to say all "AO grades would be eligible",
The AO grade may also not be single and may be part of a couple where both partners work and the joint income taken into account may exceed any entitlement even if they have rent and children.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Back on track

There was an update on Twitter this afternoon.

 

[dsr-burnley]

Yes, the country has fallen to its knees. An absolutely grim place now.

I think it is because a lot of people have very little money these days, and this puts them in a perpetual bad mood - which then results in cruel, selfish actions and opinions.

If that's the case, then surely virtually every other era in this country would have been far more cruel and selfish? People had far less money and possessions in every era pre-Thatcher, at least.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

did you see the wealthy philanthropists with your own eyes?

No, I told you. I have seen debates. Where are you going with this ? America is a country of wealth extremes. Parts of it are equivalent to developing countries. Many reasons for this and amongst them is a belief in Thatcher like low taxation in many states. I have made it very clear in previous posts that I was describing rather than supporting these facts so your interventions and lack of ability to process have been a little odd to say the least.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

If that's the case, then surely virtually every other era in this country would have been far more cruel and selfish? People had far less money and possessions in every era pre-Thatcher, at least.

Far less money, but the relative cost of living was far less too.

I don’t think people have become more cruel, as human nature doesn’t change. Now, due to social media, we hear and see what’s going on, rather than just the local gossip, or newspaper versions of regional gossip.
Also, the notoriety of misdeeds being broadcast does encourage the more brain dead to seek publicity.

 

[Lenny Rider]

Banished in the US apart from the 38 million living in poverty……..

37.9 million Americans are living in poverty, according to the U.S. Census. But the problem could be far worse.

The official poverty measure in the U.S. is based on calculations from the mid-1960s.

www.cnbc.com

What is the definition of poverty?

Without reeling out the Four Yorkshiremen sketch, what does it actually mean?

A couple of years ago I went to see some people, I hasten to add good honest folk in part time work, who had the majority of their funeral bill paid for by the DWP, they had a nicely furnished flat, iPhones and ran a car, at no point did I see anyone without shoes, scruffy clothes, scabies etc.


Is there an actual poverty line in UK, that anyone below a certain level of income is classed as in the poverty trap?

Do some politicians use the word poverty as an emotive vote catcher?

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

What is the definition of poverty?

Without reeling out the Four Yorkshiremen sketch, what does it actually mean?

A couple of years ago I went to see some people, I hasten to add good honest folk in part time work, who had the majority of their funeral bill paid for by the DWP, they had a nicely furnished flat, iPhones and ran a car, at no point did I see anyone without shoes, scruffy clothes, scabies etc.


Is there an actual poverty line in UK, that anyone below a certain level of income is classed as in the poverty trap?

Do some politicians use the word poverty as an emotive vote catcher?

household income less than 60% of the median income is what I believe the government use ……..which seems to be 19800 a year.

 

[cheshunt seagull]

We have always had politicians on the right that encouraged indifference towards poverty but over the last 7 years we have seen people rise to high office who don't think twice about encouraging sadism and cruelty against specified and always vulnerable scapegoats. Also social media has enabled people to find content to legitimise these feelings and claim that they are the voice of a silent majority. It isn't unique to us and can be found in any of the countries with populist governments or with strong populist movements. What may be unique to us is the ease with which some people are prepared to swallow what they are told by people from a certain class. So, there is a lot of toxic stuff in the air at the moment and in the months before the election, it is going to get worse.

 

[Hastings gull]

We have always had politicians on the right that encouraged indifference towards poverty but over the last 7 years we have seen people rise to high office who don't think twice about encouraging sadism and cruelty against specified and always vulnerable scapegoats. Also social media has enabled people to find content to legitimise these feelings and claim that they are the voice of a silent majority. It isn't unique to us and can be found in any of the countries with populist governments or with strong populist movements. What may be unique to us is the ease with which some people are prepared to swallow what they are told by people from a certain class. So, there is a lot of toxic stuff in the air at the moment and in the months before the election, it is going to get worse.

Fortunately we have you to put all these thick people on the straight and marrow

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Fortunately we have you to put all these thick people on the straight and marrow

Your sarcasm does you no credit.

Fortunately, there are a lot of caring people who have offered help and donations.

Harlow allotment owner Carly Burd 'gobsmacked' as donations top £190k

Celebrities and members of the public support Carly Burd whose charity allotment was covered in salt.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Hastings gull]

Your sarcasm does you no credit.

Fortunately, there are a lot of caring people who have offered help and donations.

Harlow allotment owner Carly Burd 'gobsmacked' as donations top £190k

Celebrities and members of the public support Carly Burd whose charity allotment was covered in salt.

www.bbc.co.uk

And nor does it the poster to whom I was responding, who showed the typical wokie feeling of moral superiority combined with arrogance to assume your view is superior to others. Would that also apply to you, I wonder?

 

[Thunder Bolt]

And nor does it the poster to whom I was responding, who showed the typical wokie feeling of moral superiority combined with arrogance to assume your view is superior to others. Would that also apply to you, I wonder?

Anyone who uses wokie as a weapon, isn’t worth my time debating with.
Have a good evening.

 

[Baldseagull]

If that's the case, then surely virtually every other era in this country would have been far more cruel and selfish? People had far less money and possessions in every era pre-Thatcher, at least.

If you were poor, you lived in a poor area and everyone around you was poor so you were all in it together, now you see much more how the other half lives and the difference between top and bottom is greater.

 

[Baldseagull]

What is the definition of poverty?

Without reeling out the Four Yorkshiremen sketch, what does it actually mean?

A couple of years ago I went to see some people, I hasten to add good honest folk in part time work, who had the majority of their funeral bill paid for by the DWP, they had a nicely furnished flat, iPhones and ran a car, at no point did I see anyone without shoes, scruffy clothes, scabies etc.


Is there an actual poverty line in UK, that anyone below a certain level of income is classed as in the poverty trap?

Do some politicians use the word poverty as an emotive vote catcher?

There is a flaw in the current definition used by Government, as it uses the median wage as the mark that you need to be x percentage below to be classed as in poverty. A couple of years ago the median wage figure fell, which statistically took thousands of people who were no better off, out of poverty.

 

[Hastings gull]

Anyone who uses wokie as a weapon, isn’t worth my time debating with.
Have a good evening.

Sadly, the same degree of arrogance and feeling of superiority