Best to blame all those legally claiming benefits rather than the bankers who helped engineer the 2008 crash, who were also involved in the LIBOR scandal, also the PPI scandal, also 5 banks manipulating fx rates, also money laundering, also.......
Let's not forget that, after the 2008 crash, QE and extremely low (or negative) interest rates have enriched the very richest on the planet - share buy backs through cheap loans and taking toxic debt off the banks balance sheets.
I hear the average real (inflation adjusted) wages were 10% lower in 2016, in the UK, compared to 2008 and ~5 millions Americans lost their homes as a consequence of the crash.
Propaganda and social engineering are easy when you have compliant and malleable media.
@OP. Your neighbour sounds very dishonest. I would be tempted to ignore them as well. You can't get on with everybody - it's just a shame that it's your neighbour.
No - and I don't think anyone said that either....
I think this comes pretty close
most of them form a tight knit 'community' of scroungers relying on state handouts at taxpayers expense
People can be on benefits for all kinds of reasons. And dismissing them as 'scroungers' shows a certain mindset that isn't overly pleasant.
I'm on Universal Credit. Have been for two years.
I'm also part of the Community Gardening group set up by a local church. I've started a litter-picking group which is gradually attracting people. Next Thursday I'll be helping to plant the Christmas tree donated to the community by the Co-op.
But I'm on benefits so must be a scrounger, yes?
I wish I was a glow worm A glow worm's never glum Cos how can you be grumpy When the sun shines out your bum!
Having worked in DWP for a number of years prior to retirement I can confirm that there certainly is "a tight knit community of scroungers relying on state handouts", and they know the ins and outs of the systems far better than most staff.
I can also confirm that they are a very small minority of those claiming benefits.
We have been very fortunate with our neighbours and managing the boundaries. Both sets were here before we moved in 30 years ago. One, who sadly died a few years ago used to maintain the fence on his side, even coming into our garden (with our blessing) to treat 'our side'. I offered to do it but he said it was his responsibility!
On the other side, the neighbour started painting his side of the fence (our responsibility) without even saying anything to me. In theory he shouldn't have touched it without permission but I don't have a problem with him doing it. When I said I had bought fence treatment he offered to do the whole fence as he had a sprayer. We went on holiday, and when we came back he apologised for only doing 3 panels as the stuff I had wasn't suitable for spraying. He'd done both sides of the panels by hand. He's nearer 80 than 70 too! Complex guy as he's the one who has allowed the bottom half of his garden to become totally overgrown, but does something like that to help. Nowt so strange as folk, as they say.
That's the thing, @KT53, In any section of society there are some (usually a minority) that will game the system.
Besides some bankers that have fraudulently gamed the system, I could have pointed to the large multi-nationals that pay little to no tax (on both sides of the pond) in a particular tax jurisdiction (legally allowed: yes - but morally honourable ?). Off shore tax havens as well ?
It's easy to point to those on benefits as 'a problem' but that money does get recirculated in any claimants local economy. It does also stop us 'rolling back' to Victorian age social policies.
Interestingly the low interest rates since 2008, along with the higher rate of inflation over that period, has eaten away at many cash savers nest eggs, if what i have read is to be believed.
Please don't get me wrong here ; I did NOT say that everyone on benefits are scumbags ;many are genuine and many are certainly not !
Five houses from mine are a typical 'scumbag' family ; the alpha male appears periodically at the front of his house on two walking sticks , apparently holding on for dear life to the 'housing association fitted)' rails for his 'safety' . Visible you see to the inevitable watchers on the street .
The next day he's up the garden hidden behind some strategically placed evergreens , manually carrying heavy logs and sawing them up with a bowsaw ! A few weeks ago he spent many days laying down a brick path ; not bad for someone so 'incapacitated'!!
The whole family have never , or ever had any intention to work for a living ! Their two teeenage rejects are already claiming ; bad backs apparently (!!!!!)
Apparently alpha male was kicked on the shin by a four-year old many moons ago and has claimed invalidity benefit ever since .
To rub everyones noses in it , the state supply them with an 18-plate car for good measure !!!!
I work bloody hard in partnership maintaining gardens of all sizes , and you may imagine how it really pisses me off , after sweating in the sun on a hot day , to get home in the evening and find the aforementioned enjoying a barbecue in their scrapyard of a garden .
I get that you would be pissed off about that family. But they aren't selfish scumbags because they are on benefits. They would still be selfish scumbags if they were born rich. So I would appreciate you not tarring the rest of people on benefits, including me, with the same dirty brush.
I wish I was a glow worm A glow worm's never glum Cos how can you be grumpy When the sun shines out your bum!
Posts
most of them form a tight knit 'community' of scroungers relying on state handouts at taxpayers expense
People can be on benefits for all kinds of reasons. And dismissing them as 'scroungers' shows a certain mindset that isn't overly pleasant.
I'm on Universal Credit. Have been for two years.
I'm also part of the Community Gardening group set up by a local church. I've started a litter-picking group which is gradually attracting people. Next Thursday I'll be helping to plant the Christmas tree donated to the community by the Co-op.
But I'm on benefits so must be a scrounger, yes?
A glow worm's never glum
Cos how can you be grumpy
When the sun shines out your bum!
I get that you would be pissed off about that family. But they aren't selfish scumbags because they are on benefits. They would still be selfish scumbags if they were born rich. So I would appreciate you not tarring the rest of people on benefits, including me, with the same dirty brush.
A glow worm's never glum
Cos how can you be grumpy
When the sun shines out your bum!
Ok, obviously this is pointless. Enjoy work tomorrow. I'm sure that moral righteousness will keep you nice and warm.
A glow worm's never glum
Cos how can you be grumpy
When the sun shines out your bum!