To quote Michael Parenti - ' the wealth of the few relies on the poverty of the many'
Ppl on jobseeker's allowance are expected to find a certain amount of jobs every week and apply for them, taking a large chunk off their ÂĢ71.70 - less below aged 25 (the amount the Government deems ppl to live on). In addition they have to visit their jobcentre which invariably involves bus/train fares, another reduction from the basic living. Just two points which are very demoralising. There are many more.
Originally Posted by Dame_Ann_Average:
Originally Posted by Scotty:
I didn`t watch the programme but I read a lot about it. I`m in agreement with the Carnelian and Dame.
He`s OTT but I also agree with a lot of what this guy has to say. There was an agenda behind Benefit Street. Warning: cursing galore!
I agree with loads of his rants, just wish he would try and put his point across without the shouting Scotty 
He also did one about my cousins foster son, who died in prison whilst being on remand for pinching a cake fromGreggs in the London riots...
Omg, I`m so sorry to hear this Dame
I`ll have a look at what Mark has to say about it.
Even although his rants are shouty, he makes an impact. The comments on his videos show this.
Originally Posted by Scotty:
Omg, I`m so sorry to hear this Dame
I`ll have a look at what Mark has to say about it.
Even although his rants are shouty, he makes an impact. The comments on his videos show this.
this is the story Scotty, I can't find the rant The judge found everyone involved incompetent at the inquest last year. I'm really proud of my cousin, she went to meet the prison secretary the other week in the Houses of Parliament and gave him a piece of her mind too 
http://www.theguardian.com/soc...r-jailed-gingerbread
Sorry for hijacking your thread Pirate... 
Originally Posted by jacksonb:
Originally Posted by Ells:
I got distracted and didn't finish my post.....
I live in an area full of people on benefits. Kids dressed nice, homes and gardens kept nice and people generally don't sit drinking lager all day. I think channel 4 picked that street because it was one of the more shocking estate areas. Not everyone on benefits sits around all down downing beer and not wearing a bra.
I gave up wearing a bra a decade ago and have never claimed benefits....
I think the trouble with discussions like this is that the discussion tends to get very polarised ....when the truth is that not everyone on benefits is a scrounger , but similarly not everyone on benefits is deserving . The thread was primarily about the programme , and IMO most of those depicted were scroungers...
Originally Posted by Dame_Ann_Average:
Originally Posted by Scotty:
Omg, I`m so sorry to hear this Dame
I`ll have a look at what Mark has to say about it.
Even although his rants are shouty, he makes an impact. The comments on his videos show this.
this is the story Scotty, I can't find the rant The judge found everyone involved incompetent at the inquest last year. I'm really proud of my cousin, she went to meet the prison secretary the other week in the Houses of Parliament and gave him a piece of her mind too
http://www.theguardian.com/soc...r-jailed-gingerbread
Sorry for hijacking your thread Pirate...
PM`d
Originally Posted by Baz:
I think the trouble with discussions like this is that the discussion tends to get very polarised ....when the truth is that not everyone on benefits is a scrounger , but similarly not everyone on benefits is deserving . The thread was primarily about the programme , and IMO most of those depicted were scroungers...
Great point Baz and very true.
The programme purposely highlighted this kind of street where most of them ARE scroungers and just don't want to work when the truth is there are loads of people on benefits who need them, who use them properly and who don't live like the people in this programme.
Another thing I strongly object to is the latest habit of calling benefits handouts. This kind of language will establish itself in ppl's psyche as a generous Government giving something away, rather than a genuine entitlement to the unemployed/incapacitated.
All joking aside..... Those of us who read regularly the first couple of pages in Private Eye realise that in economic terms it doesn't really matter. The main current issue is whether the government can get the tax cash in.
oh sh!t
i really do start stooopid threads
i had a schooner of sherry
Originally Posted by cologne 1:
Another thing I strongly object to is the latest habit of calling benefits handouts. This kind of language will establish itself in ppl's psyche as a generous Government giving something away, rather than a genuine entitlement to the unemployed/incapacitated.
The biggest beneficiaries of gov. handouts are big business, what gets paid out in benefits, all added together are chicken feed compared to the amount of our money handed out to huge multinationals, they get tax breaks, interest free loans, grants,and cheap labour thanks to us picking up the bill in the form of tax credits.
I won't mention the gov. contracts handed out to incompetents by incmpetents.
Originally Posted by jacksonb:
Originally Posted by cologne 1:
Another thing I strongly object to is the latest habit of calling benefits handouts. This kind of language will establish itself in ppl's psyche as a generous Government giving something away, rather than a genuine entitlement to the unemployed/incapacitated.
The biggest beneficiaries of gov. handouts are big business, what gets paid out in benefits, all added together are chicken feed compared to the amount of our money handed out to huge multinationals, they get tax breaks, interest free loans, grants,and cheap labour thanks to us picking up the bill in the form of tax credits.
I won't mention the gov. contracts handed out to incompetents by incmpetents.
I agree, but I don't know how many ppl have enough knowledge of this to make the desired impact whereas giving a broadside to imagined scroungers seems an easy target. (I'm not talking about Benefit Street, I didn't watch it mainly because I don't believe it would get an accurate edit).
The 'phonelines at 5live are running hot with ppl who have stories of inadequate jobcentre personnel. Maybe the Bishops have got the ball rolling after all. 
Two disgraceful court rulings re. bedroom tax today.
Originally Posted by cologne 1:
The 'phonelines at 5live are running hot with ppl who have stories of inadequate jobcentre personnel. Maybe the Bishops have got the ball rolling after all.
I've got knowledge of that....working with the unemployed as I do. (I work for a private company alongside the DWP) rather than for JCP itself
...and ATOS is weaseling out because they know how totally and utterly inadequate they are.
Originally Posted by cologne 1:
...and ATOS is weaseling out because they know how totally and utterly inadequate they are.
Yeah, I posted a link to that in another fred . They're getting abuse doncha know 
Originally Posted by Sprout:
Originally Posted by cologne 1:
The 'phonelines at 5live are running hot with ppl who have stories of inadequate jobcentre personnel. Maybe the Bishops have got the ball rolling after all.
I've got knowledge of that....working with the unemployed as I do. (I work for a private company alongside the DWP) rather than for JCP itself
Is it A4E? Just curious.
Originally Posted by Sprout:
Originally Posted by cologne 1:
...and ATOS is weaseling out because they know how totally and utterly inadequate they are.
Yeah, I posted a link to that in another fred . They're getting abuse doncha know
They have given it for years.
Originally Posted by cologne 1:
Originally Posted by Sprout:
Originally Posted by cologne 1:
The 'phonelines at 5live are running hot with ppl who have stories of inadequate jobcentre personnel. Maybe the Bishops have got the ball rolling after all.
I've got knowledge of that....working with the unemployed as I do. (I work for a private company alongside the DWP) rather than for JCP itself
Is it A4E? Just curious.
No, not gonna name it (You never know who's watching and all that) but it isn't A4E......it's a private company 
Originally Posted by Sprout:
Originally Posted by cologne 1:
Originally Posted by Sprout:
Originally Posted by cologne 1:
The 'phonelines at 5live are running hot with ppl who have stories of inadequate jobcentre personnel. Maybe the Bishops have got the ball rolling after all.
I've got knowledge of that....working with the unemployed as I do. (I work for a private company alongside the DWP) rather than for JCP itself
Is it A4E? Just curious.
No, not gonna name it (You never know who's watching and all that) but it isn't A4E......it's a private company
Fair enough.
