Child benefit cuts

10 Jan 2013

Quote by Too Hot
I always wonder why people that scream so loudly about how easy it is to live on benefits and how hard it is to make a living wage don't just join the gravy train and sign on.

Because as I suspect...things are never quite as they seem.
But then again I am obviously one of those lazy sods who sits on my arse all day raking in the benefits. :doh: so what the feck do I know?
Start your own business if you have time on your hands... Your potential is only limited by your own imagination. I started a new business at 50 years old - best thing I ever did and earned more in the last two months of last year than in a whole year in my previous job.
Can't wait to pay my Corporation Tax and bank the dividend ... lol
Well if Comet or Jessops are anything to go by, I think I would rather work for someone than to take what would be a huge gamble in today's current meltdown.
Watch the high street collapse over the next two years, is the gloomy forecast being put about. Starting a new business in this current climate, is sensible because?
I am not going to take the gamble with my house on raising capital to fund a new business and the banks sure ain't going to lend me any money. To start a business you invariably need some form of capital and a damn good business plan if you want to survive what is without a doubt, the worst time to start a new business in over 50 years.

10 Jan 2013

I'd agree flower.
In the last recession, we made fortunes from businesses who were downsizing their staff compliment and using businesses to fill the gap as they could drop them quickly if the need arose. :thumbup:

10 Jan 2013

Quote by flower411
I always wonder why people that scream so loudly about how easy it is to live on benefits and how hard it is to make a living wage don't just join the gravy train and sign on.

Because as I suspect...things are never quite as they seem.
But then again I am obviously one of those lazy sods who sits on my arse all day raking in the benefits. :doh: so what the feck do I know?
Start your own business if you have time on your hands... Your potential is only limited by your own imagination. I started a new business at 50 years old - best thing I ever did and earned more in the last two months of last year than in a whole year in my previous job.
Can't wait to pay my Corporation Tax and bank the dividend ... lol
Well if Comet or Jessops are anything to go by, I think I would rather work for someone than to take what would be a huge gamble in today's current meltdown.
Watch the high street collapse over the next two years, is the gloomy forecast being put about. Starting a new business in this current climate, is sensible because?
I am not going to take the gamble with my house on raising capital to fund a new business and the banks sure ain't going to lend me any money. To start a business you invariably need some form of capital and a damn good business plan if you want to survive what is without a doubt, the worst time to start a new business in over 50 years.
Personally, I`d say that the middle of a recession is a perfect time to start a business :thumbup:
Absolutely it is the right time. But if your imagination is limited to opening a High Street shop then maybe it will never be the right time. If you are a mature person why not take a counselling course or life coaching and set yourself up as a therapist and add more skills as you go along? I know a woman who was a civil servant, took early retirement and now does councilling and various other therapies and manages her life wonderfully. She could never have done it without earning her grey hairs and so age is certainly not a barrier.

10 Jan 2013

Mere words, whilst reality is so different.

11 Jan 2013

Quote by starlightcouple
Mere words, whilst reality is so different.

Our personal realities are a direct consequence of our own action or inaction. You and only you have the ability to make changes to your life. As long as you maintain the negative attitude that everything is bad and will only get better with a different government nothing at all will change.
You appear to be an unwilling example of Darwins theory of survival but who has found themselves in a position of needing to change at an age when we humans are most resistant to change.
It is not the strongest who survive but those who are most able to cope with change.
The world that we live in will never be the same again Star, UKIP, Labour and the Tories can't change the fundamentals of the world economy. We have to change the way we think about work, money and living.

11 Jan 2013

Quote by Too Hot
Mere words, whilst reality is so different.

Our personal realities are a direct consequence of our own action or inaction. You and only you have the ability to make changes to your life. As long as you maintain the negative attitude that everything is bad and will only get better with a different government nothing at all will change.
You appear to be an unwilling example of Darwins theory of survival but who has found themselves in a position of needing to change at an age when we humans are most resistant to change.
It is not the strongest who survive but those who are most able to cope with change.
The world that we live in will never be the same again Star, UKIP, Labour and the Tories can't change the fundamentals of the world economy. We have to change the way we think about work, money and living.
Comes from a man who has obviously never made mistakes in his life, and preaches the wise words. rolleyes

You have this lopsided notion that everyone comes from the same mold, and that people's opportunities are completely down to them. Those opportunities that were so readily available as little as 5 years ago, are almost non existent nowadays. The fundamentals of business used to be having a good bank on your side, where now those same banks will not lend to small businesses, and certainly not to new businesses. Do you not read the papers?
We are slightly moving away from the crux here of how tyracer sees all the jobless lazy sods. I have paid my taxes over many years and when I need a little help, I am classed as another ' scrounger ' asking free handouts from the poor taxpayer. The experts reckon that the majority of people are only a maximum of 5 pay packets away from financial disaster, if they were to lose all their incoming money. So the people who slag off all jobless people, I hope they never find themselves in that situation where people class then as layabouts, and then get preached too by the clever ones amongst us.
No job is safe out there and a huge selection of small businesses are on the brink of collapse, and so why would anyone want to attempt that now? At least I have my house which luckily is now paid for, as otherwise we would be in trouble, and I am not going to risk that asset on the luck of starting a new business thank you very much.I shall continue to be a lazy sod and a scrounger.

11 Jan 2013

It seems to me Star that you have very much enlightened us in this little exchange.
(From a previous thread)...You intend to vote UKIP in order to stop Eastern Europeans coming to this country and stealing all the jobs and opportunities. Yet from this thread you are not prepared to do yourself what the Eastern Europeans are doing and that is taking any job available, working hard and striving to better yourself.
And yes I do happen to believe that we all have the same opportunities in life, they just come at us in different ways. Some choose to stay safe and others choose to take advantage of opportunities. I think that you probably represent a big chunk of our society in your view that all of these problems are down to this or that government or bankers or whoever. Whilst that may be true ...so what? Life goes on an through good times and bad times the people who take personal responsibility just get on with it. Child benefit gets cut - tough, pensions get cut - tough, welfare gets cut - tough.
Life goes on and we will all be replaced by those hungrier, leaner and meaner. Not nice I agree, but a fact of evolution.

11 Jan 2013

Quote by flower411
In view of the task I`m about to take on, I do wish I was a bit leaner !
But two out of three ain`t bad

So there's no truth in the rumour that you are the new fat controller then :lol2:

11 Jan 2013

Quote by Too Hot
It seems to me Star that you have very much enlightened us in this little exchange.
(From a previous thread)...You intend to vote UKIP in order to stop Eastern Europeans coming to this country and stealing all the jobs and opportunities. Yet from this thread you are not prepared to do yourself what the Eastern Europeans are doing and that is taking any job available, working hard and striving to better yourself.

No I am probably going to vote UKIP because the other two ain't worth a wank, and the most important thing for me is to get out of Europe. Did I actually say all of those things? If the jobs were not all going to immigrant workers, who said ' British jobs for British workers '? Oh yes it was at the time a certain Prime Minister in Gordon Brown. Why do you think he said that Too Hot? It was not because immigrant workers were actually nicking all the jobs do you? I mean 20 Polish people living in three rooms and sharing the rent and reducing their outgoings so as to be able to live on £5 an hour which is what many employers were paying, I mean British workers with families could afford to compete in that market I suppose? What a ridiculous analogy but not so when you do not know anything about the real facts of these issues.

Quote by Too Hot
And yes I do happen to believe that we all have the same opportunities in life, they just come at us in different ways.

Sorry what a load of old twaddle. In life and to succeed you need two important elements. The first one is a fucking lot of luck, coupled with number two which is hard work. Many people have the hard work ethics, but lack that most important trait of luck. If you believe you can get to be successful without both, then you are deluded my friend.

Quote by Too Hot
Life goes on and we will all be replaced by those hungrier, leaner and meaner. Not nice I agree, but a fact of evolution.

Do you really believe even half of what you write? No we get replaced as a natural cycle of those more luckier or work harder. No evolution there, but a pure fact of life.
Still what does a lazy git like me know eh?

11 Jan 2013

Quote by starlightcouple
sometimes i wish i was able to give birth to kids.
then i could live off the state, get a council house, get fat watching daytime tv slagging of men with jeremy kyle.
and not have to work either.

Really? Who does this exactly? Not the Sun or Daily Mail telling these right wing fairy tale stories is it? Have you got an ounce of evidence that supports your ' claims ' at all?
Come and have a drive down my street.....It's littered with them....
In fact the whole estate is pretty much the same....

11 Jan 2013

Quote by GnV
I always wonder why people that scream so loudly about how easy it is to live on benefits and how hard it is to make a living wage don't just join the gravy train and sign on.

Because you can only go so low dunno

Because as a British single male I am entitled to feck all...

11 Jan 2013

Quote by Steve
sometimes i wish i was able to give birth to kids.
then i could live off the state, get a council house, get fat watching daytime tv slagging of men with jeremy kyle.
and not have to work either.

Really? Who does this exactly? Not the Sun or Daily Mail telling these right wing fairy tale stories is it? Have you got an ounce of evidence that supports your ' claims ' at all?
Come and have a drive down my street.....It's littered with them....
In fact the whole estate is pretty much the same....
Are you privy Steve to these people's personnel circumstances? Do you know how much or what benefits they get? It is well documented on here by you, your anger at the way you have been treated by the benefit system.
Has the fact you see others ' allegedly ' getting away with things that you could not, have anything at all to do with your obvious anger at your own treatment in your above comment?

11 Jan 2013

Quote by starlightcouple
sometimes i wish i was able to give birth to kids.
then i could live off the state, get a council house, get fat watching daytime tv slagging of men with jeremy kyle.
and not have to work either.

Really? Who does this exactly? Not the Sun or Daily Mail telling these right wing fairy tale stories is it? Have you got an ounce of evidence that supports your ' claims ' at all?
Come and have a drive down my street.....It's littered with them....
In fact the whole estate is pretty much the same....
Are you privy Steve to these people's personnel circumstances? Do you know how much or what benefits they get? It is well documented on here by you, your anger at the way you have been treated by the benefit system.
Has the fact you see others ' allegedly ' getting away with things that you could not, have anything at all to do with your obvious anger at your own treatment in your above comment?
You've always got to try and find some kind of "get out clause" haven't you...
Instead of just accepting that sometimes what people say is actually right and that you are wrong...
I can drive up the street at any time of day and see plenty of them stood in their front gardens or leaning against someones fence or car drinking cans of beer,chatting away merrily...
Do they all work flexi time ?
Do they all work from home and just happen to be taking a 5 minute break the same time as I drive up the street ?
I somehow doubt it....
Oh....And unlike some here I don't let my disappointment with the way my country treats me in preference to others detract from the facts as they are....

11 Jan 2013

You make your own luck in life Star - it tends to come along when you are not wasting your life away blaming everyone else for your standing in society.
Your analogies of Polish workers 6 to a room are nothing like the realities of immigrants that I know. In fact what it does remind me of is the time that I was working in Spain in my 20's and sharing accomodation with similar people.
If you allow yourself to be satisfied with poor pay, long hours and a miserable existence then don't be surprised if that is how life turns out. Every single immigrant that I know works really hard and sees this country as an opportunity - why can't native Brits have the same attitude?
In the last few years our friends here around Manchester have opened businesses as a Plumber (1), cafe (2), contract cleaning company (1), Polish deli (1). These are people who arrived here and took minimum wage jobs but were determined to get on in life and how they have. They are a credit to the human race and it makes me so angry to hear the pitiful wailings of hard done by Brits who avoid work in case it affects their benefits.

11 Jan 2013

Quote by Steve
sometimes i wish i was able to give birth to kids.
then i could live off the state, get a council house, get fat watching daytime tv slagging of men with jeremy kyle.
and not have to work either.

Really? Who does this exactly? Not the Sun or Daily Mail telling these right wing fairy tale stories is it? Have you got an ounce of evidence that supports your ' claims ' at all?
Come and have a drive down my street.....It's littered with them....
In fact the whole estate is pretty much the same....
Are you privy Steve to these people's personnel circumstances? Do you know how much or what benefits they get? It is well documented on here by you, your anger at the way you have been treated by the benefit system.
Has the fact you see others ' allegedly ' getting away with things that you could not, have anything at all to do with your obvious anger at your own treatment in your above comment?
You've always got to try and find some kind of "get out clause" haven't you...
Instead of just accepting that sometimes what people say is actually right and that you are wrong...
I can drive up the street at any time of day and see plenty of them stood in their front gardens or leaning against someones fence or car drinking cans of beer,chatting away merrily...
Do they all work flexi time ?
Do they all work from home and just happen to be taking a 5 minute break the same time as I drive up the street ?
I somehow doubt it....
Oh....And unlike some here I don't let my disappointment with the way my country treats me in preference to others detract from the facts as they are....
The whole problem with the benefits culture is that it has become a way of life. My ex wife is a perfect example of this kind of parasite. She won't work any more than part time hours because it will affect her benefits and her new boyfriend only stays at week-ends so that she can stay a single mother. In a nutshell this encapsulates the problem.
What should happen is that she should get less benefits in return for an improved tax coding so that it becomes beneficial to work. It is pointless to take tax from her, lose all its value in government wastage and give it back in benefits having gone through an ineffecient welfare infrastructure. Better just not take it in the first place to protect its value and encourage her to do the hours that she can and is able to do if she chose to.

11 Jan 2013

Quote by Steve
You've always got to try and find some kind of "get out clause" haven't you...
Instead of just accepting that sometimes what people say is actually right and that you are wrong...

Then give me the facts matey. It seems to me that you see these people lounging around drinking all day,. and smoking with big 50 inch LCD tellys, living the life of Riley. Whereas with you it seems from your past posts that you actually got feck all.
Stop believing all you read and if you can prove differently then by all means I am open to proof if you have any.

Quote by Steve
I can drive up the street at any time of day and see plenty of them stood in their front gardens or leaning against someones fence or car drinking cans of beer,chatting away merrily...
Do they all work flexi time ?
Do they all work from home and just happen to be taking a 5 minute break the same time as I drive up the street ?
I somehow doubt it....

What about anytime in the night Steve? See them then? How do you know they are not working nights? You ' somehow doubt it ' and yet have no proof at all that your analogy of these people in your eyes is correct.

Quote by Steve
Oh....And unlike some here I don't let my disappointment with the way my country treats me in preference to others detract from the facts as they are....

The facts are what exactly Steve? What you want the facts to be so as to make you feel a bit better? Show me some proof that all these people are nothing short of benefit scroungers, spending their days drinking, smoking and just generally having a damn good time at the taxpayers expense. Can you actually supply any at all Steve?

11 Jan 2013

Quote by Too Hot
The whole problem with the benefits culture is that it has become a way of life. My ex wife is a perfect example of this kind of parasite. She won't work any more than part time hours because it will affect her benefits and her new boyfriend only stays at week-ends so that she can stay a single mother. In a nutshell this encapsulates the problem.

Think we have been here before where you explained your Wife being a benefit cheat whilst you were living together, and yet had no knowledge of this. Enough said on that subject.

11 Jan 2013

Quote by starlightcouple

The whole problem with the benefits culture is that it has become a way of life. My ex wife is a perfect example of this kind of parasite. She won't work any more than part time hours because it will affect her benefits and her new boyfriend only stays at week-ends so that she can stay a single mother. In a nutshell this encapsulates the problem.

Think we have been here before where you explained your Wife being a benefit cheat whilst you were living together, and yet had no knowledge of this. Enough said on that subject.
When did TH explain his ex being a benefit cheat star?
I remember him saying that she claimed child benefit without his knowledge but that hardly represents 'cheating' AFAIK dunno

11 Jan 2013

Quote by starlightcouple

The whole problem with the benefits culture is that it has become a way of life. My ex wife is a perfect example of this kind of parasite. She won't work any more than part time hours because it will affect her benefits and her new boyfriend only stays at week-ends so that she can stay a single mother. In a nutshell this encapsulates the problem.

Think we have been here before where you explained your Wife being a benefit cheat whilst you were living together, and yet had no knowledge of this. Enough said on that subject.
To be fair, I recall naivety on TH's part but not his ex being a benefit cheat.

11 Jan 2013

Quote by GnV

The whole problem with the benefits culture is that it has become a way of life. My ex wife is a perfect example of this kind of parasite. She won't work any more than part time hours because it will affect her benefits and her new boyfriend only stays at week-ends so that she can stay a single mother. In a nutshell this encapsulates the problem.

Think we have been here before where you explained your Wife being a benefit cheat whilst you were living together, and yet had no knowledge of this. Enough said on that subject.
When did TH explain his ex being a benefit cheat star?
I remember him saying that she claimed child benefit without his knowledge but that hardly represents 'cheating' AFAIK dunno

Yes I think you are correct GnV and on that point I would like to retract that statement to Too Hot and applogise. :notes: I was thinking of something else and sidetracked into making a wrong comment.

11 Jan 2013

Just as well this is an anonymous forum...........
First me labelling the ex a parasite and then being labelled by someone else as a benefit cheat!!
She is not a cheat - unfortunately she plays the system to maintain a survivable lifesatyle and no more than that. No ambition at all.

11 Jan 2013

Quote by starlightcouple
I can drive up the street at any time of day and see plenty of them stood in their front gardens or leaning against someones fence or car drinking cans of beer,chatting away merrily...
Do they all work flexi time ?
Do they all work from home and just happen to be taking a 5 minute break the same time as I drive up the street ?
I somehow doubt it....

What about anytime in the night Steve? See them then? How do you know they are not working nights? You ' somehow doubt it ' and yet have no proof at all that your analogy of these people in your eyes is correct.

For once I'm actually lost for words...
You mean to tell me that you actually believe that purely by coincidence they all work nights ?
That they stand round drinking then get ready and go to work ?
:lol2:

11 Jan 2013

Quote by Steve

I can drive up the street at any time of day and see plenty of them stood in their front gardens or leaning against someones fence or car drinking cans of beer,chatting away merrily...
Do they all work flexi time ?
Do they all work from home and just happen to be taking a 5 minute break the same time as I drive up the street ?
I somehow doubt it....

What about anytime in the night Steve? See them then? How do you know they are not working nights? You ' somehow doubt it ' and yet have no proof at all that your analogy of these people in your eyes is correct.

For once I'm actually lost for words...
You mean to tell me that you actually believe that purely by coincidence they all work nights ?
That they stand round drinking then get ready and go to work ?
:lol2:
Maybe they are all unlicensed taxi drivers working on the black dunno

11 Jan 2013

Quote by starlightcouple
It seems to me Star that you have very much enlightened us in this little exchange.
(From a previous thread)...You intend to vote UKIP in order to stop Eastern Europeans coming to this country and stealing all the jobs and opportunities. Yet from this thread you are not prepared to do yourself what the Eastern Europeans are doing and that is taking any job available, working hard and striving to better yourself.

No I am probably going to vote UKIP because the other two ain't worth a wank, and the most important thing for me is to get out of Europe. Did I actually say all of those things? If the jobs were not all going to immigrant workers, who said ' British jobs for British workers '? Oh yes it was at the time a certain Prime Minister in Gordon Brown. Why do you think he said that Too Hot? It was not because immigrant workers were actually nicking all the jobs do you? I mean 20 Polish people living in three rooms and sharing the rent and reducing their outgoings so as to be able to live on £5 an hour which is what many employers were paying, I mean British workers with families could afford to compete in that market I suppose? What a ridiculous analogy but not so when you do not know anything about the real facts of these issues.

Quote by Too Hot
And yes I do happen to believe that we all have the same opportunities in life, they just come at us in different ways.

Sorry what a load of old twaddle. In life and to succeed you need two important elements. The first one is a fucking lot of luck, coupled with number two which is hard work. Many people have the hard work ethics, but lack that most important trait of luck. If you believe you can get to be successful without both, then you are deluded my friend.

Quote by Too Hot
Life goes on and we will all be replaced by those hungrier, leaner and meaner. Not nice I agree, but a fact of evolution.

Do you really believe even half of what you write? No we get replaced as a natural cycle of those more luckier or work harder. No evolution there, but a pure fact of life.
Still what does a lazy git like me know eh?
I'm inclined to agree with what TooHot has said actually. There are undoubtedly scroungers. The immigrant workers that you, Starlight, speak of, accept jobs and housing which many British nationals wouldn't. They live on less than minimum wage because they don't have all manner of electronic gadgets, toys, cars and even furnishings and clothing, that your average scrounger insists on having. I have no objection to my taxes paying to help people who are genuinely in need. However, it really annoys me when I see unemployed (able-bodied) people who appear to have everything except a job. I know unemployed people who enjoy a better standard of living than I do - better cars, holidays abroad, a car, money to go out drinking and smoke. These people are smart enough to be able to work the system to their advantage. I have seen the type of people who Steve has described. They exist. I would imagine that you have also seen examples of them. That is evidence enough without referring to reports in newspapers. Your 'evidence' to support any statements you make, are links to newspaper reports. Yet you are scornful of others who do the same with articles from different newspapers.
And then when you're making weak argument and people pull you up on it, you start swearing. In my experience people who have to do that, know that they have run out of arguments.

11 Jan 2013

Quote by Freckledbird
I'm inclined to agree with what TooHot has said actually. There are undoubtedly scroungers. The immigrant workers that you, Starlight, speak of, accept jobs and housing which many British nationals wouldn't. They live on less than minimum wage because they don't have all manner of electronic gadgets, toys, cars and even furnishings and clothing, that your average scrounger insists on having. I have no objection to my taxes paying to help people who are genuinely in need. However, it really annoys me when I see unemployed (able-bodied) people who appear to have everything except a job. I know unemployed people who enjoy a better standard of living than I do - better cars, holidays abroad, a car, money to go out drinking and smoke. These people are smart enough to be able to work the system to their advantage. I have seen the type of people who Steve has described. They exist. I would imagine that you have also seen examples of them. That is evidence enough without referring to reports in newspapers. Your 'evidence' to support any statements you make, are links to newspaper reports. Yet you are scornful of others who do the same with articles from different newspapers.

The problem is people and some on here cannot differentiate between genuine claimants and the scroungers. It seems anyone who signs on now is fair game to be classed a scrounger. A scrounger I have never been as owning my home outright would prove, but my profession is in dire difficulties and to go into another profession cold as it were, would struggle to offer the kind of money to pay my bills.
There are plenty of immigrant workers who have the things most aspire too, like the cars and the gadgets you talk about, but invariably they share the most expensive outlay every month with many others, that is their rent and lodgings. How can a British worker with a young family possibly be able to match that?
Of course there are people like Steve describes out there, but I believe his over exaggeration of ' his street ' makes it sound like a back street unemployment shop, full of people on the dole laughing at all the taxpayers as they sup their beer. Yes they exist but every single person now on the dole is being labelled into that same category. I am not one of those but have found myself needing a bit of help. Is that not what the system was put in place for?
I asked for evidence that these people do not actually work and cannot see a problem with me asking that. Yes I use newspaper links at times and other links at others, cannot see a problem with that either to be honest.

Quote by Freckledbird
And then when you're making weak argument and people pull you up on it, you start swearing. In my experience people who have to do that, know that they have run out of arguments.

Swearing? What at a person in just in general dialogue? Have not run out of any arguments as purely debating. As a teacher you should surely know the difference?

11 Jan 2013

Quote by Steve
For once I'm actually lost for words...

Well a first time for everything as my old Mum used to say.

Quote by Steve
You mean to tell me that you actually believe that purely by coincidence they all work nights ?
That they stand round drinking then get ready and go to work ?
:lol2:

I tell you what Steve, I have driven around some dodgy places in my time but can honestly say I have never been to a street like you describe. Does coincidence not exist Steve?
I shall ask you again, can you prove beyond reasonable doubt that none of these people work? I thought there were rules and regulations about people on job seekers having to actively seeking work? I would report them if I was you. Do the honourable thing mate and save the taxpayers a few bob in the process.

11 Jan 2013

Quote by starlightcouple

I'm inclined to agree with what TooHot has said actually. There are undoubtedly scroungers. The immigrant workers that you, Starlight, speak of, accept jobs and housing which many British nationals wouldn't. They live on less than minimum wage because they don't have all manner of electronic gadgets, toys, cars and even furnishings and clothing, that your average scrounger insists on having. I have no objection to my taxes paying to help people who are genuinely in need. However, it really annoys me when I see unemployed (able-bodied) people who appear to have everything except a job. I know unemployed people who enjoy a better standard of living than I do - better cars, holidays abroad, a car, money to go out drinking and smoke. These people are smart enough to be able to work the system to their advantage. I have seen the type of people who Steve has described. They exist. I would imagine that you have also seen examples of them. That is evidence enough without referring to reports in newspapers. Your 'evidence' to support any statements you make, are links to newspaper reports. Yet you are scornful of others who do the same with articles from different newspapers.

The problem is people and some on here cannot differentiate between genuine claimants and the scroungers. It seems anyone who signs on now is fair game to be classed a scrounger. A scrounger I have never been as owning my home outright would prove, but my profession is in dire difficulties and to go into another profession cold as it were, would struggle to offer the kind of money to pay my bills.
There are plenty of immigrant workers who have the things most aspire too, like the cars and the gadgets you talk about, but invariably they share the most expensive outlay every month with many others, that is their rent and lodgings. How can a British worker with a young family possibly be able to match that?
Of course there are people like Steve describes out there, but I believe his over exaggeration of ' his street ' makes it sound like a back street unemployment shop, full of people on the dole laughing at all the taxpayers as they sup their beer. Yes they exist but every single person now on the dole is being labelled into that same category. I am not one of those but have found myself needing a bit of help. Is that not what the system was put in place for?
I asked for evidence that these people do not actually work and cannot see a problem with me asking that. Yes I use newspaper links at times and other links at others, cannot see a problem with that either to be honest.

Quote by Freckledbird
And then when you're making weak argument and people pull you up on it, you start swearing. In my experience people who have to do that, know that they have run out of arguments.

Swearing? What at a person in just in general dialogue? Have not run out of any arguments as purely debating. As a teacher you should surely know the difference?
So, because your home is paid for and you won't work extra hours or for lower pay, you live on benefits? Basically because it wouldn't be worth your while to work?
There are streets such as the one Steve described - I live and teach near to several of them.
And as a reasonably literate person, I do indeed know that there is a difference between an argument and a debate. But I also know that the word 'argument' is used, as I have, for one's opinion in a debate. Whether your swearing is in general dialogue or aimed at a person, it still only demonstrates that you have run out of reasonable arguments (again, I use that word in the context of a contribution to a debate or discussion).

11 Jan 2013

Quote by Freckledbird
There are streets such as the one Steve described - I live and teach near to several of them.

Your wasting your time FB...
Unless I go and get sworn affidavits he won't believe a word I/you/we say....
Think he's just bored and posting to find himself something to do...

11 Jan 2013

Quote by starlightcouple

I'm inclined to agree with what TooHot has said actually. There are undoubtedly scroungers. The immigrant workers that you, Starlight, speak of, accept jobs and housing which many British nationals wouldn't.

The problem is people and some on here cannot differentiate between genuine claimants and the scroungers. It seems anyone who signs on now is fair game to be classed a scrounger. A scrounger I have never been as owning my home outright would prove, but my profession is in dire difficulties and to go into another profession cold as it were, would struggle to offer the kind of money to pay my bills.
There are plenty of immigrant workers who have the things most aspire too, like the cars and the gadgets you talk about, but invariably they share the most expensive outlay every month with many others, that is their rent and lodgings. How can a British worker with a young family possibly be able to match that?
I am really sorry to hear that you have hit hard times on the employment front star and that your profession is in difficulties, however I don't feel that that entering into another profession should be viewed as such an impossible option for you. You will have gained transferable skills from your life experience and employment so far.
When we returned to UK from Germany 5 years ago it was not the best time to be looking for jobs either. I had to start at the bottom of a profession and after 3 1/2 years of hard work, personal and professional development I was promoted above my peers, some who had been in the same role for over 10 years. Another year on, I am in line for another promotion. If successful, my wages will have almost doubled in less than 5 years!
On leaving the forces, my other half used his resettlement to learn a trade. He qualified as an electrician, which on reflection was not the best option with the state of the building trade. After 2 years he was made redundant as there just wasn't enough work. There is nothing more demoralising than redundancy and he was very low for a while and it was a real financial struggle. 4 months later he got a job. It was nothing that he had ever done before and only part time, but through hard work and development he too has been promoted. He is full time and couldn't be happier. In hindsight, being made redundant is probably the best thing that could have happened to him!
You have said that you are in the fortunate position of owning your own home outright. You are in a better position than we were, or still are in! Obviously I have no idea what other outgoings you have, but a mortgage or rent is generally the largest outlay that people have and you don't have that. As I see it, with the information you have provided, starting again wouldn't be as difficult for you as it would for some.
I don't think it is anything about luck. I am not a lucky person. I work hard and strive to better myself. I suppose in a way, I share the work ethics of the immigrant workers that you speak of. The problem that I see is that the immigrant workers will accept jobs that many Brits see as below them. However, they work hard, will and are being promoted! In my organisation, I have seen many Polish administrators who are now the office managers, etc and who will fill their shoes? ... more immigrants because again many Brits won't take the lowly jobs! Do we really have a right to complain about immigrant workers taking our jobs if Brits think the jobs are below them? I think not.
Don't close every door and turn away every opportunity. Good luck!

11 Jan 2013

Thanks Funlovers. passionkiss