ChatterBank1 min ago
Sould Charity start at Home?
http://news.bbc.co.uk.../business/8317020.stm
Destitute people in England cannot pay to heat their homes in 2009. Should Brown concentrate on this as a priority rather than pledging £800m to the world's poor?
Destitute people in England cannot pay to heat their homes in 2009. Should Brown concentrate on this as a priority rather than pledging £800m to the world's poor?
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Not denying there are very many people genuinely suffering in this country but this is a question of perspective. Are you not comparing children literally dying of hunger and disease in Africa for example with someone in this country who can't afford to buy a pint of beer and a packet of fags.
I don't see why we should be less sympathetic to someone because of where they have the fortune or misfortune to be born. I agree with the comment about often the money going into the pockets of the corrupt rather than the needy but that's another question.
Having said that the two causes I support on a regular basis are both uk charities, it would be interesting to know whether individuals moaning about where the money goes are making any independent contributions. Not aiming this at any individual but I often hear people moaning about who should be helped who never dip their hand in their own pocket.
I don't see why we should be less sympathetic to someone because of where they have the fortune or misfortune to be born. I agree with the comment about often the money going into the pockets of the corrupt rather than the needy but that's another question.
Having said that the two causes I support on a regular basis are both uk charities, it would be interesting to know whether individuals moaning about where the money goes are making any independent contributions. Not aiming this at any individual but I often hear people moaning about who should be helped who never dip their hand in their own pocket.
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rov1200
Do you know how much aid goes to Africa from the UK?
Do you know how much we give away in Winter Fuel allowance?
Compare these two statements:
//About 29,000 children under the age of five die every day in Africa//
with
//"No vulnerable (UK) customer has been knowingly disconnected from gas or electricity since 2004 even if they were unable to pay their bill," he said.//
Do you know how much aid goes to Africa from the UK?
Do you know how much we give away in Winter Fuel allowance?
Compare these two statements:
//About 29,000 children under the age of five die every day in Africa//
with
//"No vulnerable (UK) customer has been knowingly disconnected from gas or electricity since 2004 even if they were unable to pay their bill," he said.//
Charity should always be at home. However, I firmly believe that fuel allowances should be means tested. Not all oap's are living in mud shacks. Most of the over 65's I know are getting decent pensions. Two retired nurses I know have just gone away for their 3rd holiday this year, another just spent 15k on a car in cash.
Don't believe all the hype you read about poor oap's. The media picture of some 90 year old shivering in an empty flat is by far from the norm.
Don't believe all the hype you read about poor oap's. The media picture of some 90 year old shivering in an empty flat is by far from the norm.
Socket......"means tested?"....."means tested?.........how about "tax related?"
Many of these "well off" pensioners have paid more tax in their working lives than most and deserve ANY perks going.
The nurses probably didn't smoke and p1ss their salaries up against the wall every night of the week, saved for retirement and now have the money to do what they want.
If you had "slogged away" in the UK NHS all your working life dealing with the British Public, you would deserve a good pension. Try A&E on a Saturday night to see the British public at it's best.
I have retired to the Med.....I get my Winter Allowance and I don't give it a second thought.
"Means tested" indeed.
Many of these "well off" pensioners have paid more tax in their working lives than most and deserve ANY perks going.
The nurses probably didn't smoke and p1ss their salaries up against the wall every night of the week, saved for retirement and now have the money to do what they want.
If you had "slogged away" in the UK NHS all your working life dealing with the British Public, you would deserve a good pension. Try A&E on a Saturday night to see the British public at it's best.
I have retired to the Med.....I get my Winter Allowance and I don't give it a second thought.
"Means tested" indeed.
Gromit
/// 200,000 pensioners get the Winter Fuel Allowance, thats's £250 for over 60s, £400 for the over 80s every year ///.
Every pensioner over 60 years of age doesn't get £250.
If there are two over 60s living in the same household, each one gets £125 each, an increase of £25 from last year.
When a pensioner reaches 80 they get a £0.25 per week increase in their pension.
/// 200,000 pensioners get the Winter Fuel Allowance, thats's £250 for over 60s, £400 for the over 80s every year ///.
Every pensioner over 60 years of age doesn't get £250.
If there are two over 60s living in the same household, each one gets £125 each, an increase of £25 from last year.
When a pensioner reaches 80 they get a £0.25 per week increase in their pension.
//About 29,000 children under the age of five die every day in Africa//
What is this saying? Perhaps the money should be spent on encouraging them to have less children.
If the numbers that die is reduced, then there is the increased problem of providing for these increasing numbers.
Perhaps most of Africa should be re-colonised, not in the old way perhaps, but by an United Nations scheme, that could introduced a more level wealth distribution, the building of schools, water irrigation projects and improved farming methods.
What is this saying? Perhaps the money should be spent on encouraging them to have less children.
If the numbers that die is reduced, then there is the increased problem of providing for these increasing numbers.
Perhaps most of Africa should be re-colonised, not in the old way perhaps, but by an United Nations scheme, that could introduced a more level wealth distribution, the building of schools, water irrigation projects and improved farming methods.
If people care personally about the poor in Africa there is nothing to stop them donating out of their own pocket and in fact many already do. I'm not sure about Children in Need donations but does some of this go abroad?
It was interesting to see Brown splashing the money about but Sarcozy kept silent on the matter. Maybe he does not like to brag about it.
I read somewhere that thousands of British citizens died of hypothermia last Winter but there was no uproar about it.
It was interesting to see Brown splashing the money about but Sarcozy kept silent on the matter. Maybe he does not like to brag about it.
I read somewhere that thousands of British citizens died of hypothermia last Winter but there was no uproar about it.
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