Benefit Street Where 90% Of The People Claim...

[trt]

If they are stupid enough to take part in a CH4 documentary about benefits they deserve to be belittled!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2534110/Theyve-just-tried-make-look-like-slums-Jobless-stars-Benefits-Street-documentary-accuse-Channel-4-manipulative-stitch-up.html

[naomi24]

But the rich, tax evaders or not, aren’t a burden on society.

[Baldric]

//'We're going to be put in the same group as all benefit claimers.//

Err! and the problem is?

[emmie]

tax dodgers can be the window cleaner, the hedge fund manager,
many high flyers pay lots in tax, lots to keep those who pay nothing at all into our system

[DrFilth]

not seen the show but let me have a guess. fatties with a cig and a can of booze with a modern BIG flat screen tv, druggies who have a hit and a can and a cig, none looking for work

clever camera work showing a can of booze or bottle every few minutes or seconds depending on how long the show was on for. the homes that the camera went into had all mod cons.

[DrFilth]

if he is fit enough to shoot himself then he would never pass the atos test

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/grandad-shaun-pilkington-shoots-himself-2989685

[naomi24]

DrFilth, a simple question. Do you think it's right that people who are fit to work are able to live permanently at the expense of the taxpayer?

[Old_Geezer]

Tax dodgers are not paying what society says they ought, so are a non contributer rather than a burden. I had this on accidently for about 5 minhutes before being bored and not really watching, channel flipped elsewhere. So I have no idea if those in the show were genuinely in need and not able to help themselves or deciding not to bother as the State (i.e. the rest of us) owed them a living. I ought to be interested, but ... what a yawn.

[DrFilth]

> naomi24
DrFilth, a simple question. Do you think it's right that people who are fit to work are able to live permanently at the expense of the taxpayer? <


unlike some i will give you a yes or no answer


and the answer is NO

[naomi24]

Good. I'm pleased to hear it. Perhaps without the scroungers milking the system there would be more in the pot for those who really need it.

[jake-the-peg]

'Burden on society' is one of those phrases that is just designed to signal 'bad' boo hiss!

Pensioners are a burden on society

Yes you can argue they 'deserve' or have 'earned' it (although who's to say?) but that doesn't stop them from being a burden

This is just an exercise in point-and-jeer

I do have some sympathy with the OP though - why on earth would you take part in such a documentry? Surely it was obvious that the point of the film was simply to stoke the fires of the self righteous

[DrFilth]

> Perhaps without the scroungers milking the system there would be more in the pot for those who really need it. <

if you believe that i bet you believe in the tooth fairy


if this lot in power could they would start up the workhouses

[naomi24]

Jake, I beg to differ. Pensioners, are not a burden on society. Most have paid regular premiums on an ‘insurance policy’ all their working lives, which matures at retirement age.

Let me ask you the question I asked DrFilth. Do you think it's right that people who are fit to work are able to live permanently at the expense of the taxpayer?

[jno]

and how do people propose distinguishing between the deserving poor and the vile and undeserving poor?

Hiring more civil servants to check up on them, I suppose, and thus increasing government expenditure. (Or you could always farm it out to G4S.)

I wonder what happens if the savings they unncover fall behind the cost of employing them?

I suppose the only answer is Atos for all; just declare everyone fit and leave it at that.

[Baldric]

@21:01,
//children have to be fed and clothed and given a decent life//
Same old same old!
Are children not the Parents responsibility? of course they are.
So what gives those Parents the right to expect myself and others to support their children via the Benefit system?

[naomi24]

jno, Do you think it's right that people who are fit to work are able to live permanently at the expense of the taxpayer?

[jake-the-peg]

I think a lot of things aren't right Naomi

This is a matter of agenda

Programs like this are singling out a group of peole with little awareness and media sophistication and inviting others to jeer and throw rotten fruit.

Here's a simple fact you won't want high up the agenda

*** Most benefit claimants have perfectly respectable legal jobs ***

They're not like this - you're typical benefit claimant is more likely to be a single working parent who just can't make enough money to survive

You and I through our tax payments are subsidising their employers who won't pay them a living wage

Do you think that's right?

That we should be contributing to the profits of big companies in such a way so they can employ people on the cheap?

but that's not a story we want to talk about is it?

It's all about agendas

[naomi24]

Jake, //but that's not a story we want to talk about is it? //

No, it isn't because that isn't the subject of this thread. Are you going to answer my question honestly, or shall I just take your response as a grudging 'No'?

[jno]

are you training to be a bouncer, naomi? Anyone who doesn't answer your question isn't allowed into the thread?

[Baldric]

Must go to Specsavers 'cause
I don't see where Naomi is trying to exclude anyone.

[naomi24]

jno, oops - claws out again! Clearly I asked the wrong question then. ;o)