2018. A Soup Kitchen.

[bainbrig]

Mrs B went into our local Catholic church to buy a mass card, and found a Soup Kitchen in progress.

We live in a relatively prosperous north London suburb.

What the hell is going on? Once a month, the soup-kitchen volunteer said, they give out food parcels, but they’ve recently started this daily soup kitchen.

All the neighbourhood scroungers wanting something for nothing?

Or hungry people queuing up for a free bowl of soup.

And you ask why I’m a socialist. I ask why you’re NOT?

[kvalidir]

I support various homeless charities in the UK and on Thanksgiving I was volunteering for a soup kitchen on The Bowery here, and much as I would like to be able to say the levels of destitution in New York are far worse than those I see in the UK, I no longer can. what the hell are we allowing to happen to our country?

[naomi24]

The soup kitchen has been set up by the church – not the Socialists – and there are plenty of altruistic Conservatives out there too. That socialism automatically equates to altruism is a fallacy. Ask the people living in socialist/communist countries who are obliged to give doctors a back-hander to get medicine for their children.

Ever been to a socialist/communist country, Bainbrig, and if so, what did you find so attractive about it?

[ummmm]

Soup kitchens aren't a new thing

[naomi24]

Sorry, I didn't answer your question. Why am I not a socialist? Because socialism doesn't - and cannot - work. Why do you think people in countries run on socialist/communist principles are so eager to ditch those regimes? Quite simply because they've experienced it.

[retrocop]

Venezuela is a model example of Socialism. Probably the most oil rich country in the world yet the ordinary people are in penury,fleeing in droves, and joining the caravan.
This country was Jezza's Idyll of Socialism working. :-(

[bainbrig]

Sorry, kvalidir, not to jump in and agree with you.

I'm beaten down by the superior logic of the senior site members such as retrocop and naomi24. What were Winston Smith's last four words?

[bainbrig]

Oooh, error, must correct it before some Orwellophile descends from the clouds.

Not Smith's last words, of course, but the last four words of 'His' book...

[naomi24]

Oh dear. You are one confused soul, Bainbrig. Best read the book again - that's if you've read it a first time.

I see you've ignored my question so I'll ask it again. Ever been to a socialist/communist country, Bainbrig, and if so, what did you find so attractive about it?

[emmie]

because generally for most people socialism doesn't work.
soup kitchens are a necessary part of life, some people have fallen through the cracks in the system and need a helping hand what's wrong with that.

[bainbrig]

Oo you are a silly billy, aren’t you, young naomi.

He loved Big Brother.

Geddit?

[naomi24]

I get it, bainbrig - it’s one of my favourite books of all time - but I don’t think you get it at all.

[Theland]

Why are we capitalists when a small business runs into difficulty, and we let it fail, but when big banks run into difficulties, we are TOLD to be socialist, and we have no choice but to agree by default, and so the many bail out the few?
The rescued CEO's of these rescued enterprises, keep their millions. They are never prosecuted.
The many struggle and some turn to food banks and soup kitchens.
Just an observation.

[bainbrig]

Go on, naomi, keep trying, it’ll come eventually.

[Theland]

Something unfair here. And what I have to laugh at is the sanctimonious claptrap from the haves towards the have nots.

[fiction-factory]

Maybe next time Mrs B could speak to some of those who are unfortunate enough to feel they need to use the service be iand find out the reasons. The reasons for homelessness can be complex-sometimes those in need have been overlooked by the system or are affected by housing shortages or delays in UC but in other cases people choose to live this way outside the system or fritter away money or have been thrown out of accommodation for non-payment or non-compliance. Mental health and addictions are big factors as are lack of family support. I doubt any country has eliminated the problem. I also think we could hand out billions extra in benefits and/or provide low cost/free accommodation for 100000 people and the problem would not change much

[Old_Geezer]

Why are they hungry ? The country has a welfare system.

[Theland]

Ha Ha! I thought so! So sanctimoniously predictable!

"I'm alright Jack!"

[New Judge]

If you set up a soup kitchen (or a food bank), people who previously got by without it will use it. If it wasn't there it wouldn't be used. It's nothing to do with socialism.

I wouldn't ask why you are a socialist. It's your privilege. You must enjoy promoting an unrealistic ideology. So long as you don't seek to impose your views on me I don't really care.

[bainbrig]

Rhetoric, judge, rhetoric.

[-Talbot-]

What exactly do you do you as a socialist?

I'm thinking most socialist just tell other people they're socialists as if that makes them special.