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A Compassionate Society?

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Theland | 21:59 Thu 15th Nov 2018 | Society & Culture
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Do you think we are a compassionate society, given the number and demand for food banks?
Kids go to bed hungry?
People on hard times have benefits stalled or stopped for superfluous reasons, sometimes resulting in eviction?
Army veterans, in spite of the British Legion and SAAFA, find themselves facing hardship and the governments promises to a military promise is just a sad memory?
We all had to bail out the bankers, and the CEO of Persimmons just got a £75,000,000 bonus.
The numerous questions should be obvious by now!
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my window cleaner bought his council house 6y ago for £50k and the council just bought the house back at £350k.

Thats compassion at rate payers expense.
Does that work out to £70k profit pa?

Window cleaner is leaving here to downsize in Essex :(
I don't believe that.
Got his foot on the property ladder and squeeged every last penny out of the council, eh.
I think it's bull. The rules have changed.
Purchase price of council house by tenant determined by legal[i formula (disount by length of tenure?).

Purchase price of former council house by council determined by [i]market value at the time].
Theland, you worked for a company for 18 years – salary £62,000 – not an inconsiderable sum and a damn good wage back in the day. You then went to a shipyard and earned £600 a week. You are now drawing your government pension (no idea if you have a private pension too but having worked for 18 years up until what? – 15, 20 years ago?, at a job paying £62,000 pa I’d guess you might). You consistently plead poverty, claiming to live in jogging bottoms because you can’t afford proper trousers - when proper trousers, in shops like Matalan or Primark, cost very little more - but then smartening yourself up wouldn’t convey the impression you want to convey, would it.

I don’t see other pensioners – here or elsewhere - whinging about hardship the way you do – but then they don’t have an agenda.

As I understand it some people are experiencing problems with the transition period the new benefits system requires but no one can expect to be given instant money straight out of the till – and nor should they. You asked me to respond to Nailit who bemoans the fact that his sister, who can no longer work, is obliged to spend some of her savings for the next five weeks until her benefits kick in. So what? What’s wrong with spending some of her savings?

The benefits system isn’t perfect but no one who has children is ignored. If children are hungry, the parents are culpable.

I have no objection whatsoever to funding people who are unable to take care of themselves - society MUST do that - but I’m damned if I’m happy to fund those who refuse to take responsibility for themselves – or those for whom ‘work’ is a dirty four letter word. No humble pie here, Theland
i believe we are a compassionate society, look at all the good works that people do, the money, time they donate to worthy causes. Children in Need for example, and all the money raised with the RBL, and RNLI andd many more besides.
Just listen to Radio 2 now. Of course we are a compassionate society.
people like Minty give their time to their neighbours, doing odd jobs, or simply mowing the lawn. And i firmly believe that many many people do the same as her, looking out for one another and cheering people up when they are down.
We have a hugely complex benefits system, one hand doesn't know what the other hand is doing, or so it seems to me, and so some people fall through the cracks in society, but i agree with Naomi, if children are going hungry, then that is down to the parents.
Bad management does seem prevalent these days, perhaps kids should be taught how to manage money and as they get older can cope better with that knowledge.
I think the society as a whole is very compassionate, the foodbanks have just replaced other help that used to be available.
Late to the meeting I am afraid. I live in an area predominantly inhabited by single parent families, non working couples and the elderly. I have a small pension which I have to manage on until my state pension kicks in at 66, after all expenses are covered each month I have to use about £70 of my savings to top up . When I do get my state pension I will have to pay tax on most of it. So when I hear young mums on the street telling their kids they will be going to McDonalds, and then asking their mates if they want to go to the pub that evening it rankles a bit. I know there are people that genuinely need help ,the real disabled, the mentally ill and those who have to care for a family member but if we could educate those who don't need it to get off their fried chicken bums and contribute there would be a lot more for those that need help.
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Only just become aware of a UN report condemning the UK governments austerity policies for the cruelty and hardship inflicted on the poor an voiceless.

And the Child Poverty Action Group - is it just a social club? Some heartless comments on here would appear to ignore its very existence and necessity.
//Only just become aware of a UN report condemning the UK governments austerity policies for the cruelty and hardship inflicted on the poor an voiceless//

And theres some on here who say that austerity doesn't exist.
Unbelievable how some people can have their head so far up their own 'arris.
We rarely agree Theland but on this Im with you.
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Sometimes I despair at the arrogance of the well heeled.
I worked 7 days a week, 12 hours a day, and night, and missed seeing my kids grow up because of it.
A few bad decisions and lost the lot, but no problem, my fault, I blame nobody, but the money I earned is used as stick to beat me.
I don't care any longer how I dress, I use my money to help others. Money and style mean nothing.
Sadly, I am addicted to my beer which costs a lot, but I have nothing else, and trying to kick it.
But my eyes are wide open to the plight of family, friends and people in my community.
Some lovely charitable helpful big hearted people on here, but some very callous ones as well.
Must admit that ive been taken aback by the attitude of some on here who I thought better off but you never really know people.

Just why some think that everyone who has to resought to using foodbanks etc are some kind of scroungers is beyond me. Hard times (whether it be financial, health, mental, material, monetary etc) can befall ANYONE!
To then label those same people as victims of their own making shows a complet callousness.
You worked to keep your kids because you chose to have those kids!
You lost it all and are now living off the state which means every tax payer is keeping you.
I thought Theland was retired?
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Somebody I know has a dog, and he goes without to feed the dog.
We help him with bits of food and little bits of money, toothpaste, toilet rolls, soap etc. Nothing fancy.
He works, but is disabled. A mess.
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67 and retired.
I must be a parasite then!

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