Toothbrushes and Toothpaste for Wales.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles /health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=534431&i n_page_id=1774

The English have nothing to smile about. Once again we are back of the queue for benefits,(In fact we are not even in the queue) that are enjoyed by Scotland and Wales.

4.6 million pounds is to be spent on this latest money wasting programme, when there are many in this country that cannot afford to even visit a Dentist.

This is from a goverment that could not afford to spend �50 on a radio, that could have saved the life of a SAS Captain on his second paracute jump.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles /news/news.html?in_article_id=533943&in_page_i d=1770

[Kromovaracun]

In Darling's Budget, the government is borrowing over �40million alongside tax revenue to keep up spending.

While there are obvious benefits to this scheme and there's nothing wrong with the rationale behind it, it does seem an overly expensive and.. well, frankly daft thing to be spending on. Especially when the books aren't balanced.

Families that are really badly off (to the extent that they can't get a toothbrush) have plenty of means of getting state money allready via welfare and such so it does seem unnecessary

I'm all for gov't intervention to raise standard of living but the fact is that that the government can't be expected to cover everything, and if it does intervene there's no logical reason it shouldn't be applied nationwide rather than to specific regions. But then we're back to the problems with devolution.

[B00]

I found the news story incredibly sad to be honest.....

Stuart Geddes, of the British Dental Association, said: "This is for the benefit of children, especially in the not so-well-off areas where some of them have never seen a toothbrush."

I mean, really- never seen a toothbrush? Is that because their dole- ite parents have spent all their social on booze and cigs and quite frankly can't be bothered to make sure their children even get basic care?

I know this isn't what you're getting at AOG, but I honestly think it's about time we had some sort of "tests" set up to determine whether you're a suitable candidate to even have children- if you fail, you get sterilized.

[Booldawg]

Not ONE person in the UK knows poverty to the point of not being able to afford a toothbrush or toothpaste. NOT ONE!!!

[B00]

That's sort of what I'm getting at Booldawg- I'm sorry but I can't be convinced that even the poorest family cant afford a bloody toothbrush, hell even if its only one to share at between 'em!

I truly believe that these children haven't seen toothbrushes because their parents quite frankly couldn't be bothered giving basic care to their offspring.

[Kromovaracun]

I recognise that Geddes is BDA National Director for Wales, and I'm not saying that I think he's 'wrong'. But something about his claim just makes me suspect that he's either exaggerating or - more likely - is being misquoted somehow by the Mail.

But it's just a hunch so I'll shut up if I'm proved wrong.

[sp1214]

Could it be that the water in Wales impreganated from the mines and without fluoride rots their teeth much quicker,

[rabbitygirl]

I have come onto ab to see if this story has a thread here.

I wonder if the quote from Mr Geddes is an extract from a longer statement.

Even if there is more from him, I doubt he has gone to town on parents who think a toothbrush and paste for their child is something they can bypass at the supermarket.

What a shame he has not got his teeth into shaming these parents properly.

And you are right AOG, yet another story of penny pinching involving the armed forces brings it into perspective.

If only the government, and some parents, knew more about handling their finances.

[Kromovaracun]

What a shame he has not got his teeth into shaming these parents properly

Ba-dum Kssh!

I laughed.

[rabbitygirl]

Thanks Kromo.....

Many dont notice or think its an accident!

[anotheoldgit]

Some very good and sensible answers to this story.

Regarding some parents not being able to afford tooth care, and the fact that some parents are not fit to even have children.

How many of us have seen these parents pushing their off-springs around the supermarket, and the child is chewing on some form off snack.

Given the choice of affording to spend their money on a teeth destroying snack, a responsible parent would rather spend that money on a tooth brush.