Do the poor deserve financial help?

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by leedsmatt7

how far until were just suggesting communism?

Communism doesn't work as it is based on everyone being equal and its in human nature to strive to be, well to borrow a phrase, more equal than other people.

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by pencil shavings

yep, it is hard (not that ive done it personally)

well I'd be a bit surprised if you were a mum

Just to even out the PC stakes...it goes for single dads too

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

Communism doesn't work as it is based on everyone being equal and its in human nature to strive to be, well to borrow a phrase, more equal than other people.

greed is natural, without it we'd achive nothing I totally agree.

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

Yes and no........

The basic sum will keep you in Tesco Value Beans (ok not quite THAT basic a diet, I also see "meal packs" as a way forwards - raw ingredients with recipe cards), put a roof over your head and clothes on your back.

I never said anything about TV, Mobile Phones the Internet and the like (although I can kind of see an argument for including those - but think < 20" TV's, Terminals only really just powerful to browse the web etc and 10 year old Nokia's rather than the Gadget Show Cream of the Crop.

The "National Basic Wage" will keep you alive but its not going to be the high life.

Look at it like the Hotel Ratings system.

Dont work, then you get a 1* life.

Do community work (and there is more than enough little jobs like that to go around, whether its litter-picking, graffiti-cleaning etc, manual unskilled labour essentially) at minimum wage on an ad-hoc part time basis - you turn up to some office that advises you of where work is, you go there, do what needs to be done, your hours are credited then paid to you electronically at the end of the day (6pm), that, with some application of effort will give you some spare cash, thats the 2* life

Get a "real" part-time job and theres more cash so 3* life is on the cards for you

Etc Etc

Most of the above is just as its occurred to me so there are bound to big holes in the system.

Also I dont mention things like "top-ups" for single parents, the disabled and the elderly, anyone qualifying as one of these would probably have a 3* rating.......

So handing all control over to the state?!

How about we cut all that crap out, and just let people earn their first 10k tax free ...

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

So handing all control over to the state?!

How about we cut all that crap out, and just let people earn their first 10k tax free ...

And if you cant earn that 1st £10k?........

[timwilky]

The biggest issue at the moment are those who have been honest, done what was expected of them and tried to put a roof over theirs and their families heads.

Recession hits, house prices fall, many are in negative equity. Next their nice lucrative jobs disappear. If they are lucky, they get a new job but on substantially reduced salary. they can no longer afford their home. They cannot sell it for what it is owes and are totally screwed. The lucky ones don't get a job and the government at least pays the interest to keep the roof over their head.

We should help those who want to work, make it worthwhile and accept everyone situation is different and there is no universal solution

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by timwilky

The biggest issue at the moment are those who have been honest, done what was expected of them and tried to put a roof over theirs and their families heads.

Recession hits, house prices fall, many are in negative equity. Next their nice lucrative jobs disappear. If they are lucky, they get a new job but on substantially reduced salary. they can no longer afford their home. They cannot sell it for what it is owes and are totally screwed. The lucky ones don't get a job and the government at least pays the interest to keep the roof over their head.

We should help those who want to work, make it worthwhile and accept everyone situation is different and there is no universal solution

I agree, but one of the means tests that should be employed is an audit by the FSA of all those mortgage application forms where the earnings were self-certified, and those earnings were fraudulenty declared

Originally Posted by SoulKiss

And if you cant earn that 1st £10k?........

Then they don't have two brain cells to knock together. ANYONE could do that.

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

Then they don't have two brain cells to knock together. ANYONE could do that.

Not if minimum wage goes

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

Then they don't have two brain cells to knock together. ANYONE could do that.

hmmm, errr, braincell capacity doesn't always equate to getting big wages. You could have the brain of a tefal man, but only be able to earn a few quid.