It’s official… austerity is over!
Time to spend, spend, spend ££££££££
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I wasn't aware it had started.
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It by-passed the Ambos as well. I was aware of it via the press and there were of course some price increases but I guess our experience applies to a good many households.
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I meant this linked more to Government and council spending. Caps have been removed from council borrowing, fuel duty not set to rise either.
I do question the timing of the announcement.
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>> www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-45740427
Labour disagrees with May, shock! And I sincerely hope we never get Labour's idea of the end of austerity as we will pay for it for the next hundred years (and it will be blamed on Brexit - same as every incompetent CEO will blame Brexit for the company's bad results). (Not that there won't be some bad outcomes from Brexit.)
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I think she was saying that a good Brexit gives the opportunity for it's being over, not that it's over now.
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Many think that this is to cover the fact that there will have to be loads of public spending to shore up the economy post Brexit.... but then after a couple of years it will be payback time and a return to the austerity cuts to make up for the spending.
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>> Many think that this is to cover the fact that there will have to be
>> loads of public spending to shore up the economy post Brexit
That was exactly my take.....
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Bromp, just checking, did you get my email?
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No I didn't. If you sent to my login email here it won't reach me as I closed the demon domain due extortionate charges.
I'll send a blank from my current address to the one in your profile.
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I received yours and have forwarded mine again. It is my reply to the email you sent me on Saturday. Let me know if you do not receive it.
Sorry for boring everybody else.
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Back on track here is an example of how austerity has bitten:
www.theguardian.com/society/2018/oct/06/former-watchdog-chief-labels-disabled-benefits-process-a-hostile-environment
In this case the victim is an intelligent and articulate man who, even if her were not chair of a disability charity, will have the resources to successfully challenge the decision before a tribunal. Most are not so fortunate.
The purpose of PIP was wholly to save money paid in it's predecessor Disability Living Allowance. The eligibility criteria for that were straightforward and people like Andrew McDonald who have life long conditions got life long awards. PIP has no life awards and the descriptors for eligibility will superficially simple are actually opaque and open to vastly different interpretations.
His comment about the assessment process and how it applies unrealistic tests via assessors with no relevant experience is particularly relevant.
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Or this:
tinyurl.com/ya787sr4 (Times article but not paywalled).
The former chancellor George Osborne slashed the investment in universal credit shortly before he left office in order to achieve big welfare savings. However, the impact on people on low incomes has yet to be felt because most of them are still receiving benefits from old schemes and have yet to be moved across to the new system.
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It's the little things you notice that show how little investment there is due to austerity.
*The increase in food bank usage.
*The number of kids at school being fed by their teachers.
*The state of the roads.
*The lack of police patrols.
*The libraries being closed.
Etc, etc.
Then you get situations where the police don't have time to arrest a thief of a £700 bike even after been given the name and address of the thief, leaving the female owner to go and retrieve it.
Personally I find law enforcements lack of action on bank and similar fraud a disgrace. It's not the police's fault as it's a government decision but these losses are a huge hit to the economy and go to fund other crimes and terrorism.
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>> *The increase in food bank usage.
>> *The number of kids at school being fed by their teachers.
>> *The state of the roads.
>> *The lack of police patrols.
>> *The libraries being closed.
>> Etc, etc.
* The state of our prisons
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The use of food banks has increased because people know they exist [JRM]:
[N.B. - link to gRauniad]
www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2017/sep/14/jacob-rees-mogg-food-banks-people-know-they-exist-video
Last edited by: The Melting Snowman on Sat 6 Oct 18 at 14:22
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The level of need is often indicated by food bank users clutching £XXX phones.
Last edited by: Old Navy on Sat 6 Oct 18 at 14:34
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In which particular food bank did you observe this phenomenon ON?
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>> The level of need is often indicated by food bank users clutching £XXX phones.
I suggest you get in touch with your local foodbank and attend a few sessions as a volunteer. Most people these days have smart phones. They are arguably a necessity, particularly for the poorest. Universal Credit is all on line and a lot of people don't have a PC or laptop. Closures mean the proffered alternative of going to the library isn't a runner any more (if it ever was).
Users cannot just rock up at a food bank and walk out with a week's groceries. They have first to approach another agency who will assess their situation before issuing a voucher.
As somebody who is authorised to issue vouchers I can assure you that JR-M and his acolytes are talking bull carp.
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Sat 6 Oct 18 at 14:47
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>> The level of need is often indicated by food bank users clutching £XXX phones.
Which may have been passed on by friends or family, or have been owned before hard times came.
Do you volunteer at a food bank? A friend of mine has been doing that for a couple of years and clearly thinks that what he is doing is worthwhile.
Food bank users as I understand it have to be referred from elsewhere, and there are limits on frequency of usage.
There are limitations on what is available - the one my pal works in does not provide fresh food for example - and choice is not usually available for standard parcels.
There are always some who will take advantage but given the limitations on what is available, I don't think most people would want to use food banks if they didn't need to.
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ON’s statement is actually a perfect example of the complete differences in attitudes you get in society today.
Some people research and get involved in the “coal face†of what the reality of our nation currently is and others are happy to bury their head in the sand and blame everyone else.
The latter are usually able to ease their conscience very quickly when they find a crumb of evidence that satisfies their “its their own fault†criteria.
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>> ON’s statement is actually a perfect example of the complete differences in attitudes you get
>> in society today.
I agree, I worked with disabled adults for ten years after I left the navy. I do not begrudge the genuinely needy a penny, but I know there are many who feel that the world owes them a comfortable life and will play the system for everything they can get. There was a professional begger in my town, a scruffy apparently down and out with a car in a nearby car park. Now retired he is always smartly dressed around the town. He did well from the little old ladies and tourists. I donate to well established charities on a monthly basis and will help anyone who I think has a genuine problem, its the freeloaders I detest.
As for people with expensive kit (look at the designer trainers) just watch a news item about food banks on TV. As for beggers they are on a loser with me if they have more expensive shoes then me.
Last edited by: Old Navy on Sat 6 Oct 18 at 16:02
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Missed the edit.
I have also witnessed the miraculous effect a compensation payout can have on a person's recovery from injury.
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>> I have also witnessed the miraculous effect a compensation payout can have on a person's
>> recovery from injury.
There are plenty of chancers out there for sure and maybe your guy was one of them.
The other side to that coin is that somebody is involved in an accident with life changing injuries. A moment's inattention by somebody else on the road or at work and they've gone from fit as as fiddle to broken strings and splintered wood.
Coma, slow recovery while they re-learn basic stuff like feeding themselves. Even if fault is certain legal action can take years with numerous medical and psychological investigations. All that time you're living on benefits, perhaps losing your home and relationship.
Then one day the compensation case is settled. There's the firm ground of financial security under your feet. Adapted house is sorted, care paid for at level needed not just the minimum the council will pay for.
It shouldn't be a surprise that with security and proper care comes greater recovery.
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>> >> I have also witnessed the miraculous effect a compensation payout can have on a person's recovery from injury.
>> It shouldn't be a surprise that with security and proper care comes greater recovery.
>>
From walking with great difficulty on two crutches with a back injury to full normal mobility in 48 hours? I think you need a reality check, there are some very unpleasant people out there.
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>> From walking with great difficulty on two crutches with a back injury to full normal
>> mobility in 48 hours? I think you need a reality check, there are some very
>> unpleasant people out there.
Your perspective and mine are not incompatible. Mine is with people who've had brain injuries (otherwise they wouldn't have been on my outfit's books at all). I don't think any of them could have faked that. I accept purely physical injuries might be easier to put on.
The courts in England are coming down hard on exaggerated claims. Some have ended up on a contempt rap. Many others have had whole claim, including the justified bit, struck out and a costs order to boot.
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Sat 6 Oct 18 at 17:02
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>> As for people with expensive kit (look at the designer trainers) just watch a news
>> item about food banks on TV. As for beggers they are on a loser with
>> me if they have more expensive shoes then me.
TV is not an impartial observer. Designer shoes could be knock-offs, E-bay or remaindered at TK Max. Or perhaps pre-date hard times.
The Standard Allowance in Universal Credit for a single job-seeker (or someone sick but capable of 'work related activity') is around £309/month. They get rent on top, but only guaranteed to cover full amount in Social Housing (unless bedroom taxed). Market rates for private rentals are often way above the max allowed. Also have to pay up to half the Council Tax.
It's not the life of Reilly.
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Sat 6 Oct 18 at 16:46
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>> It's not the life of Reilly.
>>
It's not meant to be. You must be one of the words great apologists.
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>> It's not meant to be. You must be one of the words great apologists.
But you're stating these people routinely wear designer shoes and have ££££ phones.
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>> >> It's not meant to be. You must be one of the words great apologists.
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>> But you're stating these people routinely wear designer shoes and have ££££ phones.
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No, I am saying that some, an unknown number to me, abuse the support systems.
Remember it was once government policy to put people "on the sick" to keep the unemployment figures down. I would call that government sponsored freeloading.
Last edited by: Old Navy on Sat 6 Oct 18 at 17:08
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“No, I am saying that some, an unknown number to me, abuse the support systemsâ€
Have you any evidence at all of visitors to food banks fraudulently claiming food?
And if they are who would they be defrauding other than those contributing to these charities which I rather suspect does not include yourself.?
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>> No, I am saying that some, an unknown number to me, abuse the support systems.
Exactly. The number is unknown to me too. I think, based on my observations at close hand, the number in current system is pretty small.
>> Remember it was once government policy to put people "on the sick" to keep the
>> unemployment figures down. I would call that government sponsored freeloading.
How is that the Claimant's fault? My Father was one placed in that position. Redundant by early retirement in his mid fifties c.1983 he only needed to sign on to get his NI credits; wouldn't get UB beyond 6 months due his income and capital. Government told him if his Doctor would sign him off he'd get £60p.w until he hit Pension Age and NI credits without having to queue at the Job Centre.
What would you have done?
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>>As for people with expensive kit (look at the designer trainers) just watch a news item about food banks on TV. As for beggers they are on a loser with me if they have more expensive shoes then me.
You've just done it again - justified your decision to yourself.
What is an expensive trainer? I can go into sports shops and see hundreds of trainers from £9.99 to the hundreds. Unless you are an expert on these, and spotting real from fake, I would suggest you are looking for reasons to not see the reality in front on your eyes.
We sell lots of trainers in our charity shops, and am also aware of regular appeals for training shoes to be donated to the homeless (in this case Glasgow).
Yes there are chancers and in Glasgow there are lots of organised gangs of Roma Gypsies that I see being dropped off by minibus every morning. But take time to speak to one of the guys lying in the doorway, maybe watch the excellent documentaries that there have been, or even the podcast that BBC's John Beattie did.
That is the reality of the current times and when you look into the reasons for it, the majority of the time it comes down to lack of money or grants. But this lack of money never affects the bosses of the organisations or their donations to the political parties to let them continue in this vein.
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A lack of money and grants (handouts). Where is your magic money tree? If you ran your house the way this country is run you would be at the food bank. Living within your means applies at all levels. I am no different, I have had many tens of thousands of NHS treatment and having just had a hip joint fail no doubt a few thousand more in the near future. If I had to pay my way medically I would have been dead long ago.
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>> If you ran your house the way this country is run you would be at the food
>> bank. Living within your means applies at all levels.
The idea that the national budget is just like that of a household was a convenient myth spread in Thatcher era to justify taking money from ordinary people to give it to the better off as tax cuts.
Not saying there are not analogies but there's nothing I can do with my household budget to stimulate growth in wider economy.
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>> a convenient myth spread in Thatcher era to justify taking money from ordinary people to give it to the better off as tax cuts.
Myth is the correct word.
No money was "given" to the better off.
Less money was taken from the better off.
Last edited by: Duncan on Sun 7 Oct 18 at 14:20
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>>A lack of money and grants (handouts).
Handouts?
You’ve done it again
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With the country trillions in debt whose magic money tree are these "grants" coming from? It's hardly living within the countries means.
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>> With the country trillions in debt whose magic money tree are these "grants" coming from?
Well off older people with index linked pensions :-P
Or perhaps a form of death duty that's not effectively voluntary.....
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I worked for 35 years for my pension, I don't want it given to someone who can't be bothered to get out of bed in the morning. :-P
Last edited by: Old Navy on Sun 7 Oct 18 at 16:07
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>>I don't want it given to someone
>> who can't be bothered to get out of bed in the morning.
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A somewhat brusque approach.
However in very general terms I do have a great deal of sympathy for that attitude.
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Thanks, there are obviously a few hand wringing liberals here who would gladly give away any hard earned assets they might have. Champagne socialists spring to mind.
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Goodness me you're in a bitter mood lately. Someone nick your smarties?
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Forum a little quiet for you ON?
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>> Forum a little quiet for you ON?
>>
:-))))
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>> I worked for 35 years for my pension..........
.....and which particular money-tree paid for the 35 years and pension?
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>> >> I worked for 35 years for my pension..........
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>> .....and which particular money-tree paid for the 35 years and pension?
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The rich folks taxes. (The rich folk are anyone with more money than me, so lots of them.)
Last edited by: Old Navy on Sun 7 Oct 18 at 17:57
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It's finally over.. - Stuu
