Poll: Benefit cap vote.

[dowie]

It was more the thought that you'd be trying to dictate to those people in receipt of benefits that I didn't like, not the fact that you had an opinion at all.

Well not liking it is rather different, I also don't like your opinion... mine is obviously counter to it.

You can have any opinion you want as long as you keep them to yourself.

on a general discussion forum where people are sharing their opinions?

Looking at the poll I'd say a fair number of people are more in line with my views on this than yours.

 

[Gilly]

The poll doesn't mention anything about restricting things people are allowed to spend their money on.

 

[dowie]

The poll doesn't mention anything about restricting things people are allowed to spend their money on.

That's one view I've aired yes, the other was regarding the cap. You seem to believe benefits aren't sufficient as they are now... most people would seem to disagree.

 

[a1ex2001]

I voted for a freeze, All payrises at the place I work are based on performance I have colleagues who despite doing a good job have not had a rise in nearly a decade (I have recieved increases but nothing like those attached to benefits!) because just doing a good job isn't enough. To see benefits rise by such large amounts is rather insulting when the wages of those who work hard are not going up by anything like as much.

 

[Gilly]

That's one view I've aired yes, the other was regarding the cap. You seem to believe benefits aren't sufficient as they are now... most people would seem to disagree.

That is really a rather different part of the subject, yes we differ on that too but I am much more open to listening to opinions on reasonable propositions than someone trying to dictate purchasing habits.

I voted for a freeze, All payrises at the place I work are based on performance I have colleagues who despite doing a good job have not had a rise in nearly a decade (I have recieved increases but nothing like those attached to benefits!) because just doing a good job isn't enough. To see benefits rise by such large amounts is rather insulting when the wages of those who work hard are not going up by anything like as much.

I think part of the problem comes when talking about rises as a percentile.

100% of nothing is still nothing...

 

[dunn2010]

Lets hope the tories dont see this thread, we will see in tomorrows headlines 65% of people think benefits should be frozen or 1% increase should be implemented

 

[TheLegendOfMart]

I voted for a freeze, All payrises at the place I work are based on performance I have colleagues who despite doing a good job have not had a rise in nearly a decade (I have recieved increases but nothing like those attached to benefits!) because just doing a good job isn't enough. To see benefits rise by such large amounts is rather insulting when the wages of those who work hard are not going up by anything like as much.

Yet people like you are the ones that can get child tax credit and working tax credit, yet you demonise people out of work just because you can't get a raise yourself?

 

[Efour]

I voted for a freeze, All payrises at the place I work are based on performance I have colleagues who despite doing a good job have not had a rise in nearly a decade (I have recieved increases but nothing like those attached to benefits!) because just doing a good job isn't enough. To see benefits rise by such large amounts is rather insulting when the wages of those who work hard are not going up by anything like as much.

large insulting amounts ? inflation ? Your colleagues should look for easier work more suited to their ability, clearly.

 

[dowie]

That is really a rather different part of the subject, yes we differ on that too but I am much more open to listening to opinions on reasonable propositions than someone trying to dictate purchasing habits.

I'm not trying to dictate purchasing habits - it isn't feasible at the moment... it was rather a side comment as smart cards were still being mentioned

if you're drawing money, in the form of out of work benefits, that everyone has contributed towards then its not unreasonable for anyone to have an opinion on the level of money being given out and/or whether it should be spent in a certain way

I don't see whats so unreasonable about that.... also if monitoring/control of spending were feasible then it could potentially make for a more efficient system, regional cost of living adjustments could be introduced and made more accurately etc...

 

[Tunney]

The Independent published an interesting article about the misconceptions surrounding welfare. Worth reading before posting in this thread.

 

[Efour]

Yet people like you are the ones that can get child tax credit and working tax credit, yet you demonise people out of work just because you can't get a raise yourself?

This goes back to my original post - People do not have a clue what they are talking about or have been brainwashed...its comical. They do not understand the issue and just go for JSA claimers.

 

[dumbmayhem]

Why should public sector pay move with inflation? That's not what happens in the private sector and they already get paid more than private sector workers for the same jobs and have dined out on inflated wages and annual pay increases regardless of performance for decades.

I agree that there are large numbers of unnecessary staff. There are, in fact, whole swathes of them.

All of them.

What a silly silly statement to make!

You mean to tell me that I potentially risk my life daily working in the public sector but I'm overpaid compared to the private sector?

My wage is less than 30k. My job in the private sector sits mid 40k.

My pension is being put up to 13%. How many private sector people pay that figure on less that 30k wages?

I'll not even go into the private sector's use of bonus's etc as the post might get a tad long.

 

[Gilly]

Who doesn't risk their life daily? You do that by leaving (or not leaving) the house!

You'll have to be more specific if you wish me to comment on your personal position.

 

[bam0]

I voted for a freeze, All payrises at the place I work are based on performance I have colleagues who despite doing a good job have not had a rise in nearly a decade (I have recieved increases but nothing like those attached to benefits!) because just doing a good job isn't enough. To see benefits rise by such large amounts is rather insulting when the wages of those who work hard are not going up by anything like as much.

I know others have mentioned it too, but why do you equate receiving benefits with not working hard?

 

[dumbmayhem]

Risk your life by leaving the house? You must work in HR or something.

OK a little clearer, I potentially risk my life by entering buildings which are on fire to safe lives.

Feel free to comment.

 

[gothic_hobbit]

This goes way beyond jobseekers allowance and fraud of that which is a pitifully small amount in the whole cost of providing the social security.

Savings need to be made but this is one hell of a draconian ill thought out way to achieve them.

I concur.

 

[Drizmod]

Search youtube for 'Best comedian in the World *we are equal*' . George Carlin was a prophet

 

['Harry]

That's one view I've aired yes, the other was regarding the cap. You seem to believe benefits aren't sufficient as they are now... most people would seem to disagree.

It's not if you're single and renting. £140 a week doesn't stretch far considering the cost of renting privately. As I posted before rent alone for me was £100 a week. That leaves £40 for everything else. Subtract £20 for a meager amount of food, that leaves £20 to cover bills/travel/clothing.

Gas
Electric
Water rates
Any insurance etc etc

All the above will rise over the coming years, yet if the benefits don't then what chance will people have? More people will require help from food banks, theft will rise etc

Putting this point across will be much akin to smashing my head against a brick wall I fear.

 

[elmarko]

I voted for a freeze, All payrises at the place I work are based on performance I have colleagues who despite doing a good job have not had a rise in nearly a decade (I have recieved increases but nothing like those attached to benefits!) because just doing a good job isn't enough. To see benefits rise by such large amounts is rather insulting when the wages of those who work hard are not going up by anything like as much.

Translation.

"I didn't get a pay-rise so I don't think people poorer than me should either".

This kind of attitude is exactly what's wrong with the UK.

"Me me me", unenlightened self interest.

The reason people are so hostile to people on benefits it's party due to the fact they have no idea what the actual figures are.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...ory-welfare-myths-shows-new-poll-8437872.html

An interesting read.

"According to YouGov, four out of 10 people think benefits are too generous and three in five believe the system has created a culture of dependency.

That's one view I've aired yes, the other was regarding the cap. You seem to believe benefits aren't sufficient as they are now... most people would seem to disagree.

However, people who know least about the facts are the most hostile towards claimants. *cough* [looks around this thread]

More than half of those who are "least accurate" about the system think benefits are too generous, while fewer than one in three (31 per cent) of those giving the "most accurate" answers agree."

Mr Osborne's decision to cap most benefit rises at one per cent is supported by 48 per cent and opposed by 32 per cent. But, by a margin of three to one, people think the squeeze will mainly hit the unemployed. When told it will also affect low-paid workers receiving tax credits, people oppose the move by 40 to 30 per cent. Only one in four people believe benefits should go up by less than wages or prices, while 63 per cent want to see them linked to wages, prices or both.

^ lol, people in support of it - then suddenly when told it would effect them also (via tax credits) suddenly overall support dropped.

Unenlightened self interest, as always.

 

[Dr Jack]

Benefits need to provide for the people who are claiming them. The amount needed to live changes with inflation not with however much other people's income changes. It's typical of this government that they can find the money to give a 5% tax cut to the very richest whilst they apparently lack the funds to increase maternity benefit in line with inflation.