Disgusting Politics

Dirk Diggler · 5 Oct 2015 at 05:06

I thought I was reading The Onion when I first saw this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34439965

I don't know what's more saddening, the fact that government policy is now bordering on premeditated mass murder, or that the majority of English people actually voted for this brand of politics.

What kind of society are we becoming?

lafemmefatale · 5 Oct 2015 at 05:41

This is what happens when Iain Duncan Smith gets his hands on some Viagra.

To be honest, this thread will only gain any traction when the usual suspects come rolling in defending anything and everything the Tories do by an eye-watering feat of I'm Alright Jack, superiority complex mental gymnastics. Then it'll all somehow be the fault of the funny talking brown people and oh my god who let that woman out of the kitchen?

I fully expect a Daily Mail click bait article to be posted as gospel truth too.

Squark · 5 Oct 2015 at 05:42

That is pretty disgusting to read. Completely disrespectful to the older generation.

timebomb26 · 5 Oct 2015 at 05:59

BBC News said:
Many of those hit by a cut to the winter fuel allowance might "not be around" at the next election, said Alex Wild of the Taxpayers' Alliance.

Wow, what a complete ****. Not really much else to add really. Life is difficult enough for a lot of the older generation without things like this.

thebennyboy · 5 Oct 2015 at 06:01

I believe in some of the cuts they want to make. Winter fuel allowance should be means tested and the state pension should be cut.

All other forms of welfare are being cut so why the hell should OAPs be immune to the cuts? Bring them on i say! I don't condone some of their comments though!

My opinion is probably going to be quite unpopular.

vincent1989 · 5 Oct 2015 at 06:43

Wow...in some countries the elderly are venerated. I know most of them now can't tout the old 'I fought in the war' trope but most of them had a hand in rebuilding this country post war.

Edit: forgot to mention that it won't bother the tories much, born with silver spoons for the most part...why not just means test all of this rather than hand it out to everyone?

FloppyPoppy · 5 Oct 2015 at 06:58

The fact that the " Taxpayers' Alliance exist says it all. Greedy men with to much money lusting for more money and stooping as low as causing their seniors a severe knock. They may as well give them a swift punch to the back of the head.

Selekt0r · 5 Oct 2015 at 07:11

thebennyboy said:
I believe in some of the cuts they want to make. Winter fuel allowance should be means tested and the state pension should be cut.

All other forms of welfare are being cut so why the hell should OAPs be immune to the cuts? Bring them on i say! I don't condone some of their comments though!

My opinion is probably going to be quite unpopular.

I agree completely. Why should a retired ex-professional wiith a pension of >£50K receive Government handouts for fuel, bus, TV etc.? This is a very sensible move - depending on what threshold is set for the means-tesing of course...

By the way, for those who are ranting about it like the Government are a lining up poor pensioners to ship them off to labour camps in Siberia, just because the Taxpayer's Alliance says something does not mean that it automatically becomes Government policy.

Spook187 · 5 Oct 2015 at 07:41

thebennyboy said:
the state pension should be cut.

Cut to what, it's hardly anything :confused:

scorza · 5 Oct 2015 at 07:44

harry5522 said:
The fact that the " Taxpayers' Alliance exist says it all. Greedy men with to much money lusting for more money and stooping as low as causing their seniors a severe knock. They may as well give them a swift punch to the back of the head.

Yeah they're basically the UK version of the American Tea Party and I'm sure if you scratched the surface you'd probably find they were backed by the same sort of people.

StriderX · 5 Oct 2015 at 07:45

Spook187 said:
Cut to what, it's hardly anything

Got to be joking?
It's the BIGGEST spend we have, we cannot afford it, simple as.

Spook187 · 5 Oct 2015 at 07:50

StriderX said:
Got to be joking?
It's the BIGGEST spend we have, we cannot afford it, simple as.

I mean to people who have nothing else.

Tunney · 5 Oct 2015 at 07:55

The Taxpayer's Alliance is run by a guy who lives in France and doesn't pay any UK tax.

As a taxpayer, they don't speak for me.

StriderX · 5 Oct 2015 at 07:57

Spook187 said:
I mean to people who have nothing else.

It's hardly logical though is it?

We used to live in a time where we simply looked after our elderly, but apparently booting them off to a home or some ******** is good for them.

Cosimo · 5 Oct 2015 at 07:59

harry5522 said:
The fact that the " Taxpayers' Alliance exist says it all. Greedy men with to much money lusting for more money and stooping as low as causing their seniors a severe knock. They may as well give them a swift punch to the back of the head.

They'll all retire on huge pensions but those who have contributed for all the working lives will see even more going into another government pot. These people would probably advocate euthanasia if it would save paying out on pensions for people who deserve them. Stringing up on a lamp post would be more suitable for them.

xs2man · 5 Oct 2015 at 08:00

Selekt0r said:
I agree completely. Why should a retired ex-professional wiith a pension of >£50K receive Government handouts for fuel, bus, TV etc.? This is a very sensible move - depending on what threshold is set for the means-tesing of course...

By the way, for those who are ranting about it like the Government are a lining up poor pensioners to ship them off to labour camps in Siberia, just because the Taxpayer's Alliance says something does not mean that it automatically becomes Government policy.

Pretty much this. Pensions and other benefits for the old should be means tested. There are many many very rich pensioners who don't need the state pension never mind the other benefits such as TV licences and winter fuel allowances.

Of course, the pensioners who really benefit from these allowances, those that really are poor (I'm talking about those that wouldn't be paying 40% tax on their pension income) should get everything they currently get, possibly a little more taken from those that could easily afford it.

[TW]Fox · 5 Oct 2015 at 08:04

String said:
I thought I was reading The Onion when I first saw this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34439965

I don't know what's more saddening, the fact that government policy is now bordering on premeditated mass murder, or that the majority of English people actually voted for this brand of politics.

What kind of society are we becoming?

The kind of society where people continually post hyperbolic nonsense like 'GOVERNMENT POLICY IS TO MURDER' just because a random think tank has made a madcap suggestion, something random think tanks do all the time?

antijoke · 5 Oct 2015 at 08:13

thebennyboy said:
I believe in some of the cuts they want to make. Winter fuel allowance should be means tested and the state pension should be cut.

All other forms of welfare are being cut so why the hell should OAPs be immune to the cuts? Bring them on i say! I don't condone some of their comments though!

My opinion is probably going to be quite unpopular.

Because old people vote.

glenimp617 · 5 Oct 2015 at 08:14

politicians haven't got a clue

There are pensioners who are loaded, and then there are some who are quite poor. Then there are those who are loaded, but have given their money away to family, and are now seen as poor. Even though some of that money is given back behind closed doors.

Then there are those who are really poor, but on paper are well off :confused:

Sort it out

haz_pro · 5 Oct 2015 at 08:16

thebennyboy said:
I believe in some of the cuts they want to make. Winter fuel allowance should be means tested and the state pension should be cut.

All other forms of welfare are being cut so why the hell should OAPs be immune to the cuts? Bring them on i say! I don't condone some of their comments though!

My opinion is probably going to be quite unpopular.

Completely agree.