The shame of Austerity Britain

I despair of trying to educate people who cannot understand that however cheap or expensive food is you cannot buy it if you have no money. If you are normally on a low wage you cant save for hard times so if you have no-one who can help you then you starve.

If you ever had anything valuable you sell it for a fraction of it's value but sometimes it's worthless. My child had an iphone but it was an old one and the screen was bleeding. No company would buy it. Fortunately they dont need money - but if they were on benefit they'd have no money to replace it, would need a phone to try and get work and couldnt sell it for something cheaper. But it's so much easier to ignore this and think everyone has something "valuable".

Another one here who has never understood why the Labour party has not defended its economic record.

Dont know if the greed or the stupidity is the worst.

Well said, alreadytaken.

"mostlyharmless Sun 24-Jun-18 16:57:59
I’m not sure that you’re talking about real poverty there allyg. This thread is about the homeless living on the streets and people having to use food banks because their welfare benefits have been suspended, or delayed by months.
The homeless are extremely unlikely to own multiple TVs, iPads and iPhones as you suggest".

Mostly, we are not disagreeing on this. My post was about another important areas of poverty that is hidden, but just as insidious.

It does not detract or in anyway downgrade the severity of the desperation of the homeless, or those left without money due to incompetence in the benefit system. Nor did I nor do I suggest that the homeless have multiple iPads or iPhones or T.V's.

If this thread has wandered and you want to keep it pure, so be it. There is plenty to talk about on this topic sadly.

Allygran1 I will see what I can do. Have M.E. which however is easing and has hindered me from volunteering anywhere as I need to be dependable. I have advised people and helped on a one to one basis in very small ways but I will certainly investigate this after the summer. My help at the minute consists of letter writing to my MP ( who must be sick hearing from me) and donating to food banks etc.the usual. Recently I have become aware accidentally of how difficult it is for young single mothers trying to get back into work and how stressful it is . People just dont realise. They think benefits are wonderful. I will be complaining. I'm just not sure anyone listens but we must try.

So many posts. such strong feelings. I'm having to read a couple of pages at a time. Its good to see so many united Monica agree with you in everything and I think a lot of pensioners could help with contributions towards health care. My husband would willingly as long as it was ringfenced and spent wisely. . maryeliz I was waiting for you to say "Let them eat cake"

annep, sorry to hear about your MS. From what you say you are already doing so much. There is more than one way of being useful to others. Writing letters and advising people in need, on a one to one, is as valuable as any other type of activity that benefits people in need, including organised volunteering.

The Library in our nearest small town is in a building that has been declared 'unsafe'. The Local Council has proposed that the Library move into the local Primary School which has spare capacity, but a few parents have objected (mainly on the grounds that paedophiles will use the Library to access youngsters in the school?????) and have started a petition. The Council and the PTA set up a public meeting to allow discussion, which was descending into farce, with a Parent declaring that Nobody uses the Library nowadays - people do every thing On-Line.

Then a single mum with 2 wee ones in the school got to her feet. She explained that she was now on UC and was required to spend 30 hours a week 'job seeking' and as she had no (could not afford) internet access at home, she relied on the Library to provide this + free copies of local newspapers with job ads. She explained that bus fares to the neighbouring town's libraries would amount to nearly £20 a week as well as causing difficulties being back in time to collect her DC from school. She also pointed out that there were other people in town on the same treadmill, such that the Library was in near constant use for this purpose as well as the regular Library services.

This brave statement, changed the tone of the meeting as it dawned on the people that there was much more to the Library than simply the exchange of books. These are not unconcerned people just uninformed, or in this case misinformed by the people behind the petition, which, in this case is the local Labour Councillor and his cronies, who have been using the issue as an opportunity to attack the SNP Administration, without offering an alternative proposition.

Granny23, I have to ask this, is the Library safe to use? Was it a permanent move or temporary whilst the work was completed to make the building safe, or was the intention to demolish an unsafe building?

As you say the young mum added a new dimension to the discussion and the use of the Library, but will she be safe and will other's be safe using the building?

*Allygran18 the existing Library is in a really old building which is crumbling away. It is currently shored up with scaffolding and roof props but scheduled for demolition as soon as alternative premises are available. Council is cash strapped ATM hence the plan to move the Library into their underused Primary School (2 classrooms lying empty) at minimal cost - only adding on a separate entrance, with no access to the rest of the school, and additional car parking. This work will be completed over the School holidays, ensuring no disruption for the pupils.

It all seems eminently reasonable to me but there has been a deliberate campaign of misinformation for Party Political reasons which has muddied the waters and led to parental opposition to the plans, without putting forward any viable alternative.

Thanks for that post Granny23. Party Politics has a lot to answer for. What I find most unforgivable is the fact that the misinformation leads to splits in communities, as well as loss of amenities in your case. As you say if they object but with a viable alternative it would be different, but objection for the sake of it, is negative and helps no one in the end.

I hope your young mum and others get their much needed community support, be it in a library or some other building with the facilities they need, in a suitable place.

Granny23 your post reminded me of the saying that 'people don't know what they don't know until somebody tells them'. The young mother you describe is in the position that many of my homeless clients are in; they have neither smart phone, nor tablet, cannot afford to buy a daily paper and the return bus fare to the nearest jobcentre costs £8. Without the library (and very often a helpful librarian) they would be even more disadvantaged than they already are. People who have no understanding of grinding poverty glibly make suggestions to me about what my clients could/should do and, pacifist that I am, I could sometimes shake them for their ignorance. Employment and support allowance is £73.10 per week for someone over 25 who is unfit for work - and even that is not payable for the first seven days of a claim.

Do your research the credit cards companies have increased the spending limits .so in the main younger generation keep on spending.mortgage rates are at the lowest for many years
the younger age group still want the latest phone, internet perhaps sky . coffee shops and sandwich shops etc etc
what they need is education to save?
my last project i checked 2500 mortgages cases most were to pay off credit cards loans , then they start all over again.
the richest man in china said we in the west spend today's money and tomorrows money,
china has been poor so long .they save their money.
an article in one of the nationals stated hundreds of 000,s of young are going back home to try and save? take look at how many coffee shops and sandwich shops there are in your location so who,s buying. take a look at who walks down the road with coffee and sandwiches and texting says it all does n,t it