Panorama Britains Homeles

Paula8 I agree with your OP. In my opinion only people on benefits (not working) can have as many children as they want, the more children they have the more benefits they get. A couple who are working and have a mortgage or have to pay rent have to think twice.

I find it difficult to debate these issues; as others have said the programme is made with an agenda and suspicious person that I am, I do wonder if it is all part of the Tories' master plan to create a two tier society. However: one of my staff, a girls of 21 in a long term relationship ( he works) has decided to have a child. They were living in an annexe of family member but that house was on the market and has now been sold. So, off to housing office, emergency accommodation, very hard up, and moaning about the cost of rent/council tax in the rather nice accommodation.(brand new, not a grotty B & B) I dont see why they couldnt have waited a year or two until they were in a better position, saved up, maybe got the deposit together for a rental property of their own. I know we can never really afford children, but think it is irresponsible to deliberately have a child without the means to provide a home for it, when just hanging on for a couple of years and working a bit longer would have made such a difference to their lives as a family.

Holly I live near Wooten Wawen and it is a lovely area I agree.

It may seem idyllic buying one of these residential park homes but there are terms and conditions attached to living there, ongoing costs, rules and regulations and you are often at the mercy of the site owner when it comes to things like gas, electricity, waste disposal, and buying and selling homes ion site.

Also the fabric of these homes will only last a certain time.

Like others, I make a point of not watching those programmes for the reasons given. I like to think that the vast majority of people are decent and I am sure they are.

After one of my uncles came out of the RAF, he, his wife and daughter, lived in a lovely 'caravan' type home in Wooten Wawen - as a child, I used to really envy them! The park where the 'caravan' was sited (along with many others) was such a beautiful, picturesque setting complete with a stream running through it - it had a shop and tea room as well. It was beautifully kept as well. If there was something like that near me, I would get rid of this ball and chain of a house and move into one of those caravan-type things like a shot!

Maybe if more those were built (which is cheaper and takes up less room) then more people could have somewhere decent to live.

Paula8

I could not afford for that to happen to me so for six months till I got myslef back on my feet, baby making activites were banned for us, yes its true, I took my responsibilty of being a parent that serios its true and I am not scared to say so.This was how I chose to do things, everyone has a choice

What if you had had a husband who didn't agree with sexual abstinence?

Aka I'm curious to know what exactly the term "loony left" means to you?

Hard Tomes - a book for our times...
(Sorry, Mishap, couldn't resist [moon[)

The media always pick those families that will prove controversial and ignore the decent people who have fallen on hard tomes through no fault of their own. 'Twas ever thus - they are after the ratings.

When I am yelling at the TV my DH says 'I bet you wish everyone was as perfect as you'

And people can be 'left wing' without being looney.

No way Petallus is that you!

I have stopped watching all these sorts of programmes, they seem designed just to make your blood boil by choosing certain OTT people to film.Of course there are many people who need housing help, for all kinds of reasons, but the film makers always go for the 'usual suspects'.

I meant

Aka since I haven't noticed anybody on GN I would classify as 'looney left' I am left wondering if its me! (confused)

I used to volunteer at a homeless shelter. I have every sympathy for those who find themselves in this position. They get very little in hand outs and actually ask for very little.

That was in reply to Katy

but true.

article by Malcolm Gladwell arguing that the costs to society of doing nothing about homelessness are greater than providing people with somewhere decent to live.

Although he is writing about America, I think the same principles apply here, quite apart from the compassion aspect of looking after vuolnerable people in our society.

Loved that post Aka I supposed I get mad because I have never asked anyone for anything, like most of us on here I'm sure. When I retired 5 years ago I had worked for 44 years with just a 2 year break when I had my DD. My DH was made redundant 3 times over the years and was told that because I was working he was only due the minimum jobseeker's allowance, about £43 a week I think it was then. Even small niggly things get my goat. We needed a new dustbin (before I retired). I was told that if I was on benefits I could have one free but as I wasn't I would have to pay £13. Also when we had a wasp's nest they would have removed it for nothing if we had been on benefits but we had to pay £25 as we were working. I am now going for a lie down. Sorry I have hijacked this thread

Aka

Yes, GN can have that effect, Aka!

Like you KatyK I'm fascinated by 'how the other half lives' and can't stop watching these programmes.

Another thing is when I joined GN my socialist credentials were beyond reproach but now I've had exposure to the 'looney left' (while trying to keep in mind there are more moderate left-wingers on these forums) I'm finding myself starting to develop more right-wing tendencies.

I fight against this by digging my allotment and growing cabbages.

So between these programmes and GN I'm finding myself leaning more to the right. Of course it could simply be one too many G&Ts

Truly 'there s nothing so conservative as an ageing socialist' as the graffiti said.

I agree with you KatyK I no longer watch those type of programmes as they can make my blood boil!

two large dogs