divert foreign aid to flood-hit British families

While I have every sympathy for everyone suffering from the flooding, I certainly don't think we should re-direct funding from overseas. I saw a man on television yesterday complaining because no-one had come around with wellingtons! I often think we are all guilty of expecting the mysterious "They" to save us from thinking at all, or being responsible for ourselves. That said, people are really suffering from the floods and there can be few things worse than seeing the water coming up and into your loved home. But the politicians aren't in charge of the weather, and this spell has been exceptional.

I know this has been said before on this thread but feel it needs repeating

There will be a contingency fund for the flood type of disaster in this country. It's therefore ridiculous to suggest we cut our international aid budget. We don't need to take money from starving children in poverty stricken countries to ensure people here are ok.

The floods are dreadful, I'm in no way minimising the impact on those affected.

Ninny - your comments about people who claim benefits are very unpleasant. I was offended by your sweeping statement that an increase in taxes would be popular with 'those on benefits, who don't pay taxes, but expect everything in return' . As has been said, so often on this kind of discussion thread, the majority of people subsisting on benefits have worked at some time, and will work again. They are tax payers. Very few people have never worked. Some of them will be scroungers, like the very wealthy tax avoiders. The vast majority of them will have multiple reasons for being unable to work/find work.
I find the 'us and them' approach very dispiriting.

ninny I cannot use the NHS, I shall shortly not be allowed to vote in UK elections and my pension is frozen at the 2013 rate until I die when it ceases, but I do pay income tax in the UK. I have, therefore, a vested interest in how the UK Government spends its revenue. Also, there is no rule on Gransnet about who may or may not post on any particular topic. I think your comment about me was based on an inaccurate premise as well as being discourteous.

This is blatantly ridiculous! Do ypu have to be knee deep in sewage to be entitled to comment? Come off it!! How deep are the floods where you live ninny? Narrows it down a bit - come in feetlebaum we need your expert opinion

Whoa! ninny - I live in France. I have not commented on this thread so far so you have absolutely no idea what I think, but your broadside to people living in France and other countries is breathtaking in it's rudeness.

I was asking about the people on this blog, not DM readers, Ninny.
How have the floods affected you, Ninny?
Are Americans not allowed to comment? We usually get the weather after them. What about Danish people? The storms go over there after they have been here.

188,00 have signed so far. I stand by what I have said, if people don't live in this country and the floods don't affect them how can they comment.

No, the med somewhere.

Not to the US, though, Galen.

With this weather, I wish I'd emigrated.

I agree. Ninny's remark to absent was totally out of order. Not to mention unkind.

as a matter of interest, did anyone apart from Ninny sign the petition?

On a slightly lighter note I think I need to go to Specsavers too. Just read ninny's response to absent ^ and wondered why the hell she would be singing a petition. Thought I'd got my threads crossed with the Singing for fun thread. Oh dear.

That's more than a bit out of order ninny surely? Absent has as much right to comment as anybody!!!

I do hope this scrap lively debate hasn't been deleted by the time I get back from Specsavers.

That's a throw away remark BTW, even though I realise they've now become frowned upon.

Oh - yes. Perhaps.....

Time for some chores.

Rubbish!

Blimey this seems to be generating into real playground stuff - go for it ladies?!!!!

nelliemosser Your idea to "Bang up the income tax to pay for more flood prevention" I am sure that would be a vote winner! Well it might be for the people on benefits who never pay taxes but expect everything in return.

No one is saying we shouldn't give overseas aid only that the amount should be reduced and policed. Also I think we should look after our own people first.

Absent Your remark "I wouldn't dream of signing such a disgraceful Little Englander petition" well what's it got to do with you anyway seeing as you have emigrated why don't you concentrate on your new country of residence.

Also a few gransnetters I have noticed live in France so the same applies to you, if you are so bothered about Foreign Aid why don't you get your new country of residence to send some more money.

OR jendurham, it could be that braininess runs in families. Inherited intelligence as well as inherited wealth? You know - gene pool.

The divide and rule tactic.

"the rest of us"

oh dear

I know that, POGS. Blair and his wife are the worst. They are probably richer than the queen, although we would not know because a lot of their money is in taxhavens. Just like Cameron's dad started doing; he probably gave Blair the idea, either him or Branson.
But Jingles said that the people at the top of government are rich because of their brains. They are usually rich because their fathers and grandfathers were rich.

What a crock of ----

Do you ever look at Labours wealthy durhamjen? There are millionaires in ALL of the parties for heaven's sake.