Housing Benefit for under 25s

Thanks for the petition durhamjen, which I've signed. I should think for the majority of people it's depressing enough being reliant on benefits without having the added humiliation of having to produce a card to buy anything.

Meanwhile, as benefits are being cut and these draconian measures proposed, the financial markets and wealthy individuals continue with their old tricks:

"the European Banking Authority is in the final stages of producing guidance intended to unify the array of practices that banks subject to the bonus cap have employed to avoid having to cut the pay of their key staff" (Guardian 27 September);

"Banks braced for record fines in Forex scandal" (foreign exchange market manipulation)

Lloyds Bank fined re Libor scandal - July 2014

Royal Bank of Scotland fined in February 2013

ICAP, money broker, fined in June 2014

RP Martin, money broker, fined in May 2014.

Ex-Morrisons treasurer charged over insider trading during 2013 (insider trading is done on a "nod and a wink basis" and is thought to occur frequently but to often go undetected).

It seems that, in the main, individuals who have engaged in dishonest practices have rarely been called to account. When fines are imposed, the financial institution is ordered to pay, and it is the bank's customers who will no doubt ultimately bear the cost. One way banks have sought to claw back lost money is by marketing "packaged" bank accounts, which are increasingly being criticised as failing to deliver, particularly in the area of travel insurance.

It's a pity that more exposure isn't given to this scandalous behaviour from people who are never satisfied with the vast amounts of wealth they already have - instead of continually pointing the finger at those at the bottom of the pile.

DJ

I have told you before I don't read your links 'I don't do blue'.

In this instance I had no need to as you had posted the wording you wanted us to read to ensure your point was made.

I don't read your links and hardly any of other GN's because , a. I don't want to read links to a political party/ethos. b. I like to think for myself and if a subject looks interesting I find out for myself what I believe.

I realise you post passionately and I respect that.

I don't feel that it does any justice to a thread if you resort to making personal comments such as 'Why am I always suspicious of people' . I am not.

You were suspicious of this person, POGS. You said the story might not be true.
I prefer to believe people who write about what they have seen. However, I am not at all surprised that Gracesgran agrees with you.
Believe it or not, I do not put links on just for you two. Some other gransnetters appreciate being given links.
You are quite within your rights to read them or not, and to comment on them or not, but to call people who write replies to blogs liars I find most offensive.

To voice reservations about the veracity of a supposedly 'real-life' experience posted in response to an article by such a biased blogger isn't calling anyone a liar, durhamjen.

DJ.

I have not called anybody a 'liar'.

I do not apologise for being unable to adhere to a belief that just because somebody writes, tweets or makes comments on Facebook that person is telling the truth or has no underlying reason for making something up as I find the anonymity of the user poses questions as to their reliability, character and any underlying mischief making etc. I find there are some quite 'ugly' minded people use social media and I am glad to see this is starting to gain traction in finding them out and prosecuting them. I

I said in my post "I would urge caution as sometimes the outward picture doesn't tally with the truth" and 'Also was it a true story". That wasn't calling somebody a liar, it was asking how reliable was the comment . I wouldn't have a clue if the person who made the statement was lying or not, nor do you.

To 'lump' Gracesgran with my post is just chirlish to be honest. Her post was quite innofensive and your only purpose was to try and belittle.

I appreciate you don't put links up 'just for me' but your post of 13.03 was directed to me hence I replied to you in person so I don't to be honest know why you go on to mention others liking your links, stating the b------g obvious for the sake of discord.

An interesting list, Eloethan. Like you, I wonder why the media do not make more of this than the problems of those with nothing trying to survive. Then I remember who owns the media and it no longer surprises me.

Some of those key staff you mention are actually paid over £500 per hour, assuming they work for a full year a 40 hour week. Of course, we all know they do not. In fact they often have two or three jobs, so probably get paid over £1000 per hour. Note I say get paid, not that they earn it.

At the same time, Cameron expects people on minimum wage working 30 hours a week to be grateful they do not pay any income tax.
I read somewhere that in order to make our society more equal, we ought to tax pay at the top more. Then those people will not want to take more out of their companies as the money they have will not increase that much. They might then consider those at the bottom in their companies. One can but hope.

I think the use of cards to get food into children's bellies, can only be good.

I think the bloke outside the chip shop should have bought the boy some chips - and some fish. I'm not sure how you could go about reporting it.

How rude to deliberately ignore posts addressed to you, durhamjen, but instead carry on a conversation with a poster who agrees with your views.

It really is very difficult to take you seriously when you dismiss others' views so casually.

I thought it was a woman, jingle, called Sasha, anyway. It can be either, can't it? S/he said that s/he would have called the police a few years ago, but not now.
I do not understand your comment, Ana. The blog is www.politics.co.uk which is considered to be independent even by MPs. They all write on it.
It's just that the Tories are such an easy target these days.
POGS, how do you know it's a facebook comment? I didn't and I look at it quite often. It's as respectable as Gransnet.

Other than those which concur with your own, of course...

As you can see, Ana, I did not ignore you.
Another case of shooting the messenger.

Sorry, Ana, but is that not what you and POGS do, agree with each other all the time?
I thought it annoyed you when people got personal. You do not seem to mind attacking me.

As your link to the Shelter photos comes up as "Forbidden durhamjen, I am putting it up again

When I saw these pictures earlier I thought, "thank God things are not that bad now". I don't think they are.

And I don't know what on earth you're talking about, durhamjen - you seem to be rambling.

I can't remember agreeing with POGS about anything just to annoy you - perhaps she and I just happen to agree on certain subjects.

I don't think any political party/government are better or worse than the next when it comes to balancing the very rich and the very poor. Some of them are good at "talking the talk" but do they really do anything? I agree that many private landlords are probably rubbing their hands together In today's climate, snapping up properties from unfortunate people who for no fault of their own have lost their jobs and are unable to keep up mortgage payments. I am saddened when I see those awful boards up with "for sale by auction" which must be a rich landlords dream come true. We seem to be heading back to the days when only the very rich or privileged could own a property and everyone else had to rent for unscrupulous landlords.

Having said that I fear that when labour get back into government we will see the return of thousands of civil service non-jobs (for whom we will all foot the bill) roads going to nowhere and local government offices popping up like there's no tomorrow.

Jeez I am so fed up!

DJ

Again, that is your interpretation of my words that is obviously seeking my response.

So I will clarify for you.

When I said 'writes, tweets or makes comments on Face Book' and went on to mention social media I thought it was fairly obvious I was being inclusive of all media modes, not as you thought implying the message was on Face Book.

As Cameron said 'Too many tweets make a tw-t.'. Hence I thought tweeting was in reference to Twitter.

I agree, gillybob. All those who keep going on about 'this government' and how awful it is may find that the country's in an even worse position in a few years time. Or maybe they have more faith in Miliband and Balls than I do!

Thanks, jingle. Never had to keep the lights on to keep the rats away.
I did live in a house without a bathroom or indoor toilet, no gas, a cold tap and just one electric point in the house., when my eldest son was a year old.
Fortunately we moved out after six months.
I do not know anybody who lives like that now, like you. Hope we are not going back to it.

Well of course we are - 'this government' will see to that!

Yes Ana that is my fear too. Most of the people I went to school with went into civil service jobs and are now either twiddling their thumbs waiting for our newly refurbished (million £) town-hall to reopen (on full pay thank you very much) or else have taken "early retirement" ( very nice if you can get it) I think that those people who see are return of a labour government as "all things bright and beautiful" either have very short memories or have retired from the civil service, teaching or NHS on very nice pensions, for which we have all contributed.

I really shouldn't have had that second glass of red wine tonight I think it might have pushed me over the edge.

I could fight with a feather but sadly DH is fast asleep . shhhhhhh

Me too.

On too many Bicardi's . Chcheeeerrsss.

Exactly, gillybob. Not looking forward to the 'Election' threads next year...

Teachers contribute to their own pensions. So do many people who work for local authorities. My mother was a nurse and paid superannuation.
Sorry to disagree with you, gillybob, but you have not contributed towards any of my family's pensions, even though we are mostly in the professions you mentioned. None of us retired early either.