Something positive about this government

Thank you for your post Day6. You have said what I have wanted to say but put better than I would. It drives me mad that anyone who votes Tory is just seen as a monster with no compassion at all.

Apology is never mandatory or almost mandatory, it's a choice surely

Gosh Day6. What an excellent summary. Thank you.

If you don't support Labour, there is no point contributing to a thread like this, that's pretty obvious.

You are fighting those who throw out all the emotive stuff, like 'suicide', as if no one from a working family not reliant on benefits has ever had to deal with awful issues like suicide, incapacity, illness, unemployment or where the money for the next electricity bill is coming from.

If you are on this thread and not of a left wing persuasion, you lack compassion, have no idea of suffering, and are of the 'I'm alright Jack' brigade.

For the left, on this thread at least, it's all about homelessness, benefits, unemployment and what it's like to be on the very bottom rung of the ladder. It's almost as if suffering is peculiar to that cohort only.

I can only speak for myself and say we all find ourselves in the circumstances that are at times difficult. I have had a pretty hellish life, but fear for the country if the hard left and Corbyn are ever elected.

I get the feeling here that if you have a roof over your head, have had a career, have a bank account, and can pay for food, even if it's only bread and soup, you are a selfish individual with no idea of suffering.

This is why I have lost faith in the Labour party....because the zealots in their ranks forget that life can be distressing and tough for MANY people.

Quite a few of us who are NOT prepared to vote for Corbyn and Labour like the fact that Cameron and co ARE aware of the Big Issue sellers so beloved of many who've contributed to this thread, but also recognise that the majority of us, who've had trials, tribulations, illness, trauma, unemployment, etc, etc, etc and have fought hard for everything we have, also exist too.

I would occasionally like recognition that in the great scheme of things a few breaks should go our way, otherwise, what is the **ing point of trying, of making the best of your circumstances and encouraging your children to make an effort?

I am fully aware that the world isn't a fair place, it never has been, and I tend to do all in my ability to aid the less fortunate if I can. I am able, and can thankfully say, "There but for the grace of God* " (*insert Buddha,hard work, circumstances, friends, family background, surgeons, good genes...whatever you like there.)

It seems completely ignorant and blinkered to label anyone not in love with Corbyn as selfish and unaware. Should we all be living in squats and begging so that we can appreciate life being tough? Sorry for recognising that it's bloody tough for many from the safety and security of my own four walls. (One must apologise...I think it's almost mandatory on this thread.....)

Fine, have it your way ab and keep talking about suicide on the political threads [with no proof, as suicide is a very complex thing.] perhaps others will do so too.Their choice.

Rosesarered, I do think about it , I work with people who are hovering on the line , people have committed sucide because of political choices , this cannot be ignored anymore than a person with MS has their car taken from them

Not different to speaking of disabilities?!! The mind boggles at that statement.
If there were a thread about suicide and how it affected families that would be quite different, but NOT throwing it into a lot of political threads.
There are quite a few on here who have to live with this sadness in their lives [ I know from pms.]it needs to be written of sensitively and not to score political points.Think about it.

Rosesarered, not speaking of suicide is no different to not speaking of any disability , there must be posters affected by disabilities as you are affected by suicide, I am sorry you suffered this pain

gangy in the light of What has been achieved over the past 6 years it is more than impressive it is marvellous.

It would also be marvellous if the chancellor in the current government had achieved everything he set out to do ensuring all the pain given out to the poor and disabled would be worth the candle. But he hasn't and it isn't.

nonnie I do hope remark hasn't wound you up.

What I said on the other spin thread to you yesterday was genuine and heartfelt.

I can see there is going to be a stand off on this thread so I'll get it going again. I have to agree that Eloethan's list is quite impressive but would add that some of these achievements were rather costly. I am eagerly waiting for the EU referendum as I can guarantee that fireworks will follow!

whitewave writing whatever you like with a grin does not make things better. It is escalating things, not calming them.

Perhaps it would be better for some people to stop harping on about suicide,
There will be quite a few posters with this sadness in their lives ( including me) and it adds nothing to the posts and is hard to prove anyway ( so maybe time to stop trying.)

WW it wasn't me who made it personal, I just responded to one who did!!

nonnie glad you took my advice to avoid making things personal!!

My garden beckons also but it is so cold still here

Yes he will be the next chancellor and take from the wealthy to give to the poor

Finally an apology! Will there be one about the question of my family moving? I never mentioned my family. Will there be one for telling me to 'obey'? How about an explanation of what I didn't find funny? Not going to hold my breath on any of these.

Strange how some make wild comments and expect them to be taken as fact. Strange how HQ delete posts for no reason. GN is clearly no better than the MPs they moan about.

Few more posts to look at then my garden beckons and is much more enjoyable.

Much depends on the ambitions though, think of Ny Bevans ambition to give the country the N.H.S. Now we have Hunts ambition to destroy it . I cannot see IDS had an ambition to help the vulnerable so I think his ambition was self serving. I do not trust this man. If we vote out of the E.U and have a new PM I think IDS will be back in the cabinet

trisher
It was brewing then though

IDS on Andrew Marr claiming he has no ambition-It's so Shakespearean!
"But Brutus says that Caesar was ambitious and Brutus is an honourable man"
Bit late maybe but "Beware the Ides of March"!??

I think one of the real problems is the lack or perceived lack of strong opposition since 2010.
Strong and convincing arguments have not penetrated the narrative, but hopefully now that the total shambles of economic paucity has been exposed, perhaps the voter will begin to refuse to take on board the discourse of the right and begin to look for alternatives. It is all out there for the reading, the trouble is the vast majority of the media close it down as far as is possible

I agree with a lot of your post Gracesgran (therefore I think it's a good post ), apart from being on the left, as I am a floater (not without principles I hope but seeing the best and worst in both parties). I think too long for one party in power is not good for the country and people as a whole, they then seem to think they are invincible and that they can push through whatever they like.

I believe there is an absolute maximum of £500 per week, however many children in a family and whatever the cost of housing. This sort of figure is often quoted as if every family receives it - most get a good deal less than that. In my area, the average house costs £500,000, the average flat £350,000 and the average rent is £1,300 per month.

I don't believe that unemployment/disability benefits should be brought down - I believe that the absolutely disgusting wages that some people are earning - even when working for companies that are making huge profits - should be lifted up.

It had been expected that George Osborne would reform pension tax relief - as someone else pointed out, this disproportionately benefits the wealthiest people. Most political commentators agree that as this would have affected Conservative supporters and donors it was abandoned.

I think it is a cowardly, politically and ideologically driven choice to hit welfare but, if some people feel that it is a fair and reasonable target, then I don't see why pensioners should be ring-fenced. Recent figures have shown that, on average, they are doing much better than younger people. Again, the view is that this wasn't pursued because older people are the Conservatives' core voters.

Crumbs, I never thought I would defend IDS - I can't bear the man - but I do believe he feels that it would be good for those on the receiving end of benefits not to be in a position that makes them feel they cannot work because the welfare of their family will be worse by them doing do.

I also feel that to change a system you need enough money to "fudge" the changes for those they will hurt and he seems to have been deprived and deprived again of those resources.

Do those who attack him feel the best benefits system would be one that never changed? That is what it is beginning to sound like. I know I am not as far to the left as some on here - indeed I feel pushed to the further left by what I perceive as the extreme right wing stance of this government but denying that any changes need to made seems pointless to me.

Do I think we should be looking at pensions again - yes. I think we should have a living pension (£11,200 apparently) get rid of all the odds and ends and tax the highest earners so they do not benefit from this. What I do think is that we must feel able to discuss this but pensions seem to be an area closed down by the rhetoric of some on here. We really do all need to be in this together - so that we balance the day to day spending as Labour is now suggesting. That will not be easy and "no changes" will not help.

I think Osborne is a politician and not, by any means, an economist. I think he is so self-obsessed he is a poor politician but this does not stop me thinking there will have to be changes.

Love the way they are trying to be all sweetness and light whilst dishing each other