Child poverty is overwhelming teachers & GPs!

I find the lack of understanding and compassion towards our fellow human beings as shown on this thread depressing.

Why do we criticise and judge poorer people more harshly if they aspire to have some of the material things that we consider necessary for modern life?

We fool ourselves if from our lofty moral position we see ourselves as somewhat better than others less fortunate. We judge that they are in an inferior position because of their own weaknesses. They make “poor choices”, are “work shy”, have “too many kids” and so on.

Sheer luck has much to do with succeeding or otherwise in society, starting from the luck of being born into a nurturing caring family, and so much more over which we have very little control.

I agree, Farzanah.

Some of the hypocrisy and sheer lack of compassion is indeed depressing. Remind me - do we know that the TV was paid for by 'the taxpayer'? And was there an answer to the question of why it is that televisions are so resented when they belong to those who might struggle to afford to pay for other forms of entertainment?

I'd add another - why was the woman's weight relevant? Was there also a way of seeing her medical records to exclude reasons such as an underactive thyroid or other reasons why this may have been the case, or is it just assumed to have been because of a moral failing on her part?

Woman not working. Husband an agricultural labourer. No cap on family allowance in those days. Eight kids. The husband’s wage wouldn’t have bought the tv and hifi I mentioned. Wouldn’t the money have been better spent on the children instead of sending them to school in dirty, torn clothes? A question of priorities.

Yes, priorities. Yours and theirs are clearly different. Not quite the same as the TV being paid for by the taxpayer though.

As you say, CB was payable to everyone, and spending not policed. I got it for my two, and was never asked to account for how I spent it - were you?

There will always be people who behave in ways that we would not, but they are anecdotes not evidence. The existence of this family (25 years ago or more?) proves nothing about the reality of child poverty then or now.

When I was a very hard up single mother, paying the mortgage and all the other bills after my husband left and feeding and clothing my son, my priority was my child. I couldn’t afford for both of us, and his friend who often came over to play at the weekend, to eat a proper tea on those occasions. So he and his friend always did and a packet of four crumpets would be two days’ tea for me. That’s prioritising your child. My family allowance was a godsend, and it was spent in the way the government intended.

I agree.

But the fact remains that the farm labourer's TV was not bought by the taxpayer, any more than were your crumpets.

In your imagination Doodledog. Child benefit wasn’t being spent on those children.

Ok.

Those of us, like GSM, who have known hard times find it difficult to sympathise with those who don't know how to manage. When my children were small I stayed at home while my husband worked. His wages just covered bills and left a small amount for food. I made cheap meals from scratch, walked rather than caught the bus and bought 2nd-hand clothes for the children. And in time our finances improved as I worked part-time in the evening. We never had any benefits back then and did not expect to receive any as it was our idea to have a family. There are feckless, lazy families these days as there were back then but now they are helped by the state. I have little sympathy for them if they are fit and able. And by the way I don't read the Daily Mail or vote Conservative.

Germanshepherdsmum

Sorry to burst your bubble Elegran, but the house and children were dirty, their torn clothes not mended and no, she didn’t grow vegetables. For want of a better word, she was a slob. Fat, with greasy hair and a dirty home and family.

Wow so not only do you despise poor people but you fat shame too! Wow 😡😳

I do my best to understand that there are many different ways to look at life, but this thread has upset me. The sheer disdain for and lack of compassion shown to others is shocking.

Skydancer

Those of us, like GSM, who have known hard times find it difficult to sympathise with those who don't know how to manage. When my children were small I stayed at home while my husband worked. His wages just covered bills and left a small amount for food. I made cheap meals from scratch, walked rather than caught the bus and bought 2nd-hand clothes for the children. And in time our finances improved as I worked part-time in the evening. We never had any benefits back then and did not expect to receive any as it was our idea to have a family. There are feckless, lazy families these days as there were back then but now they are helped by the state. I have little sympathy for them if they are fit and able. And by the way I don't read the Daily Mail or vote Conservative.

I have had hard times when my 3 children were small. I too made meals from scratch, mended clothes, worked part time didnt run a car and mostly walked BUT I was lucky and privileged enough to have had a first class education and know how to get us out of difficult circumstances not everyone has that privilege or opportunities and I DO NOT judge poorer people struggling! Instead I decided to use my education in the law to work for a charity helping not finger pointing!!

Jenpax Education up to 18 is free and available to all in this country. I accept some people fall on hard times whilst others choose their idle lifestyles.

I have little compassion for those who don’t try to better themselves and that includes people who have many more children than they can afford to look after. I reserve my compassion for animals which are grossly mistreated by the human race and have no voice or government assistance.

Btw jenpax, you perhaps don’t know that I am a retired solicitor who did a lot of pro bono work whilst working full time.

Being a real animal lover, I too feel compassion for animals, but I also have a deep compassion for young children, who like animals have no voice and little choice in the life they live.

Funny that the experience of poverty leads some people to recognise the fragility of life and to have compassion for the poor, while others seem to harden their attitudes.

I have little compassion for those who don’t try to better themselves

One persons bettering of self is another person coasting along, I suppose.

I suppose most who think like that zakouma have not read The Tyranny of Merit by Michael Sandel the philosopher.
He’s my hero.

Curlywhirly

Being a real animal lover, I too feel compassion for animals, but I also have a deep compassion for young children, who like animals have no voice and little choice in the life they live.

Children grow up and go to school. Animals have no escape.

I feel a strong compassion for animals too GSM but going to school does not necessarily set children free.

They have a chance - animals don’t. I give my money to animals and always will.

Yes you have a point.

Farzanah

I suppose most who think like that zakouma have not read The Tyranny of Merit by Michael Sandel the philosopher.
He’s my hero.

I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with that book.

I was trying to say it is not helpful to talk of " bettering oneself" as it is all relative. The family mentioned by GSD may have been OK, we don't know.

Those of us with the education and intellect and mental stability to respond to life's knocks might do well to have some compassion for those less blessed.

He’s worth a look on YouTube zakouma. He teaches philosophy at Harvard, has written a few books and has fronted a few public discussions on U.K. TV.