Use International Aid To Help Flood Victims & Defences.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-england-cumbria-34973832

Since no offers of financial aid seems to be incoming from those we are so often keen to help, should the government now delve deeply into the international aid budget, so as to help those poor people of Cumbria in their hour of need?

[retrocop]

//naomi24
It's not alone, Retrocop, and people in this country where benefits are very generous would survive without them.//

Lol. As some other ABer described me as making more comebacks than Frank Sinatra I am afraid my cravennesss forbade me to mention that point. At least I live another day now that it was muted. :-)

[sp1814]

AOG

Yes, that child benefit thing is scandalous - in fact, I question all child benefit...but I still think that greedy pensioners who winter fuel allowance out of my pocket whist living it up in Marbella should be tackled.

Don't you?

[sp1814]

AOG

You think that those who have contributed NI should winter fuel allowance?

But it was only introduced fifteen years ago - so it's not greedy pensioners living in hot climes who have contributed.

It's working people like me!

[cactusdriver]

I've been debating with myself the value for money of Brimstone missiles at £100,000 a pop min being used in Syria against flood defence - tricky one that....

[Baldric]

So CD do you think ISIS or whatever they're known as today should be left alone to get on with it then?

[fiction-factory]

//You think that those who have contributed NI should winter fuel allowance?
But it was only introduced fifteen years ago - so it's not greedy pensioners living in hot climes who have contributed.
It's working people like me!?//

I think they might say that over their lifetime they have contributed a lot more NI.

Having said that, I disagree with the winter fuel allowance as it is.

But I think tall this is wandering off the point which is about whether the world's richest countries really need aid. Where should we expect it from- an even richer country like the US/Germany- should Cameron go to Obama/Merkel with a begging bowl- or from somewhere like Sudan?

[Canary42]

How about begging a handout from the likes of Big Business Chiefs - for example Steve Clarke* with his 56% pay rise, now taking home just under £4m.

*WHS Chief Exec.

[fiction-factory]

I wonder how much tax he's paid already and how much he has given to charity.

[cactusdriver]

@Baldric

I was against the Iraq war, regime change in Lybia etc. and certainly against bombing in Syria. I think that if ISIS are to be defeated it must be on the ground.

[sp1814]

AOG

Actually - rather than looking at the 0.7% of GDP that we spend on foreign aid, perhaps we should take a quick look at the amount of tax that Google and Amazon pay in the UK?

If we enacted a fair tax distribution system, I suspect we would have more than enough money for flood defence.

But leave that aside for the moment...what I saw on the new last night suggested that there are flood defence systems in place in Cumbria, y simply got overwhelmed due to the unprecedented amount of rain that fell.

So - even if all the money for foreign aid were diverted back to the UK - the question that would have to be answered is 'how much defence is enough'?

100 foot bankings and walls along every river in flood plains might do the job, but then there's the quality of life issue.

[viv41]

I didn't know this thread was about winter fuel allowance !!!

[Samuraisan]

Actually you need to use heating in winter in Marbella too.

[viv41]

In for a penny in for a pound !! They only retired to the sun, prior to that they worked and paid their way here and that included tax and NI, so YES, I think they should have it !

[retrocop]

Ironic innit
Our hand wringing ABers were baying that we should open our borders to all on the basis of an emotive press photo a few months ago. The death of a toddler who was killed unnecessarily by his father who had lived safely in Turkey with a job for 3 years . How the mugs are suckerd in.
We were told that it was our humanitarian duty to accept people such as this family and we should open our doors to them.
There will be quite a few people from Cumbria with small children who will not be living under their own roofs over Christmas and for some time in the future. I hear no pleas for volunteers to accomodate our own displaced people over the festive season. No more need be said. I suppose it aint fashionable to look after our own. Some do gooders think only those who are victims of their own misdeeds should be looked after.
I suppose the Cumbrians might say,"Nought so queer as folk"

[Mamyalynne]

Help is being given freely and no one will be without shelter or access to emergency services - the charitable donations are rising and the good people of Britain are rallying around them.

A very difficult time for all.

[gness]

Retrocop.....you know that there have been no threads on AB requesting help for those whose lives have been shattered by these floods?
You know that nobody has donated to the appeal?
You know that nobody has said.....Why don't you stay with me for a while... til you get back on your feet and can deal with this awful situation?

Perhaps this mug who was touched by the death of a child has also done the above. Have you?

[retrocop]

gness
I haven't read of anyone offering to put up any Cumbrian displaced familys thus far. I recall certain nameless ones on AB howling that we should do our bit for boat people but were not forthcoming in volunteering their accomodation.
I have discussed this tradgedy with my wife this evening and we are both in agreement that our house is available for a small family to be accomodated with us as long as their problem exists.At least we know for a fact that there is genuine hardship and grief up North and not just a load of criminal economic scroungers fancying their chances for a better life at my expense.I give willingly to my own deserving people and share what I have if I can.

[gness]

Then you've missed quite a bit...and have a very small heart.

[retrocop]

Where on AB have you seen people offer sanctuary Gness. Where have I missed quite a bit? Do direct me please .

[retrocop]

Gness
Unless you have spoken to a certain Doctor Dilyani a cardiologist consultant at Epsom Hospital then I can only guess how you know the size of my heart.
Cardiac ablation does burn some parts of it away but you shoudn't know that should you?