Will We Ever See Diddly, 10Cs Or Gulliver Again?

[ToraToraTora]

.....I'll go easy..ish!

[pixie374]

Not necessarily true, nj. Sometimes circumstances can change quite quickly and unexpectedly. However, having been a single parent of 4, and supporting us all without any help (including from the father), I can confirm that it is possible, with some determination. But not easy, by any means.

[Theland]

When rent and other bills have to be paid, and people wait weeks and weeks for benefits, you get evictions and hungry children.

[New Judge]

//Not necessarily true, nj. Sometimes circumstances can change quite quickly and unexpectedly.//

I agree. That's why I added my proviso. The fact is that many people have children that they know they cannot afford to support. They give little or no thought to their parlous finances and simply rely on the taxpayer to dig them out of the mire.

[pixie374]

There may be some.... and quite honestly, I am prepared to pay my taxes towards small children (however disorganised their parents might be), people with disabilities, very elderly people. But not just the lazy ones, who add nothing and do nothing.

[retrocop]

It is strange that it appears unpalatable to remind people they lost.
Since the majority of Brexiteers won their vote in the referendum we have heard nothing but bleating and whining from the remainers. We are accused of being too old,thick and unable to make an informed decision.Allegedly we were fed a diet of lies and misinformation.We are told that a new generation of youngsters who were not old enough to vote back in 2016 will change the democratic decision and vote leave because Jeremy will cancel student grants etc etc.
The likes of Gina Miller and Adonis, with more money than sense has tried to thwart the democratic process.This delay has prevented the government from dealing with issues like knife crime, boat people and other domestic issues.Thanks for nothing.
Last night was a display of Democracy. Those who demanded a second referendum or 'peoples vote' got their answer. It was a demonstration that the majority in the UK still accept a democratic vote and want out of the EU.The Torys said they were going to deliver Brexit and a very large majority voted them in. Says it all really.All these new youngster's votes that were supposed to scare us.What happened to them? Lets hear no more. The Torys were elected democratically and Brexit will happen.

[andy-hughes]

10ClarionSt - // The main factor was Corbyn. I've no doubt at all about that. //

I think there were to factors, the first was assuredly Corbyn, but the second was Corbynism.

You cannot treat the electorate like idiots and expect it to support you.

Apart from clearly being promoted above his abilities, and never remotely a party leader, Corbyn continually vacillated over the rampant anti-Semitism that is destroying his party, he allowed the powers behind the throne to peddle communist piffle with promises that an idiot can see through, and he promised more dithering on Brexit - the killer blow.

Ruth Smeeth, one of my city's defeated MP's said she wondered if Labour was fit to be the main Opposition Party - and I think she absolutely has a point.

[pixie374]

As I said to my sister yesterday, I have had to vote 3 times now for the same thing. Leave, the Brexit Party and Conservative. That really doesn't look like democracy... and the results have been clear each time.

[retrocop]

3 Tory seats won in Stoke I understand. Ho Ho Ho.

[Togo]

// But not just the lazy ones, who add nothing and do nothing.//

The problem is though Pixie, those idle feckless oxygen thieves do no share your innate sense of right and wrong. They are more than happy and able, due to our system failures, to hide behind and poison the system that was designed to be for the genuinely needy and deserving. They also have the capacity, and false support of our marxist "friends", to generate undeserving sympathy and misguided empathy.

[pixie374]

Yes Togo... I don't appreciate supporting people who are able, but not bothered. Many of them will be in a much easier position than I am, but just lazy.
I do see bringing up children as a valid and useful way of spending your time, although tbh, I also think, if I can do it and still work... everyone can. It's the "not botheredness" that I don't like x

[Theland]

I'm really sorry, but I see real need most days.
Zero hours contracts are cruel and inhumane.
Genuine need is widespread, with hunger, homelessness, and denying it is irresponsible.

[pixie374]

Theland, zero hours contact are absolutely crucial for some people. As a single parent, I ended up handing in my notice every July and reapplying for the same job every September- purely, because I couldn't afford the childcare through the summer holidays. I lost money on the others too, but the summer was a killer...!
Once I got a zero hours contract, I was able to just tell them I couldn't work school holidays (as it works both ways) and i was much better off. As many options as possible are useful, and nobody is obliged to get a zero hour contract, but it suits many people.

[New Judge]

//It is strange that it appears unpalatable to remind people they lost.//

Very true, retro.

I think it stems from the left leaning educational mantra that decrees that "all must have prizes". Nobody must lose. The problem is that in real life there are always losers. One poster earlier in this thread said "It’s not like when your football team loses a match." But the principle is exactly the same. There are only two parties in the UK capable of forming a government. One of them will win at a GE, one of them will lose. The problem is there is an increasing number of people who have been brought up to believe that they cannot possibly be on the losing side. It was evident following the referendum. Immediately afterwards there were people saying that the result did not matter and that it could (and should) be reversed. They could not stomach dealing with the fact that they had lost.

Well, Remainers did lose the referendum and in yesterday's GE those parties supporting remaining in the EU lost. Yes, the SNP did well but since they can only ever win a maximum of 59 seats and the other parties supporting remain did not do well enough that did not matter. I'm hoping that the game is finally up and that all obstructions have now been removed. The Brexit Mr Johnson has planned is not my idea of a proper Brexit but it will do for a start. It is preferable to this continued obstruction and uncertainty and the country can move on. The losers really will have to get over it because I think - and hope - they have reached the end of the line.

[Theland]

Pixie - I'm glad it worked for you. But you are in a small minority. They sure designed to maximise profits for employers, nothing more. The fact it suited you is great and it sounds like you got enough hours to live on, sadly that is often far from the case.

[pixie374]

Theland, I am far from the only single parent in the country. Just because something may not personally suit you, it doesn't mean that people on different circumstances don't welcome the choice. It doesn't necessarily "suit" employers, as they cannot then force people to work the hours they want. It is flexible on both sides. It won't suit everyone, but is a lifesaver for some.

[New Judge]

Pixie is very unlikely to be in a minority at all, let alone a small minority. Huge numbers of people working on zero hours contracts do so out of choice for the sort of reasons pixie cites.

That aside, many of the jobs where zero hours contracts are involved would not exist if the employer had to employ people for a defined number of hours. The economy of the UK has changed since employers could afford to pay people regardless whether they had any work for them to do. Many jobs are seasonal. Others have such pronounced peaks and troughs that employing people for 35 hours a week (or whatever) every week would simply be unviable.

The world has changed and continues to change and people must change with it.

[Theland]

As you will. Some I know barely got twenty hours, and had to have it made up with benefits.

[pixie374]

Surely even some work, is better than none? Particularly for a CV, references, experience etc. Maybe they needed to be more flexible in their options?
I was doing homecare for an agency at the time- and the problem never was, and never has been getting enough hours- but being able to turn down the huge number of hours needed.

[Theland]

IT is tantamount to casual labour.

[pixie374]

Not really....just that flexibility suits different people with different circumstances.