Jobless couple given �500,000 home

[AB Asks]

A detached eight bedroom house with its own garden and driveway has been given to a jobless couple with 12 children. It is a house that many dream of being able to afford but this family have not had to pay a penny. They were given the house after their former home was burnt down in a fire. Neither of the parents has a job � claiming they would earn less if they worked. The couple receive an astonishing �44,000 a year in benefits. What do you think? Are these people lazy scroungers? Or are they working an unfair system to their own benefit � something we should all think of doing?

[LoftyLottie]

Good point Ludwig. It's the children we have to consider here, but it still makes my blood boil.

[LoftyLottie]

I was just about to post that as well Ludwig, but I thought I would be accused of all sorts. Pariss Jordan!!!!!

[NJOK]

I'm not sure you got my point there, Lottie. I was referring to the flawed logic of the me, me, me culture.

On AB, every time this kind of debate comes us, people get themselves very angry and confused over why they're not entitled to benefits or council houses themselves, when other (unemployed) people are.

They seem to think benefits should be given out acccording to how much people have contributed, rather than how much they're needed.

In which case, Richard Branson should be given a whole housing estate to live in.

[LoftyLottie]

Oh, I see Njok - yes I did misunderstand. However, I still think it grates when people are doled out benefits galore and think it is their god given right. She will probably go on to have another six children and each of her children will start producing more children and they in turn will expect benefits - because that is the life style they know and take as being acceptable.

[Reverandfunk]

I agree with LeMarch, after 5 kids stop everything from working.

[LoftyLottie]

I was just wondering, thinking back to Le Marchand's first answer, that, if it is possible to live like this on benefits, what is it that stops us all doing the same thing. Is it just our upbringing - because if that is the case then we can't really be blamed. How do you break the circle?

[spanner7853]

NJOK- I dont think it's a case of us saying I want I want it's a case of some of us having to work our buts off just to pay bills and they got given an 8 bedroomed house, council or not it's still rent free!

Loftielottie- It must be in our upbringing to work rather than sponge. I'm not saying ll people on benefits as I said earlier some people are disabled and are given what is owed. but for someone to have 12 kids just so they dont have to get off there bum and work is disgraceful.

[ruby27]

Reverandfunk
I noted on an earlier post you informing NJOK that you plan to retire to the Canaries given your disgust of this country. I just wanted to warn you that the Canaries do not have the draconian laws you wish for. As the area is predominately Spanish Catholic I think you will find that far from having the number of children regulated, they love children.
In fact I don't think with the exception of China, there is any country that controls how many children you can have, even those with regular human rights abuse/ mad evil dictators, can anyone advise different.

[ruby27]

Could it just be possible that this couple love having children?

Has anyone met anyone who said, well going to work every work day sounds like far to much hard work, on the other hand parenting 12 children is a doddle - that seems the easier option?

[LoftyLottie]

Spanner, sometimes I sincerely wish I hadn't been brought up so responsibly and didn't give a damn - an earlier posting said that people with their own houses etc. gain in the long run because they can keep living in their own own home. However, that's not true is it!!! They take it off you as soon as possible when you get old and need the money for your care in an old folks home!!!!

I find it difficult now to encourage my children to go down the same responsible route as myself when I see what is happening in this country!

[LoftyLottie]

They might love having children Ruby. I would hate to have loads of children. However, even if I wanted loads of children I am conditioned to stop and think whether I can afford them. Also, I don't think it's fair to expect others to finance my love of children.

[society]

Possibly they don't know about birth control?

[NJOK]

Really, Lottie? You sincerely wish that?

That puzzles me. There seems to be a sense on here that by having a job and affording our own housing, we've got the rough end of the deal.

Eight bedroomed house and a life of leisure or not, you wouldn't want to swap with this woman would you? I wouldn't. I live in a small one-bedroomed flat and I work every day. That suits me just fine.

This 'Oh, it's alright for her' mentality is strange. Are people really that unhappy with their lot?

If the injustice of having to work appalls you that much then follow this woman's lead. Get yourself sacked, knock a few kids out and claim those lovely lovely benefits.

[China Doll]

'Something we should all think of doing?'

<Thinks about having 12 kids >

I think I'll pass.

[B00]

Msybe if this couple had jobs they'd be too knackered to keep producing children?

[annie0000]

I think that the other issue here is that were this couple raising 12 future tax payers and contributers to society, I would gladly contribute to their income. However, given the example that they have been set in watching their parents living off benefits, the chances are that the majority of these children will remain a drain on society. I don't deny anyone the right to have as many children as they can support. The benefit system is supposed to be there as a lifeline for people who need support for a short time, or because they have illnesses or disabilities that mean that they need our help. Having said that I would not like to have to cope with 12 kids - they probably get extra child care as well - priority places at nursery etc.

Whilst what the parents are doing is morally wrong, can we deny the kids some kind of life now that they are here? If we removed benefits, what would happen to them?

[LoftyLottie]

Yes, Njok, I quite sincerely meant it. If you go on to read my postings you will see that I can't go ahead and be like that because I have been 'conditioned', and besides I don't like children that much ;o).

But yes, she probably is a great deal happier than I am because I have been taught to have expectations of how I should be contributing to society and I have the stresses associated with it. I do wonder whether it's worth it.

I also do get feedback from a lot of my young relatives who are 'seriously' thinking along thesame lines now that they are through college, out in the work place and wondering about their future.

Undoubtedly, I shall just carry on regardless.

[xhxmxsx]

there's not alot we can do about it as people all over the place abuse the system. my fiance's x does it, is married has 4 kids and to the social she is a single mum with 4 kids so she has everything paid for

[NJOK]

Can anyone else smell burning martyr?

Lottie, I agree that theirs isn't a lifestyle that we should encourage.

But let's not claim to be selfless grafters motivated by a sense of civic responsibility.

You don't work because you're been brought up to be a model citizen, determined to contribute to society. Or because you've been conditioned to get by without state help.

You work because when you weigh up the pros and cons, you want to work. And so will your kids.

[LoftyLottie]

Njok 'I want to work' You want a bet!!!