Ringpeas

I am including all benefits that are child related

They should decide carefully if they can support a 3rd child should this happen

There may be an increase in abortions, but maybe they will start to use contraceptives like the rest of us have to. Or possibly get a job?

PeteBrant

So a woman has three children. She was reliant on her husband for her income. (who was able to get said job, because his wife was at home looking after the kids so he didnt have to). He runs off with secretary and leaves her with nothing. No maintenance, nothing.

In that case, she should do what, exactly? I mean yes, she can get a job - but she is going to need help, since the job is going to pay bugger all, and certainly not enough to pay for the upkeep and child care of three kids.

dpb

But preferably sterilzed

Martin2005

Hmmmm you too seem to have a slightly 'one-eyed' view of things too.

Whilst I agree a new govenment would be desirable right now, you want to run down everything this government has done over the past 12 years. They do have (in historical terms) an excellent economic record, but like all things economic it goes bad too. We used to a have a recession every 6 or so years under the Tories so not having one for 12 years is pretty good in my book.

Ohhh for a bit of balance on here.....

Ringpeas

I was brought up by a single mother. We had enough to survive but not for flash cars, internet, SKY TV etc. As this was not a great lifestyle my mother went to college, trained in IT and eventually got a good job.
If I had grown up in this decade it would have made more sense for my mum to just work a few hours a week and stay on benefits.

This may be tough for a few people to accept, but we can't afford to carry on as things are. A decade ago you went to your family if things got tough, now you turn to the state.

PeteBrant

So because you struggled, so should everyone else.

I was brought up by a single parent too - And she had to work ****ign hard to support us - and if she had a bit more help from the government, then perhaps she would have had to work herself half to death to support me and my sister.
Yes we can, what makes you think we can't?

Mitchy260

Pete you've made your point mate. You're arguing until your blue in the face that people who use children as a career path are right in doing so and they can benefit fraud all they like as its not affecting you.

Little chav 15/16yr olds who are thick as mince in school and who will never be better than a toilet cleaner in employment, purposely choose to get pregnant in order for a free house and all the benefits that come with it.

In Spain, they dont get free housing, why should they be put up to the top of the housing list here.

IT IS A CAREER PATH - If they're doing sh*t at school, its a viable option. This option should not be there!!

People have their own minds and are big enough to have their own opinions on the matter. From reading previous threads on similar matters, you're in a losing battle. People hate scroungers for a reason!!

What was the 1st thing that popped into your mind, when you seen Karen Matthews and the dewsbury estate on the news.

Mine was, it is a scam!! (proof only now that i was correct) Thieving gypos!!

I agree, child benefit should be paid for a maximum of 2 children. You have anymore, you go out to work for it!! If a husband leaves, then the female gets enough anyway and usually retains the family home and car etc and its the husband thats left out to dry financially.

Its the labour government who have made a life on benefits far more rewarding than a life in employment. Sad but true. Search benefits trap into google

Snazy

Hmmm I dont recall saying everything the Labour bods have done has been totally wrong. Maybe you could point that bit out for me.
Im sure there has been some good along the way. HOWEVER, the matter at hand is financial stability and strength of the country. Something Labour have boasted about and patted themselves on the back about for a couple of years now. But, now something has gone wrong, its no longer ANYTHING to do with them, and its totally the worlds fault.

A recession every 6 years or so?? lol Really?
Upward and downward trends and recessions are somewhat different, but its very easy to call these recessions when looking at the other sides records.
I dont think for one second these things are totally avoidable. But for the people in power to suddenly drop it like a hot plate, and scream "nothing to do with us" is a little worrying. Dont remember that happening last time round

The one thing to remember is, the world IS a changing place. For anyone to say, "so and so could have done it better" is talking *****!
Things like the coal mines, yes other decisions could have been made causing a different outcome, but other things which are affected by global changes, little can be done to change it. But much can be done to manage it.

Cant manage something you deny is happening, then abandon responsibility for too.
I seem to remember a glove puppet standing at the dispatch box a few weeks back, being made to say things were not too bad..... Hmmm and today an emergency meeting of financial heads.

The grass is always greener etc, but at the end of the day the last few years have seen some horrific scandels, and the recent months just add fuel to the fire.

Anyone who refuses to even acknowledge there have been serious problems is either dumb, or far too committed to Labour.

pslewis

I am old enough to remember many Governments over the decades - without doubt, I have done better under a Labour Government than I have under a Tory Government.

It may be that my life has reflected the highs when Labour were in power, but I don't think so.

The 70's saw good, rewarding, employment, good wages, healthy inflation and a great sense of pride in the UK ....... then, Thatcher came in and dismantled our Engineering base, we had record high Interest rates, the ERM Mess, high unemployment and a UK to hate ....... with all the Yuppies and grabbing Tory theories sweeping the country .... 1989 under the Tories saw the misery of a Housing crash!

Since 1995, on the whole, the UK has done very well - as most of it's inhabitants have .............. those who have never experienced the Tories in power should think long and hard before marking that cross on their ballot paper!

There is to be a big housing correction, it started many months ago ... there are to be some tightening of financial belts ... no bad thing as we need to get out of this culture we are locked in of 'want and get'.

Snazy

OK, to play the whole flipside of things. With your extensive memory of things, which I respect as much as the next man. What were the positives of the Tory era?
They cant have stayed in power that long being that wrong, just as Labour have proven.

I just want to see that each can acknowledge the other is not totally barmy

Ringpeas

The Tories did a lot of good for our country - at first, then lost the plot.
The same thing has now happened to Labour.

They have one direction only, and when it doesn't work we're knackered.

pslewis

Positives?

More accountability for the public purse, they ended the 'Cost Plus' Contracts - which stopped the gravy train I was on!

Deregulation of the Optician Retail con.

Kicked the Argies out of the Falklands (this was the only reason Thatcher was elected for a second term). The reason they were elected for a 3rd time was that there was no opposition.

Curbed the Unions powers ... but went too far I believe.

I seriously struggle to think of many more - what I did witness was a greed, an easy money attitude, a 'I'm allright Jack' thought pattern ...... these peoples children have now had the children which are on our streets believing everything is there for the asking.

Labour have got some things wrong - I have always had a balanced, mature, view based on solid long years of observation - Labour have ploughed £Millions into the NHS without a huge improvement in what they offer. They have paid Doctors 30% more for working 30% less. They have failed to attack the profiteering in our Dental service (make Dentists work for the NHS after they have taken our training!). They have committed us to Iraq without a way out ..... I could go on.

But, and I genuinely believe this, we are better off (as a whole country) under a Labour Government than a Tory Government ..... things are wrong with every party in power ..... and after a long time people 'feel' like a change - but, I would say that those who don't know a Tory Government should think long and hard before voting for a 'change' which will actually end up to be no change at all ...... whoever is in power has to deal with what is before them.

Snazy

Thank you

PaulC72

best get them in then, at least we'll start by having a few good years which will hopefully be enough

Martin2005

I'm neither dumb nor committed to Labour BTW especially under Brown).

It's fair to say that there have been many many threads on this site claiming that the 12 or so years of growth were nothing to do with Labour, that it was infact global economic conditions that sustained our economy, of which an element must be true of course. Then things go bad and lots of folks (on here) blame the government and not the prevailing global downturn, again there's some justification in blaming the government partly for the current crisis but not all.

Our economy must still be in relatively decent shape though, the IMF said that the UK would contiue to grow at 1.6% for the next 2 years, which is higher than pretty much all comparable economies.

I do believe though that a new government and fresh ideas are needed, 11 years in power is too long for any government.

Martin2005

These are all obsurd and inaccurate misrepresentations of the truth

unclebuck

Yes - we've noticed....

pslewis

Don't start!!!!

unclebuck

I don't think I need to add anything further.

c_maguire

Perhaps someone might explain to me, if things are so marvellous under the stewardship of New Labour, why it is that the most viewed party political website belongs to the BNP?
The BNP are as far removed in their policies/views from Labour as is possible, something that suggests to me that a significant proportion of the population are not as enamoured with our current leaders (rather a misnomer, as leading implies some sort of direction) as Messrs Brant and Lewis.
As someone involved in the print industry, which you might argue has had it's problems under the previous Tory government, I deal with printers and factory floor workers on a daily basis and as someone with somewhat right wing tendencies I am frequently surprised at the venomous language used towards this government by these working class individuals. Surprised and amused of course, as the working class are regarded as Labour's bread and butter voters, and if they can't even keep them on side then things really are looking up.
Would I prefer Cameron? Well, not particularly, but until they relax the cloning laws we'll have to keep Maggie's cells on ice. And frankly, I'd take Krusty the clown if it meant seeing the back of this bunch of charlatans.
Best wishes,
Kevin

MikeCardiff

iTrader: (2)

Rightly or wrongly, at least Thatcher had the ***** to say what she thought and stand behind her decisions - can you see her putting up with the immigration, underage drinking etc... we have now ? Not to mention being a lapdog for every retarded US president.

I get the impression that Labour were so amazed when they actually got in that they were **** scared it was all going to be taken away from them again, so tried to please everyone all the time in case it lost them votes taking a stand on something. Not surprising when their main election manifesto was 'vote for us because we're not the conservatives'.

Blair has to go down in history as being probably the most anonymous wishy washy PM this country has ever had.

Unfortunately the old saying is true - whoever you vote for you end up with a politician - none of them seem interested in serving the country or representing the people who voted for them, its all about what they can do for themselves and their cronies.

pslewis

Didn't Thatcher and Reagan have a little 'thing' going?

It makes sense to be stood next to the most powerful boy in the playground - don't knock it! We can punch way above our weight on the world stage simply because we have the ear of the worlds only superpower!

lozgti

Is it me or do public services never seem to improve?

The only real thing that I have noticed from Labour's 10 years is that no one can spell or add up but they all have 5 A levels and 2 degrees.

PeteBrant

Public services are much, much better than they were under the Tories - Mainly because they are having money spent on them.

Problems is, we had to plough billions in, because the Tories almost destroyed them with criminal levels of underinvestment, all in the name of a reduced tax bill.

Thankfully, the Tories have seen the light on this issue and we will never go back to having Public Services being so dreadfully underfunded.

Mitchy260

More often than not, its actually cheaper getting in your car than using public transport.

I was astounded at how much a train fare from Aberdeen-Reading was going to cost for me and the wife, i actually used my car, got there in less time than what the train would have done so and saved myself about £250 in the process.

A plane fare cost me (well my company) £322 from Aberdeen to Southampton last week.

Not a big fan of todays public transport. Rip off central is not the word to use.

As you can tell, im not a big fan of the way things are at the moment and the only way to change it, is a change in the leadership

If i make the mistake of crossing the tory box in the next election, DC gets in the hotseat and things get even worse than they are now, then so be it, as long as i have voted against the cowboys in charge at the moment i'll be happy.

Didn't labour bin an early election when Gordon first came in power as opinion polls were ready to oust them?

I'm a young 1, was too young to remember the last tory era (Falklands was a success, Iraq/Afghanistan are not) I will put my hand up and say i dont know a lot about politics, but i can say that im not happy with the running of the country at the moment and the only way to do something about that is by voting for another leadership to take power. Near enough everyone i've spoken to, within the family, friends and work network are of similar opinion that we need a change.

I am only 1 of about 35m voting aged citizens though so my opinion is a mere pinprick in the grand scheme of things but every vote counts

PeteBrant

Ahh, this will be the British Rail service that the Tories privatised will it?


Quite possibly - But rightly or wrongly, the party in power has that right - As per John Major in 92-97.
The Toires were exactly what this country needed in 79. They took it by the scruff of its neck and turned this country from the poor man of Europe to a world powerhouse economy.

But. It was at a big cost. It needed to be done , yes, but they went too far with the "I'm alright Jack" mentality. Public services were absolutely slaughtered.


Thankfully we have a bit of middle ground now - You wont see any significant changes in Public Services spendign from the Tories now, which is why I am not too worried about them getting in power. Like Martin, I do think that 11 year (or 13 as it will be by the time we have a GE) is too long for one party to stay in.

lozgti

Local elections in a few weeks should be a good indicator as to how everyone is feeling.

I know I am ready to put a spanner in the works.

Snazy

Yeah good point mate, sad thing is, the more uncertain it gets, the longer we wait for the GE. Hang on right til the last desperate day I think are the current tactics.

Just thinking back about a PSL comment, and it sounded just like GB, with the comment of something like, im ok, if your not, thats your fault....

c_maguire

For Labour supporters to refer to the Tories as previously having an "I'm alright Jack" attitude is a bit like the pot calling the kettle black with this current bunch. As in the last ten years under New Labour the rich have got richer and the poor have become even poorer. New Labour have shown themselves to be nothing but slaves to the celebrity culture they have been guilty of playing up to for the last 10 years, happy to bend the rules and jump into bed with anybody who they believe will make them 'look' good and give them a good soundbite. Promise a lot, crave the applause, and do very little seems to be their mantra. Labour want to cr*p on your doorstep and have you thank them later when they make some half-arsed effort to clean it up.
Had Labour got elected with John Smith in charge then things would certainly have been different. I, no doubt, wouldn't have voted for him either but at least Labour would have remained honest.
Kevin

PaulC72

You mean you read PSL comments LOL. <enter choice of smiley here>