Are You a Burden to Society?

[sadangel]

You are the sort of person the UK's 1945 Parliament designed the Welfare State for. Someone who would work to support themselves if they could, but can't. They were thinking of disabled people and also injured war veterans including those with mental problems. The treatment of the UK's war veterans after the First World War was shameful.

Locally we have several disabled people who are a considerable asset to our community. For example, one lady who is unable to leave her bed is the main contact for a neighbourhood watch group. She takes all reports of incidents, refers them to the Police if necessary, maintains the log and database of unusual activities, and writes the newsletter. She may never leave her bed but she has many friends and performs a useful service to the community. The committee meetings may have to come to her bedroom, but without her they wouldn't be as effective.

Another one, who can walk only a few yards from her powered wheelchair, is a committee member of a disabled group. She advises retailers and others about providing disabled access and will come to look at a building and demonstrate the problems.

A local man has several problems with his sight. He has a full-time job but in his spare time he helps with design of information leaflets to ensure that they can be read by those with limited vision. Size of type isn't enough. Colour printed on colour can cause real problems.

In the UK we generally don't, because of our past history with Workhouses, distinguish between those who deserve help and the "undeserving". We object to those who abuse the system for example by claiming unemployment benefits while working, or by claiming disability when not disabled - but those people are cheats, not unfortunate.

Our welfare state is expensive but is supported by all our main political parties - because it works and supports those who need help.

Og

Thanks Og. That's pretty cool about the people you cited. *hugs you gently*

 

[CeriseNoire]

I come from a family of educators going back many generations. Teachers have never been esteemed or valued in America. When a good one comes along the pedagogical industry treats her like a leper until she lowers her performance or quits to sell real estate.

Sending a child to school prepared to learn is about like sending a corpse to the undertaker already embalmed...they frown.

Real estate sounds smarter that teaching right about now. I figured teaching was considered trash when I attended high school in the US. It just seems worse down here. As for prepared children, I was recently told by a parent it wasn't his job to teach his child anything as he's not the teacher.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

OG is the patron saint of luxuries society cannot afford.

 

[oggbashan]

OG is the patron saint of luxuries society cannot afford.

The UK can afford it because we don't spend anything like as much of our GDP on health as the US does. All three of our main political parties agree with me that looking after those who cannot be self-supporting is essential. I know that our welfare state wouldn't be popular in the US, but it is supported in the UK. We here may argue about detail, about the mechanics, about its administration, but NOT about the principles.

And no, I don't know why the US spends so much on health yet leaves so many not covered.

Og

 

[DeeZire]

And no, I don't know why the US spends so much on health yet leaves so many not covered.

Og

It's because we don't hate freedom like you Europeans do.

LOL.

 

[JackLuis]

The UK can afford it because we don't spend anything like as much of our GDP on health as the US does. All three of our main political parties agree with me that looking after those who cannot be self-supporting is essential. I know that our welfare state wouldn't be popular in the US, but it is supported in the UK. We here may argue about detail, about the mechanics, about its administration, but NOT about the principles.

And no, I don't know why the US spends so much on health yet leaves so many not covered.

Og

You are not supporting the "Arsenal of Democracy" either which allows the UK economy different alternatives.

Our DoD costs us upwards of $600 billion (budgeted).

 

[MzDeviancy]

It's because we don't hate freedom like you Europeans do.

LOL.

haha Way to steal Amicus's thunder!

 

[TheeGoatPig]

"Burden" sounds so polite. I consider myself something more of a blight.

 

[ishtat]

The UK can afford it because we don't spend anything like as much of our GDP on health as the US does. All three of our main political parties agree with me that looking after those who cannot be self-supporting is essential. I know that our welfare state wouldn't be popular in the US, but it is supported in the UK. We here may argue about detail, about the mechanics, about its administration, but NOT about the principles.

And no, I don't know why the US spends so much on health yet leaves so many not covered.

Og

After your election in May the UK is going to discover that in fact it cannot afford it Levels of debt are in fact higher as a % of GDP than those in Portugal and Greece. Taxes will go through the roof and the massive welfare bill will have to be slashed. Similarly government employees will be axed , they have increased by 600,000 since 1997

UK has 2.2 million on permanent invalidity benefit, 5.4 million of working age not working and the government is responsible for 52% of spending.

And it doesn't matter who wins the election, in 2011 UK public policy will be an IMF diktat.

 

[LaRocha]

UK Unemployment
Labour Market Statistics

March 17 2010 - The unemployment rate stands at 7.8% - down 0.1% over the quarter but up 1.2% on last year. Nearly 29 million people were in work in the period November to January according to the labour force survey (LFS). The number of people employed was down by 54,000 this quarter and down by 483,000 on the last year.

The working age employment rate is 72.2% - down by 0.3% on the last quarter and down 1.8% on the last year.

United States in January, the civilian labor force participation rate was little changed at 64.7 percent.

ILO-defined unemployment in November to January was 2.45 million (7.8%) - down by 33,000 unemployed on August-October but up 383,000 from this time last year.

The claimant count for key out-of-work benefits was 1,585,100 in February - down by 32,300 on last month, and up by 194,700 on last year.

Earnings growth over the year to January (including bonuses) was 0.9%.

United States is in a wage spiral. The British can raise taxes.

The UK is on the verge of reforming State pensions. Germany is getting killed by their State pensions. The United States is obviously not ready to deal with Social Security.

The United Kingdom won't have the corporate earnings growth of the US over the next ten years, and they sure won't have the debt percentage of the US. IMF? Laughable. The United States will have to get a third-world loan rate from the World Bank before the UK is unable to meet their obligations.

US DEBT 83.4% of GDP for 2009, UK DEBT 53.5% of GDP for 2010

http://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/uk_national_debt_chart.html

The Brits still live and die by Keynes. That's why they get by. In time of recession government takes on debt, in time of growth government sheds debt.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

The US does shit ass-backwards.

We tax profits and prosperity, and hand out tax credits for failure and poverty.

Let people keep what they make and suffer what they lose. Allow companies to go out of business. GM still needs guvmint money to hang on while Ford & Toyota had profits!

 

[sr71plt]

Right. That's the way. Take from the poor, who have nothing, and give it to the rich, who already have it all. That would be the perfect middle man job. Could sit right there in your Laz-Y-Boy without needing to do anything and say you done good. At last a job you are qualified for, James. And I understand there is no background check.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Right. That's the way. Take from the poor, who have nothing, and give it to the rich, who already have it all. That would be the perfect middle man job. Could sit right there in your Laz-Y-Boy without needing to do anything and say you done good. At last a job you are qualified for, James. And I understand there is no background check.

Per usual you have the cart before the horse; GM is hardly the folks the Statue of Liberty summons to the land of the fat welfare check.

 

[sr71plt]

Per usual you have the cart before the horse; GM is hardly the folks the Statue of Liberty summons to the land of the fat welfare check.

I'm sure you believe that means something.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I'm sure you believe that means something.

Seems clear to me but I concede you likely find it Greek.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Seems clear to me but I concede you likely find it Greek.

no, it's easily recognisable as Redneck.

 

[sr71plt]

no, it's easily recognisable as Redneck.

Ah, Redneck . . . no wonder I couldn't understand it.

 

[oggbashan]

You are not supporting the "Arsenal of Democracy" either which allows the UK economy different alternatives.

Our DoD costs us upwards of $600 billion (budgeted).

Our Defence expenditure is significant particularly since we were/are involved in Iraq, and are extensively involved in Afghanistan. Apart from the financial cost, we are losing troops almost every day.

At present we are still budgeting to build two fleet aircraft carriers and to upgrade our nuclear deterrent. That costs a substantial part of our GDP.

Og

 

[Handley_Page]

It's because we don't hate freedom like you Europeans do.

LOL.

I hope that was a (poor) joke, because if it wasn't all I can say is you have not the remotest clue about what freedom means, particularly to us over here. (Invasions?, Lost 1, drawn 1, won 4) Three Civil Wars, Two world wars, and all too often let down in one way or another by allies).

[rant ON]
I could have a pretty good rant about the US and the UK, but I really do not want to upset several of the friends I have made on Lit.

Your statement is, in sum, the biggest load of Bollox I have ever seen. It indicates you have not a clue about history (well, with only about 200 years of it, maybe it's a tad too recent for you).
Crawl back into your little cave you idiot and come out when you know of what you speak.

[ PS. My sincere apologies to others of the AH who may feel that this rant is a little too close for comfort. ]

[Rant OFF]

 

[Handley_Page]

We tax profits and prosperity, and hand out tax credits for failure and poverty.

Let people keep what they make and suffer what they lose. Allow companies to go out of business. GM still needs guvmint money to hang on while Ford & Toyota had profits!

What do you do to help the poor Joes & Chucks who get laid off because you let their firm go under ? They deserve the help.
The only time I would agree with you is the Financial Institutions who got too greedy.

 

[sr71plt]

I hope that was a (poor) joke,

It was targeted sarcasm. And quite deftly done, too.

 

[LaRocha]

How do you have a 90-year-old Supreme Court justice? Not that Stevens is a burden on society or that he has to go into a retirement home, but this justice for life stuff shouldn't actually mean you stay Supreme Court judge until you get dementia or die. Ten years ago he should've been put in a classroom if he's still into Constitutional Law. This fucking guy met Amelia Earhart AND saw Babe Ruth call his shot in the 1932 World Series.

 

[MzDeviancy]

I hope that was a (poor) joke, because if it wasn't all I can say is you have not the remotest clue about what freedom means, particularly to us over here. (Invasions?, Lost 1, drawn 1, won 4) Three Civil Wars, Two world wars, and all too often let down in one way or another by allies).

[rant ON]
I could have a pretty good rant about the US and the UK, but I really do not want to upset several of the friends I have made on Lit.

Your statement is, in sum, the biggest load of Bollox I have ever seen. It indicates you have not a clue about history (well, with only about 200 years of it, maybe it's a tad too recent for you).
Crawl back into your little cave you idiot and come out when you know of what you speak.

[ PS. My sincere apologies to others of the AH who may feel that this rant is a little too close for comfort. ]

[Rant OFF]

He did say LOL...

 

[MzDeviancy]

Seems clear to me but I concede you likely find it Greek.

I'm curious to know what you think of a case like sadangel's, which I think is a textbook illustration of why we need government assistance and universal healthcare. Should people who are the victims of nonpreventable illnesses be left to die in a ditch somewhere so you don't have to pay higher taxes?

 

[LaRocha]

I hope that was a (poor) joke, because if it wasn't all I can say is you have not the remotest clue about what freedom means, particularly to us over here. (Invasions?, Lost 1, drawn 1, won 4) Three Civil Wars, Two world wars, and all too often let down in one way or another by allies).

[rant ON]
I could have a pretty good rant about the US and the UK, but I really do not want to upset several of the friends I have made on Lit.

Your statement is, in sum, the biggest load of Bollox I have ever seen. It indicates you have not a clue about history (well, with only about 200 years of it, maybe it's a tad too recent for you).
Crawl back into your little cave you idiot and come out when you know of what you speak.

[ PS. My sincere apologies to others of the AH who may feel that this rant is a little too close for comfort. ]

[Rant OFF]

What are you talking about? The guy was joking. You're an idiot.