Benefits street. (NLC)

tut · Post by **tut** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:18 pm

Anybody still watching it?

Fascinating in a warped sense, but depressing to see the level that some parents get down to with their young children, never mind the adults(sic)

tut

mwmackenzie · Post by **mwmackenzie** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:25 pm

Yup.. only saw the first one but flicking through and left it on... it's a sad state of affairs really

tut · Post by **tut** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:34 pm

No 3 on now. Different world.

tut

mwmackenzie · Post by **mwmackenzie** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:49 pm

They actually have no desire to work or better themselves in any way even with £3K rent arrears? I can't get my head round that, that said the guy was on later on his bike saying he like to do skids and is going to put on a performance where he lockedup the back brake on his push bike, that blew me away lol... So, so sad

rossybee · Post by **rossybee** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:52 pm

We now refuse to watch it, as my other half works in the job centre...

tut · Post by **tut** » Mon Jan 20, 2014 10:54 pm

Everybody smokes, 20 a day x 2 = £5,800 per year and that is a low level.

Alcohol and drugs on top probably doubles it.

tut

ps:- ok that is enough, off the soap box now and back to cars. Too much time on my hands, let them get on with their lives, I don't even blame them, why should they not claim all they can from Government hand outs? The benefits are far more than they would get if they got a job.

pss:- think I will take a break for a while.

gambler · Post by **gambler** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 11:18 am

I could not watch it as it would just make me mad. As long as we keep paying them more not to work I can't see anything changing.

hendeg · Post by **hendeg** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 11:33 am

I saw in the news the other day that 7 from the street have been arrested for drug dealing.

s29ttc · Post by **s29ttc** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:55 pm

It's an interesting watch, as it represents what it's going on in the country all around.

I have a simple question, why can't the government make a scheme which in order to claim the benefits, the able people should be required to perform some sort of community service. As far as I can see there are many able people sitting on their arse claiming, surely there is a whole array of tasks/jobs which they could be doing before collecting the cash? Clean up the streets, paint the community centre, help e less able in the community etc..... The list is endless

Post by **Shug** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:58 pm

Argument against that being that unemployment isn't supposed to be an income, it's supposed to pay the bills while you're full-time looking for work. To be fair, there are those who do use it for just that and forcing them to do community service would decrease their chance of finding a job.

The system is too lenient though, no doubts about it, but don't imagine this show is in any way representative of the wider community. It's entertainment, edited to show the most negative light it can.

s29ttc · Post by **s29ttc** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 2:04 pm

I suppose, but surely there is a timescale that could be utilised, hours required for community service against time on allowance? It just frustrates me to see people handed money for nothing and no motivation to find employment! There must be a scheme the government could introduce which makes these individuals work for the money and help them increase their potential of employment? I understand it does represent people in the wider community, it just so happens this street has many and they have focused on some individuals, with there smart editing for "entertainment" but I am sure if you look in schemes around the country there will be many examples of people like this. I was speaking to holly and it's all too familiar to her with many of the people she comes across in her job.

BiggestNizzy · Post by **BiggestNizzy** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 2:17 pm

It's easy to have a go at these people and say they should all go get jobs. Would you hire any of them ? At the other end of the scale you have individuals and companies activly avoiding any contribution to the UK (by paying tax) are these people any more loathsome or is it just easier to pick on people who aren't all that clever and wither through personal choice or the options afforded to them they have ended up in this situation being exploited on tv for the enjoyment of the middle class. In the same way the victorians went on tours of bedlam to laugh at the "insane".

Rosssco · Post by **Rosssco** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 3:11 pm

BiggestNizzy wrote:It's easy to have a go at these people and say they should all go get jobs. Would you hire any of them ? At the other end of the scale you have individuals and companies activly avoiding any contribution to the UK (by paying tax) are these people any more loathsome or is it just easier to pick on people who aren't all that clever and wither through personal choice or the options afforded to them they have ended up in this situation being exploited on tv for the enjoyment of the middle class. In the same way the victorians went on tours of bedlam to laugh at the "insane".

I agree to the extent that this is a programme aimed at middle-class consumption, and panders to the Daily Mail Outrage subscriber who would have them scrubbing the streets clean as something to do.. Of course agree we should no be funding individuals to sit about with no motivation, but you can see in amongst the genuine dossers there's some folk would probably welcome an opportunity to get out of that particular street.. It is explotation TV, that gives us that sense of "rather them than us"..

flyingscot68 · Post by **flyingscot68** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 4:12 pm

Programmes like this tend to show the more extreme sides of the situation.
There's plenty of hard working people claiming benefits and desperate to be working. Getting shot of the terminally lazy from the system is a major challenge. How you do it without alienating those actually using the system as intended is the issue.
Rather than handing out money I reckon the benefits should be in the form of non- transferable tokens for food, clothing etc.
Granted that this would cost more to run than the present set up but if being on benefits only pays for life's necessities then hopefully it would see people looking for work. Benefits done this way would not pay for drink, drugs, sky tv etc.
Or do you reckon they would just turn to crime to pay for the extras?

s29ttc · Post by **s29ttc** » Mon Jan 27, 2014 5:00 pm

My issue is there is tax money being spent with no return. In the current situation there are many taking advantage, affording their 50 inch plazmas, 20 a day fags and drink. The system should help develop and motivate these people to earn. There could be things people could do which in return give them some satisfaction and sense of reward. Keeping them occupied on tasks would help move them away from bad habits and also in return benefit the community in some way. It would also be an opportunity for individuals to develop new skill sets and make them more employable

Scottish Elises