Current Affairs

[towny44]

They will do their best for their children but will also cheat the system if there is a way ... wouldn't we all ?

That's very cynical, and I would like to hope I would avoid cheating the system.
Thinking of that I filled in the online request to pay my TV license by monthly DD rather than al at once, especially since there is no extra cost for that, but 7 weeks later I have still heard nothing from them, by the time they respond I might end up paying all in one go anyway.

[Manoverboard]

They will do their best for their children but will also cheat the system if there is a way ... wouldn't we all ?

That's very cynical, and I would like to hope I would avoid cheating the system.
Thinking of that I filled in the online request to pay my TV license by monthly DD rather than al at once, especially since there is no extra cost for that, but 7 weeks later I have still heard nothing from them, by the time they respond I might end up paying all in one go anyway.

It's how it is and not at all cynical.

Perhaps you signed up to a rogue site, we've all got our payment confirmation / notification etc from the TV authority

[david63]

we've all got our payment confirmation / notification etc from the TV authority

No we haven't

I filled my forms in weeks ago and have not heard a thing

[towny44]

They will do their best for their children but will also cheat the system if there is a way ... wouldn't we all ?

That's very cynical, and I would like to hope I would avoid cheating the system.
Thinking of that I filled in the online request to pay my TV license by monthly DD rather than al at once, especially since there is no extra cost for that, but 7 weeks later I have still heard nothing from them, by the time they respond I might end up paying all in one go anyway.

It's how it is and not at all cynical.

Perhaps you signed up to a rogue site, we've all got our payment confirmation / notification etc from the TV authority

Well if it was a rogue site they haven't taken anything out of my account yet so they can't be all that clever.

[oldbluefox]

It doesn't work. The more unscrupulous ie those whose children go hungry either sell the vouchers or use them to subsidise their own shopping so they can buy booze, cigarettes or drugs. The only way I can see it is an exchange of voucher for a ready made meal from a cafe or other eaterie. No doubt they would still find a way around it.

You do have a poor opinion of the low paid. I would guess there will be a few that fall into your category but I think the majority will be trying to do the best for their children, and I believe the govt have got this badly wrong.

You're very wrong. Most of those on low pay look after their children and their children are not the ones who will go hungry. I I thought I had made it clear that it is those parents who have been laid off through no fault of their own who need the extra support so no, I do not have a low opinion of the low paid, far from it.
My criticism is of those who do not feed their children, who allow them to go hungry by neglect. These are the very children who should be targetted not just through the epidemic but for all time because some of this neglect is more prevalent than many people realise.

[Onelife]

It doesn't work. The more unscrupulous ie those whose children go hungry either sell the vouchers or use them to subsidise their own shopping so they can buy booze, cigarettes or drugs. The only way I can see it is an exchange of voucher for a ready made meal from a cafe or other eaterie. No doubt they would still find a way around it.

You do have a poor opinion of the low paid. I would guess there will be a few that fall into your category but I think the majority will be trying to do the best for their children, and I believe the govt have got this badly wrong.

You're very wrong. Most of those on low pay look after their children and their children are not the ones who will go hungry. I I thought I had made it clear that it is those parents who have been laid off through no fault of their own who need the extra support so no, I do not have a low opinion of the low paid, far from it.
My criticism is of those who do not feed their children, who allow them to go hungry by neglect. These are the very children who should be targetted not just through the epidemic but for all time because some of this neglect is more prevalent than many people realise.

Teacher knows best me thinks

[Manoverboard]

we've all got our payment confirmation / notification etc from the TV authority

No we haven't

I filled my forms in weeks ago and have not heard a thing

Spoil sport

[towny44]

It doesn't work. The more unscrupulous ie those whose children go hungry either sell the vouchers or use them to subsidise their own shopping so they can buy booze, cigarettes or drugs. The only way I can see it is an exchange of voucher for a ready made meal from a cafe or other eaterie. No doubt they would still find a way around it.

You do have a poor opinion of the low paid. I would guess there will be a few that fall into your category but I think the majority will be trying to do the best for their children, and I believe the govt have got this badly wrong.

You're very wrong. Most of those on low pay look after their children and their children are not the ones who will go hungry. I I thought I had made it clear that it is those parents who have been laid off through no fault of their own who need the extra support so no, I do not have a low opinion of the low paid, far from it.
My criticism is of those who do not feed their children, who allow them to go hungry by neglect. These are the very children who should be targetted not just through the epidemic but for all time because some of this neglect is more prevalent than many people realise.

Those do rather appear to be contradictory statements, so which do you actually believe applies to the low paid?

[oldbluefox]

You are equating unscrupulous with low pay. They are not one and the same.

[Onelife]

In not extending the voucher scheme I think the government is sending a message out that it doesn't want to go down the line of dependency....before you know it every parent will be coming up with a sob story saying the can't feed their kids. Giving vouchers out is demeaning and ultimately leads to bigger divides in society...l'm all for a fairer society where it's wealth is spent on improving the lives, and the areas of those less fortunate BUT 'existence living' does not have a future because it always breeds the next generation of bennifits seekers.

We need to have a long hard look at how we want the next 50 years to evolve, one that looks out for all not just the few.

[screwy]

Well at the end of the 50 yrs I’ll let you know how it panned out....I’ll only be 120.

[oldbluefox]

In not extending the voucher scheme I think the government is sending a message out that it doesn't want to go down the line of dependency....before you know it every parent will be coming up with a sob story saying the can't feed their kids. Giving vouchers out is demeaning and ultimately leads to bigger divides in society...l'm all for a fairer society where it's wealth is spent on improving the lives, and the areas of those less fortunate BUT 'existence living' does not have a future because it always breeds the next generation of bennifits seekers.

We need to have a long hard look at how we want the next 50 years to evolve, one that looks out for all not just the few.

I'm with OL on this.

Interesting article from our local paper here:

https://www.timesandstar.co.uk/news/188 ... -comments/

[Manoverboard]

I'm not, he's a wooly Liberal

[towny44]

I think I will stick to being a caring conservative on the school meals issue. In principal I do agree with OL and Foxy, that long term benefit existence is very harmful. However in the current pandemic I think extending free school meals to cover the holidays would not only have helped struggling families, but it would have given the govt some much needed brownie points.

[oldbluefox]

I think I will stick to being a caring conservative on the school meals issue. In principal I do agree with OL and Foxy, that long term benefit existence is very harmful. However in the current pandemic I think extending free school meals to cover the holidays would not only have helped struggling families, but it would have given the govt some much needed brownie points.

As a similarly caring individual I wouldn't entirely disagree but having already increased Universal Credit and given extra funds to councils the government obviously feels enough is enough. Boris may have gained more brownie points had he extended the free school meals instead of giving the extra funds.

[barney]

Corbyn suspended .
Wow!
Never saw that coming.
Sir K wants clear water between him and the old guard.
Watch out BoJo

[Manoverboard]

Sir-K-Lips didn't move when in the House with his old chum JC I observed

[oldbluefox]

A few uncomfortable questions for Steer Calmer and his abusive deputy Rayner methinks. They'll be distancing themselves faster than rats on a sinking ship.

[screwy]

Oh dear, seems like Labour are tearing themselves apart over Corbyn...

[Onelife]

What do tiers make?…more tears!!!

This Government should be done for manslaughter the way they have handled this pandemic, how many more have got to die before they do what should have been done three weeks ago?

[barney]

Oh dear, seems like Labour are tearing themselves apart over Corbyn...

The ones spitting their dummies out are the ones we’ll be happy to see the back of.
Corbyn tried, he failed miserably, time to move on.

[barney]

What do tiers make?…more tears!!!

This Government should be done for manslaughter the way they have handled this pandemic, how many more have got to die before they do what should have been done three weeks ago?

Are you suggesting a national lockdown mate, because we certainly don’t want one down here.
Both North Devon and Torridge are still very low, even with the influx of foreigners coming down.
Regional, local restrictions are the way forward.

[Onelife]

Oh dear, seems like Labour are tearing themselves apart over Corbyn...

It’s been my long-time belief that our present opposition parties are not fit for purpose and what is needed is the emergence of a new political party.

[towny44]

What do tiers make?…more tears!!!

This Government should be done for manslaughter the way they have handled this pandemic, how many more have got to die before they do what should have been done three weeks ago?

That's a bit harsh as usual OL, the govt are treading a very narrow path with deep drops on either side, if you will forgive my weak attempt at an analogy.
We tried the full lockdown in March and the cost to the economy was astronomical, and we still had a high number of deaths.
The govt are now trying a more tailored approach while trying to keep the economy running at a reasonable level, and in many peoples opinion this is by far the more sensible way.
It may well result in more deaths than before, but if we can avoid crippling the economy it will be worth it in the long run.
I do understand your point of view, but I do feel that the current approach is by far the best option.

[david63]

This Government should be done for manslaughter the way they have handled this pandemic, how many more have got to die before they do what should have been done three weeks ago?

From where I am the current rules are working. The north west infection rate is falling as indicated by your beloved, can do no wrong, Zoe app.

You need to begin to accept that there will be thousands of deaths from Covid-19 for many years to come - there will no miracle cure that will stop people from dying from it. They have not found a way to stop people dying from flu and that has been arounf for decades.

Covid-19 will be around for at least the next 100 years so we all need to accept it and the consequences of it.