Desperate jobseeker sets himself alight outside Selly Oak jobcentre

[Platypus]

Well, girls are easier to push around I suppose.

I wonder why you are so determined to twist my little tale

That doesn't imply that your son is lazy.

You're right, sitting around doing FA and complaining about it isn't lazy.

[doodab]

You're right, sitting around doing FA and complaining about it isn't lazy.

It isn't lazy as long as someone pays you for it.

Viva contracting

[EternalOptimist]

I like the idea of the dole being a safety net, to help those who can't help themselves, and to tide those over who have hit the buffers, whilst they pick themselves up dust themselves off and start all over again. Which aint easy, esp if you are older and had a skilled job in the past that isnt required any more.
The people we all hate are the ones who see this and then milk it whilst having no intention of trying, and I would include the feckless single parents in this group. Pop out babies and the state will be their foster dad. All told, I reckon the proprtion of total wasters is quite low.
The rest are unfortunates
Contractors, dont forget, are what they are because they have the extra drive and get up and go, that others dont.
So we should be even more wary of judging the unfortunates by our own standards

[EternalOptimist]

OTOH, my son has flatly stated that he does not want to work in a shop. He says there are no jobs. So he has no job and hence no money.

Q.E.D.

Note:
I base all my opinions on global economics and politics on small town anecdotal evidence

If you get the answer to that little problem, let me know. We could write the book on it and sell a million copes in the first week

[MarillionFan]

If you get the answer to that little problem, let me know. We could write the book on it and sell a million copes in the first week

There are loads of books about the cause of it. Try 'How to be a good parent' and go from there.

[AtW]

Try 'How to be a good parent' and go from there.

Are you planning to charge your children rent to live in your house?

[EternalOptimist]

There are loads of books about the cause of it. Try 'How to be a good parent' and go from there.

Unfortunately, that doesn't explain why one kid is lazy and the other is fired up

[MarillionFan]

Unfortunately, that doesn't explain why one kid is lazy and the other is fired up

I'd blame the mum.

[mudskipper]

If I was skint and couldn't find work, I'd take a £100 a day contract if I couldn't get anything else. I wouldn't go flip burgers in MaccyD's.

However, if there was no welfare system, I would go flip burgers in MaccyD's.

I overheard a guy the other day saying "I'm working for nothing", meaning that he was no better off on benefits than working. I stopped myself saying, "No, you're working so that my taxes aren't paying you to sit at home."

Benefits aren't seen as a safety net if you really can't work, they're seen as a basic entitlement.

Edit: Just realised my post is completely

Edit 2: When I was 17 I did flip burgers in MaccyD's. I think we do have an expectation that we'll move on.

[Sysman]

If I was skint and couldn't find work, I'd take a £100 a day contract if I couldn't get anything else. I wouldn't go flip burgers in MaccyD's.

However, if there was no welfare system, I would go flip burgers in MaccyD's.

Nope, couldn't stand all the blurry ping ping ping noises that go on in MaccyD's. It would have to be something else.

I overheard a guy the other day saying "I'm working for nothing", meaning that he was no better off on benefits than working. I stopped myself saying, "No, you're working so that my taxes aren't paying you to sit at home."

Benefits aren't seen as a safety net if you really can't work, they're seen as a basic entitlement.

There's a very real problem here where at the bottom level you can lose various bits of benefit for working. When you factor in tax and the cost of work clothing, getting to work etc, you really can be worse off.

Edit: Just realised my post is completely

Edit 2: When I was 17 I did flip burgers in MaccyD's. I think we do have an expectation that we'll move on.

Yes, it's one thing at 17 and still living with your parents, 'cos it's usually mostly yours to spend.