Absolute *** of our time Pt.MXXVI

[MooseBreath]

Paying people to not commit crime. It's nothing if not interesting, i'll give it that much. Could we do the same for rapists i wonder? We could use public money to buy up a load of prostitutes and offer them out for free.

[Nick]

Paying people to not commit crime. It's nothing if not interesting, i'll give it that much. Could we do the same for rapists i wonder? We could use public money to buy up a load of prostitutes and offer them out for free.

It's not a bad idea - I'd pay you money not to post on this forum in all fairness, so the idea has legs.

[MooseBreath]

It's not a bad idea - I'd pay you money not to post on this forum in all fairness, so the idea has legs.

What kind of bunce will i be looking at for this? Shall we say you pay me £10 for every post i dont make?

[Nick]

What kind of bunce will i be looking at for this? Shall we say you pay me £10 for every post i dont make?

That's a really funny and clever concept.

oh wait....

[sphericalfox]

That's a really funny and clever concept.

oh wait....

I'd spare a few IOUs for that concept to put it into action.

[Captain...]

Paying people to not commit crime. It's nothing if not interesting, i'll give it that much. Could we do the same for rapists i wonder? We could use public money to buy up a load of prostitutes and offer them out for free.

Well the idea would be to invest it in adult training facilities providing further training and education that would give people a chance to re-train and find a career that they could take with the skills they have and a way to ensure they are contributing to society and not taking from it. I guess it is what the job centre should be.

But also what would be rehabilitation style sessions for those that are slipping, whether through depression, desperation, greed, laziness or a combination of many factors.

Basically providing all that is provided in prison for free to those that aren't criminals, but are struggling and deserve it more.

[Webbo]

But would you let your family starve or steal for them?

Firstly there is no need to steal in this country, the welfare system in this country is adequate enough to survive on. Secondly just because I do not possess something that doesn't give to a right to take it from someone else, so no I wouldn't steal for my family either.

[Rincewind]

Spoke to a young man today. Been in and out of institutions since he was 15. He's had enough of it. He volunteers at the Dawn Centre. I have his number for when I go in tomorrow and he'll tell the manager whom I will see. He is doing an assesment same time as me for caree working. He's been homeless and in and out of hostels. He seems a decent person, just took the wrong road at an early age and once on it it is hard to change direction but he seems determined to do it. The hostel system is full of flaws. If you have not experienced it or worked in it then you have no right to say what should be done or what the people are like that go through it.

At the moment this has one person working with him which he says is good as he gets to know them as a friend as well as a helper. Whwen they swap around the person on the receiving end cannot form a relationship and trust. It is very complex for the layman and I only know a little. There are better people than me to speak on the subject. You cannot become an expert by reading the Sun or Daily Mail.

[Captain...]

Firstly there is no need to steal in this country, the welfare system in this country is adequate enough to survive on. Secondly just because I do not possess something that doesn't give to a right to take it from someone else, so no I wouldn't steal for my family either.

But in the hypothetical situation, which we are talking about here, where by the welfare system is cut so that people do not get the help required, would you turn to crime?

[Webbo]

No, definitely not.

[Captain...]

No, definitely not.

...but what if it was one of your loved ones that was starving? Would you watch a loved one die of starvation or steal a loaf of bread from a supermarket?

[Webbo]

...but what if it was one of your loved ones that was starving? Would you watch a loved one die of starvation or steal a loaf of bread from a supermarket?

How can I be capable of stealing and not capable of earning? It's never going to happen.

[Rincewind]

Answered like a true politician.

[Webbo]

Answered like a true politician.

Are you saying that if I fall on hard times it's permissible for me to mug you?

[Daggers]

Firstly there is no need to steal in this country, the welfare system in this country is adequate enough to survive on. Secondly just because I do not possess something that doesn't give to a right to take it from someone else, so no I wouldn't steal for my family either.

Aha, that'll be why Food Banks are opening up all over the country and reporting record levels of need. I'll pop into Northampton tomorrow and let them know they aren't needed anymore because the welfare system in this country is adequate enough to survive on.

Brilliant.

[Leicfox]

I want them to be made to work or no benefits and for every child beyond two I want them sterilising . But most of all I want these low life scrounging scum to stop living of my back.

There are people in all walks of life (rich and poor) that will try to abuse or try to get round the system. So looking at the bigger picture do you really think it's going to make any difference in the amount of tax you pay?, Because it won't. They will take your money regardless.

Edited 30 October 2012 by Leicfox

[Captain...]

How can I be capable of stealing and not capable of earning? It's never going to happen.

How can you refuse to answer a simple question so many times?

Are you a politician?

The point I am making is that if you cut benefits, force people below the poverty line for having too many kids, especially at a time when jobs are at a premium, businesses are closing, and a lot of unskilled work is being outsourced overseas, it would be very easy to find yourself without a valid skill set and unable to find work and people depending on you for your income, now fortunately we live in a country with a very generous welfare system but a lot of people want to change that. As much as I agree with the incentive to work line, it will drive people to crime.

Edited 30 October 2012 by Captain Shrapnel

[Webbo]

Aha, that'll be why Food Banks are opening up all over the country and reporting record levels of need. I'll pop into Northampton tomorrow and let them know they aren't needed anymore because the welfare system in this country is adequate enough to survive on.

Brilliant.

When one of the biggest problems amongst the poor in this country is obesity then forgive if I don't take food banks too seriously.

[Webbo]

How can you refuse to answer a simple question so many times?

Are you a politician?

The point I am making is that if you cut benefits, force people below the poverty line for having too many kids, especially at a time when jobs are at a premium, businesses are closing, and a lot of unskilled work is being outsourced overseas, it would be very easy to find yourself without a valid skill set and unable to find work and people depending on you for your income, now fortunately we live in a country with a very generous welfare system but a lot of people want to change that. As much as I agree with the incentive to work line, it will drive people to crime.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/oct/18/crime-falls-england-wales

Crime in England and Wales has fallen by a further 6% in the past year and the chances of becoming a crime victim are at their lowest since the early 1980s, according to the latest set of official figures.

The surprise overall fall in crime was more than matched by a 14% drop in the murder rate, down to 545 homicides in the 12 months to June 2012. This is a significant fall from a peak of 800 a year, excluding the 172 attributed to Harold Shipman, seen in the early years of this century.

The 6% fall in crime reported in the latest quarterly figures by both the Crime Survey for England and Wales and the separate police recorded crime figures means that crime has now dropped by more than 50% since it peaked in the mid-1990s.

Government statisticians say it is too early to conclude that the latest fall to 9.1m offences estimated by the crime survey – following a fairly flat trend since the coalition came to power – is evidence that the longest downward trend in crime since the second world war has now resumed.

The less authoritative police recorded crime figures suggest it might have by continuing a clear downward trend. Police recorded crime is now a third lower than in 2002-2003 at 3.9m offences.

All this despite people apparently starving to death

[Nick]

When one of the biggest problems amongst the poor in this country is obesity then forgive if I don't take food banks too seriously.

[Captain...]

When one of the biggest problems amongst the poor in this country is obesity then forgive if I don't take food banks too seriously.

You do understand that is mainly caused by an unhealthy high in fat and high in salt diet, brought about because some of the cheapest food is the shittest and lacking in nutrients.

It is also laziness and an inability to cook/a lack of understanding of food and diet, that and shit food like McDonalds is constantly shoved down your throat through aggressive advertising campaigns. I am not making excuses for the poor, but obesity is not about how much you eat, but how well you eat, you eat cheap shit food you don't satisfy your hunger as it lacks a lot of nutrients, but you do take on a lot of fat and salt. It is also prohibitively expensive to join a gym.

[Rincewind]

The next time you visit a place that gives food to those on the breadline and the homeless count how many in the queue are obese.

[Webbo]

You do understand that is mainly caused by an unhealthy high in fat and high in salt diet, brought about because some of the cheapest food is the shittest and lacking in nutrients.

It is also laziness and an inability to cook/a lack of understanding of food and diet, that and shit food like McDonalds is constantly shoved down your throat through aggressive advertising campaigns. I am not making excuses for the poor, but obesity is not about how much you eat, but how well you eat, you eat cheap shit food you don't satisfy your hunger as it lacks a lot of nutrients, but you do take on a lot of fat and salt. It is also prohibitively expensive to join a gym.

a) Eating at McDonalds isn't cheap.

b) I see the same ads as everybody else and have a McDonalds 5/6 times a year.

You can't blame people's laziness on lack of welfare.

[Guest MattP]

...but what if it was one of your loved ones that was starving? Would you watch a loved one die of starvation or steal a loaf of bread from a supermarket?

I'm sorry but what an absolutely ridiculous question this is, can someone bring some reality back into this thread?

No one in this country with a family cannot afford a loaf of bread should they need it. It's absurd to suggest so. Even on the minimum JSA allowance you have enough to feed yourself.

Edited 30 October 2012 by MattP

[Daggers]

When one of the biggest problems amongst the poor in this country is obesity then forgive if I don't take food banks too seriously.

Of course, because obesity is caused by the over-consumption of balanced, healthy diets.

Stupid poor people guzzling healthy, organic sirloin all day.