Before you accuse me of speaking without any knowledge on this subject I should stop you. I do have first hand experience of this area but if I outline what that is my identity may be revealed and I don't want that.
I blame perception. People seem to think that non-essential items are now a basic entitlement, something that we all must have. Well people need to get over it, fast. If I had my way anyone wanting to use a foodbank would have to have a meeting, in their home, with someone to advise on finances. Someone who could tell them where they can cut back to help afford food because all the time you give people something for free why would they try to afford it? Here are the things I would look at cutting back before giving anyone free food.
Alcohol & Tobacco
The most common substances that people get annoyed about with regards to anyone on benefits or getting a handout. Quite simply if you say you can't afford food but buy either of these things you are pathetic. And if you have kids doing this and saying you can't afford food then you are guilty of child neglect in my opinion.
Smart Phones
Another common accessory for the financially challenged. No matter how things get you have to have an iPhone with angry birds installed. Really? Two points here, you do not need a mobile phone, you think you do but you don't. It is still a nice to have item, not a necessity. If you don't have a land-line at home then one pay as you go, on a basic handset, will work fine.
Internet
I can hear the anguished cries of you all from here. You do not need the internet to survive. You may be use to 24/7 online access but you will cope just fine without. Even if you don't get rid of it completely you could switch onto a cheaper service. For example if you have a high speed fibre optic line then change to basic broadband. Remember the library will have free internet for you, just avoid porn, they don't like that.......so I'm told.
Paid TV
All you need is freeview, anything more is a luxury. I don't care what you like to watch on what channel. Are Charlie's Angels reruns better than food?
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| Does he need a foodbank? |
If someone made all these cutbacks and savings yet still struggled then I would say that they needed a foodbank. I would expect that kind of situation may be hard to find.
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One thing to bear in mind is that many who use food banks do follow the steps laid out in your guide but they still find they need the foodbank. Why? Because of the state. It's because the state is inefficient, crap, useless, etc. So people have their benefits delayed due to the incompetance of the state. And the rise in foodbank usage? Other than the whipping up of a media frenzy by The Trussell Trust, its proof that the state doesn't work.
ReplyDeleteWhere is your evidence for people following this? That isn't what people I know within the DWP or charities would say.
DeleteWhat is happening more now is people not looking for work are having their benefit stopped. Under Labour they applied for a "crisis loan". A form they filled in and someone in a centre away from that Job Centre made a decision on that form alone without looking at their file to see that they haven't looked for work. Essentially it didn't matter what the staff did, they would get money. Not anymore, but thankfully the food bank is picking up the slack for these workshy wasters.
As for those in work and using one, well I would love to see inside their homes, I bet barely anyone is doing all the steps I say in this post.
Evidence?! Who needs evidence. More seriously, no I don't have evidence other than the hard luck stories you read about.
DeleteThose in work should not have any need for a foodbank. Those on benefits might have a need, with many because of the state. As you say yourself, the rules are different now. Before benefits were handed out like confetti. Now they are supposed to check but because of the inefficient state this happens after delays.
It's very easy to comment on anothers way of life. Beauty of the internet I guess. Freedom to moan about everyone else. I usually agree with you but not on this.
ReplyDeleteYou can't generalise so broadly on this subject.
What about middle class people complaining that their loss of child benefit means they get one less holiday this year? We could bang on about that too.
It's not just the poor expecting free money.
They can moan away, they don't need the money. Fuck them!
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