Quote:
Originally Posted by Chrysalis
handing and been reliant go hand in hand, for millions of people the state is a lifeline.
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Because it was enlarged and crowded out other resources, where previously family, friends, neighbours, communities and indeed the people themselves did things the state stepped in and took over.
What we consider as essential services now probably bears little resemblance to what was considered essential not that long ago.
As Angua noted also, for all this extra money being poured into the state from tax payers and debt, quality of life is perceived as lower now, and the inequality gap is untouched.
Seems to me that perhaps advocates of a smaller state may have a point. Those genuinely in need who are best served by the state and have no other recourse, fine, taking everyone's money to try and make what politicians think is the best use of that money is simply wrong.
A social safety net and essential municipal services which are best provided by government, it should be nothing more, ever, and certainly not the pervasive, intrusive monster it is right now.
---------- Post added at 13:16 ---------- Previous post was at 13:11 ----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by PeteLockwood
i agree hugh, but there is helping and there is being reliant...
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You're perhaps being unfair there Pete, but you're also not entirely unfair. It does beg the question of if Arthur isn't happy with his lot in the life, the wages being offered for his labour, etc, he didn't attempt to better that lot rather than
apparently expecting government to do so. Less skilled work inevitably will pay less and have more competition for it than more skilled positions.
Reliant is the wrong word, perhaps feeling entitled is more appropriate. However that is probably just what the man was told by certain more left-wing governments of past times. Pay your taxes and you will be looked after. Obviously it's a model that fell apart for demographic and other reasons.
Someone from the Baby Boomer generation or the one before is best suited to answer that one though - I'm from the later part of Generation X so was brought up with no expectations of such things
