[denphone]

Originally Posted by Damien

Well apart from a very small minority this isn't the case for most child benefit claimants. The cost of raising a child is more than the benefit brings in so apart from parents who must be neglecting their child to a standard that borders on abuse it isn't a ways to bring in money.

My feeling on benefits is that they're needed and we need to make sure it's affordable for the state. I have never claimed these kinds of benefits although I have used other aspects of the state, education, healthcare, police, roads and so on. Incidentally this is why I think tax avoiders are immoral, we all take from the state.

The thing is the difference between me paying tax or claiming benefit is partly luck. There are some people who could work and not claim benefit as they prefer an 'easy' life. However there are a greater number of claimants who need it. I am (currently) in good health and I had a comfortable upbringing that allowed me to get a relatively good education. These are significant advantages. I could just have easily been born with, or developed, or go on to develop disabilities that stop me working. I could also just have easily been born into an environment where it would have been harder to get a good education or go to University.

So it's best not to make sweeping statements about people in recipient of welfare and it's worthwhile remembering that you don't know the situation of each of them. It could just have easily been you, or could be yet, who needs this help.

Summed up perfectly.