The state benefits system mega-thread.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Hugh

If you don't vote, they win that way too...

Not if enough people do the same, only problem is you might get extremist fringes getting more of a say but no one would have a mandate on a 10% turnout for instance, I think it's be a great way to stick it to 'em if we could some how guarantee the non participation

Unfortunately, in this country there is no lower limit for the mandate to be invalid - if we don't vote, we get what we deserve (so vote for Greens/local independent/whatever).

Problem is there are a lot of people like myself who cannot see a reason to vote I've always been a conservative voter but theres no way I can vote for this current lot and am still too tory to vote labour or lib dem so non voting is the best option. Our political system is now one of exclusion too many people believe none of the options will work in their best interests or the countries so the problem exists with no viable solution.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Unfortunately, in this country there is no lower limit for the mandate to be invalid - if we don't vote, we get what we deserve (so vote for Greens/local independent/whatever).

That's true but realistically no party could be returned on such a low turnout, they'd be a laughing stock and nothing they proposed could be taken seriously, if there was a none of the above/spoiled ballot/don't vote campaign I'd support it I think.

[Osem]

I will always vote even if it means just going through the process and winding up with 'None of the above'. The privilege has cost a great many lives over time.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Osem

I will always vote even if it means just going through the process and winding up with 'None of the above'. The privilege has cost a great many lives over time.

+1

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Osem

I will always vote even if it means just going through the process and winding up with 'None of the above'. The privilege has cost a great many lives over time.

I don't think it has and even if they did die so you could have the right to vote presumably they also died so you could have the right not to and if we say your point is right then surely its up to the politicians to have treated them with more respect and not to have disenfranchised large swathes of the population to such a degree that they feel so negatively towards politics.

If there was the option of none of the above I'd be happy with that and I think voter turnout would be a lot higher but no political body wants that option because they don't want to deal with the repercussions of huge numbers of ballots in the number there would be. Yes people have died in the past but not so we can vote they fought and died for us to have freedoms voting being one but not the only one and the freedom to not vote is as high as the freedom to vote I'm sick of that guilt trip being used to make people feel they have to vote. Perhaps if politicians worked in the best interests of their constituents and the country this debate wouldn't exist the fact it does shows how our political system is and has been failing the people for a long time.

[denphone]

Fitness-to-work assessment backlog could take 18 months to clear.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2...-services-atos

[peanut]

Originally Posted by denphone

Fitness-to-work assessment backlog could take 18 months to clear.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2...-services-atos

I think they are being a bit generous with that statement. That with the added new intake next October on top.

[Taf]

US-based Maximus Health Services will replace the current firm Atos in March 2015 on a three-year £500m contract.

Initially, Maximus will use existing Atos staff, buildings and IT equipment.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29952335

Same old, same old, just new bosses to take the profits....

[denphone]

How many benefit cheats are there really?.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentis...port?CMP=fb_gu

Clearly fraud needs to be dealt with, but our fixation on it distracts from a much bigger picture: that the vast majority of benefits go to ordinary people who genuinely need the support. These are people who may be seriously ill or disabled, caring for a loved one, unable to find work or struggling to get by on low pay. For many of them benefits are a lifeline.

Nevertheless, previous research shows that the public perception of fraud is 34 times higher than the reality. It’s an emotive subject. Nobody likes to think of their taxes going to fraudsters. It outrages our sense of fair play and our deep sense of who deserves what and why.

[peanut]

Originally Posted by denphone

How many benefit cheats are there really?.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentis...port?CMP=fb_gu

Fuelled and created by the political spin to allow such treatment of the sick and disabled for the means of making any kind of cuts / changes to benefits to be justified.

Anyone who has bothered to go deeper then the political bluster and garbage already knows fraud is not the huge issue a certain political party has made out. We've had a constant barrage of misinformation for as you say peanut to justify the treatment of the disabled and sick in this country. Trouble is the majority haven't looked deeper and won't in the future they will content themselves with trotting out the old line of "those who need it should get it" and then turning their heads when the genuine are hit. What's made me laugh a lot in the last four years is all the talk and hyping of fraud whilst implementing changes that don't hit fraudsters at all or even make it more difficult for people to abuse the system.

Still never mind the politicians will tell us how's it all working and people will be happy unless your one of the increasing number of people getting unfairly hit.

[ianch99]

Originally Posted by RizzyKing

Anyone who has bothered to go deeper then the political bluster and garbage already knows fraud is not the huge issue a certain political party has made out. We've had a constant barrage of misinformation for as you say peanut to justify the treatment of the disabled and sick in this country. Trouble is the majority haven't looked deeper and won't in the future they will content themselves with trotting out the old line of "those who need it should get it" and then turning their heads when the genuine are hit. What's made me laugh a lot in the last four years is all the talk and hyping of fraud whilst implementing changes that don't hit fraudsters at all or even make it more difficult for people to abuse the system.

Still never mind the politicians will tell us how's it all working and people will be happy unless your one of the increasing number of people getting unfairly hit.

Well said. No one objects when the Tories slash social services but there will hell to pay when someone with mental health issues, for example, who otherwise may have been monitored and helped, commits a serious crime ..