The 2015 Popularity Contest (aka UK General Election )

[Bungle]

That's what your post meant. Just say it. Don't be PC about it.

 

[The Esk]

Whatever brought people to their situation where basics aren't on the table, doesn't matter to me! You cannot have people or their children not eating! I'm sorry I took the bait.

I agree totally - the fact that between 350,000 and 500,000 use food banks, and that according to the Food Ethics Council 4 million people are in food poverty in the UK demonstrates that the social security safety net - a key component of British politics and society for most of the last century, is in fact no longer functioning.

 

[Blue 1]

Not blame. Acknowledge and not brush under the carpet in the hope that that community can follow the example of others. Unfortunately at the moment by being just as they are, they get what they want anyway. Its always those who shout the loudest!

But it's a minority even within that community and it's not fair to make those who share largely the same aspirations as anyone else feel like they're unwelcome in the country they were born in.

Agree about those who shout the loudest, mind.

 

[EFCNIK]

But it's a minority even within that community and it's not fair to make those who share largely the same aspirations as anyone else feel like they're unwelcome in the country they were born in.

Agree about those who shout the loudest, mind.

Absolutely its the minority, but the majority find it very difficult to pipe up when there are issues of extremism, of paedophile gangs etc etc but have no problem piping up when there is a perceived wrong against Islam.

That's what constantly annoys me about that community. If the so called majority actually had any interest in standing with everyone else on these issues within their communities then there would be no problem. The fact of the matter is, they are as scared as anyone else of Islamic violent retribution.

 

[Blue 1]

Absolutely its the minority, but the majority find it very difficult to pipe up when there are issues of extremism, of paedophile gangs etc etc but have no problem piping up when there is a perceived wrong against Islam.

That's what constantly annoys me about that community. If the so called majority actually had any interest in standing with everyone else on these issues within their communities then there would be no problem. The fact of the matter is, they are as scared as anyone else of Islamic violent retribution.

I've been thinking about that one recently and I don't think it's quite fair for a couple of reasons. The majority do stand up, or decent numbers do, frequently, but it doesn't make as good copy. The other reason, it's none of their business to, really. Would you have expected Irish Catholics in this country to have to stand up and denounce the IRA all the time? Normal people hate these bastards, muslim or otherwise. I don't think it's much to do with fearing retribution from extremists.

That's not to say there aren't issues or that everything you say is invalid, of course. In my former home town of Northampton, though, there seem to be more visible issues with various Eastern European communities than with the various muslim communities.

 

[EFCNIK]

I've been thinking about that one recently and I don't think it's quite fair for a couple of reasons. The majority do stand up, or decent numbers do, frequently, but it doesn't make as good copy. The other reason, it's none of their business to, really. Would you have expected Irish Catholics in this country to have to stand up and denounce the IRA all the time? Normal people hate these bastards, muslim or otherwise. I don't think it's much to do with fearing retribution from extremists.

That's not to say there aren't issues or that everything you say is invalid, of course. In my former home town of Northampton, though, there seem to be more visible issues with various Eastern European communities than with the various muslim communities.

OPEN immigration from Eastern Europe isn't a good thing?!?!

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Look I don't reveal this lightly but here goes, I volunteer for a Christian unofficial food bank twice a month and I'm telling you! these folks aren't throwing food away and neither do I.

That's good on you. If more people did that, then isn't that a good thing? Looking out for each other rather than relying on a government to do it for us?

 

[Blue 1]

OPEN immigration from Eastern Europe isn't a good thing?!?!

Bit of both good and bad, really. I can see both sides of the argument.

 

[bluemangroup]

That's good on you. If more people did that, then isn't that a good thing? Looking out for each other rather than relying on a government to do it for us?

It's not a given that the public, of their own volition, would do enough for those that need help though.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

The Heygate demolition and subsequent redevelopment by Lend Lease, an Australian property development company is a disgrace though Bruce.

Southwark Council broke its promise to rehouse occupants when the site was started to be cleared in 2007.

A redevelopment plan by the Community Land Trust which included large provision of "affordable" housing was rejected on the grounds that it would reduce the land value of the site.

Subsequently the land was sold by Southwark Council to Lend Lease for £50 milion despite the Council already having spend £44 million on demolition and £21.5 million on planning redevelopment.

Most residents were forced to live in other areas of London, breaking up families and community groups which ultimately leads to greater social problems and associated costs.

Furthermore the London Assembly reported that prior to demolition the estate was structurally sound, required refurbishment not re-development, that 4 out of 5 residents did not want to move and that the crime rate on the estate was 50% lower than that of Southwark generally.

Housing shortages are only one of the reasons for huge price increases in London. A large contributory factor is the demolition of relatively low value accommodation and the replacement with higher value properties. Not only does this increase the average price of property on a local basis (a mathematical certainty) but it causes a ripple of price inflation around the developments, making the situation for non-property owners, first time buyers and the relatively poorly paid workers even worse.

Through this there is a de-facto social engineering, it is plain for all to see.

That's all well and good to sit there and call it a disgrace though mate. Did you actually look inside the place? Whilst not the Heygate, I lived in the Aylsbury estate when I first moved to London, and it's practically identical. It was a horrible place to live, absolutely horrible.

I mean I dare say, despite this supposed mass migration of people, Southwark is still infinitely more diverse than Kensington. Where are the affordable houses in your own neck of the woods? Would you have wanted the Heygate in its old form dumped in the middle of your borough?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

It's not a given that the public, of their own volition, would do enough for those that need help though.

Why is it not? Those food banks that have been mentioned earlier aren't run by the state are they? Isn't that a sign of communities coming together to help those in need?

 

[bluemangroup]

Why is it not? Those food banks that have been mentioned earlier aren't run by the state are they? Isn't that a sign of communities coming together to help those in need?

Because we are talking about a huge public effort to help the less well off. Food banks are a nice sentiment but they shouldn't be there in the first place.

 

[Donald Twain]

That's good on you. If more people did that, then isn't that a good thing? Looking out for each other rather than relying on a government to do it for us?

looking out for each other went in the 80's and has been steadily eroded by social engineering ever since mate. Suppose we should be running our own libraries instead of relying on the government to do it as well? Oh and emptying our bins and cutting the grass on the park fields !! never mind feed people god forbid.

 

[Donald Twain]

Because we are talking about a huge public effort to help the less well off. Food banks are a nice sentiment but they shouldn't be there in the first place.

This!

 

[Jags..class]

I'm lucky enough not to use food banks, I'm gobsmacked that people in the country need foodbanks, are we talking about families who have lost their main earner and waiting for benefits.