The 2015 Popularity Contest (aka UK General Election )

[Seanjd]

Parents have the right to have as many children as they like, even if they know they cannot afford to support them without benefits, Ed Miliband has said.

I know others on this forum have debated this point so I'm sorry to bring it back up. However, I am a little confused. Piddlywiddly, you have raised this indirect quote as a criticism of Miliband. I can't understand how this could ever possibly be a criticism, unless, like others have suggested, you would rather a Chinese childbirth policy? Or perhaps controlled abortion? Please do suggest an answer to this 'problem', because as far as I can tell, Ed Miliband is just speaking an obvious point?

 

[roydo]

I think deep down every parent wants what's best for their kids. Its no doubt harder for some than others.

You would hope so. But there is no doubt that some parents are not that great at being a parent, and blaming that on how much money they have or havnt got is lazy and inaccurate.

 

[Seanjd]

You would hope so. But there is no doubt that some parents are not that great at being a parent, and blaming that on how much money they have or havnt got is lazy and inaccurate.

He definitely put it down to lack of education and support, not money. There is a correlation between lack of money and lack of proper parenting though, without a doubt, so that would hold quite true too.

However, there are also rich people who are bad parents.

 

[daylightrobber]

You would hope so. But there is no doubt that some parents are not that great at being a parent, and blaming that on how much money they have or havnt got is lazy and inaccurate.

in the same way that labelling parents who struggle to provide for their kids as bad parents is also lazy and inaccurate.

 

[roydo]

He definitely put it down to lack of education and support, not money. There is a correlation between lack of money and lack of proper parenting though, without a doubt, so that would hold quite true too.

However, there are also rich people who are bad parents.

Indeed, and there are also poorer folk who are ace parents.

 

[Seanjd]

Indeed, and there are also poorer folk who are ace parents.

100%. There is no doubt though that there will be a higher chance of parenting issues, eg. neglect, in a poorer family.

 

[roydo]

in the same way that labelling parents who struggle to provide for their kids as bad parents is also lazy and inaccurate.

But I didnt say that. Some people, regardless of income/wealth/support/opportunities are crap at it. Rich and poor, black and white, male and female.

 

[roydo]

100%. There is no doubt though that there will be a higher chance of parenting issues, eg. neglect, in a poorer family.

Probably, but being poorer doesnt excuse being neglectful.

 

[Seanjd]

Probably, but being poorer doesnt excuse being neglectful.

Of course not, nothing excuses neglect. Poverty certainly makes parenting more difficult though. Would you agree?

 

[roydo]

Of course not, nothing excuses neglect. Poverty certainly makes parenting more difficult though. Would you agree?

Of course it does. Being poorer makes life harder in pretty much every aspect of life.

Or in another way, being poorer makes life more challenging, which is how I have chosen to address the changes to my job and stuff.

But I wasnt born into the sort of life that some people are, who find it almost impossible to escape from, which is a whole different subject/can of worms.

 

[daylightrobber]

But I didnt say that. Some people, regardless of income/wealth/support/opportunities are crap at it. Rich and poor, black and white, male and female.

Wasn't suggesting you did & agreed.

 

[roydo]

Wasn't suggesting you did & agreed.

Cool.

 

[Eggs]

You would hope so. But there is no doubt that some parents are not that great at being a parent, and blaming that on how much money they have or havnt got is lazy and inaccurate.

.....yep. Biggest challenge we have is bringing up our kids. It's not easy but knowing the difference between right and wrong, having respect and caring for others is not dependent on how much money you have.

 

[summerisle]

Just received a You Gov poll asking whether Labour will be held to ransom by the SNP in the event of a hung parliament.
Yes - good thing
Yes - bad thing
No
Should be out tomorrow

 

[The Cowboy]

I know others on this forum have debated this point so I'm sorry to bring it back up. However, I am a little confused. Piddlywiddly, you have raised this indirect quote as a criticism of Miliband. I can't understand how this could ever possibly be a criticism, unless, like others have suggested, you would rather a Chinese childbirth policy? Or perhaps controlled abortion? Please do suggest an answer to this 'problem', because as far as I can tell, Ed Miliband is just speaking an obvious point?

So you're happy for people to just breed and breed without ever wondering how they will support them? I would never advocate a limit on births, but surely everyone must agree that we need to be sensible and think about how we would support a larger family before we go ahead and procreate?

 

[Bruce Wayne]

'Bad parenting' is generally due to a lack of education or support. However parents are often forced into making bad decisions because their options are limited.

Blokes that don't do the decent thing and stick around don't help either.