Mirror uses stock image of American child for front page UK foodbanks story

[Razgovory]

It does, but that doesn't really help getting them jobs again.  In fact, it's counter productive.  People who are humiliated daily become depressed and are less likely to find work.

It would provide motivation for me to find a job.  I'd dig ditches to avoid being on welfare.

You'd think that, wouldn't you?

[Norgy]

People seem to think that being on welfare or receiving charity is an active life-choice, like taking up jogging or eating more fish.

[Ed Anger]

I want food stamps.

[Monoriu]

People seem to think that being on welfare or receiving charity is an active life-choice, like taking up jogging or eating more fish.

I look at it this way.  If someone is out of work, out of money, out of support from friends and family, then he really doesn't have much choice but to receive welfare or charity. 

But if we go back a few years or decades, the picture maybe different.  Did he study hard at school or university?  Did he spend too much and save too little?  Did he try hard enough to find a job?

It is conceivable that somebody made all the "right" choices but still end up in an impossible situation.  It is also conceivable that someone made a lot of poor choices and now suffer from the consequences from said choices. 

[DontSayBanana]

People seem to think that being on welfare or receiving charity is an active life-choice, like taking up jogging or eating more fish.

I've even heard a few conservatards try to spin it as single moms trying deliberately to get knocked up multiple times for the welfare checks.

[Capetan Mihali]

People seem to think that being on welfare or receiving charity is an active life-choice, like taking up jogging or eating more fish.

I look at it this way.  If someone is out of work, out of money, out of support from friends and family, then he really doesn't have much choice but to receive welfare or charity. 

But if we go back a few years or decades, the picture maybe different.  Did he study hard at school or university?  Did he spend too much and save too little?  Did he try hard enough to find a job?

It is conceivable that somebody made all the "right" choices but still end up in an impossible situation.  It is also conceivable that someone made a lot of poor choices and now suffer from the consequences from said choices.

So what lesson are we supposed to draw from this thought experiment?

[Monoriu]

So what lesson are we supposed to draw from this thought experiment?

That we don't have enough information to say "it is a choice" or it is not?

[Capetan Mihali]

So what lesson are we supposed to draw from this thought experiment?

That we don't have enough information to say "it is a choice" or it is not?

And if it is a choice..?

[Monoriu]

So what lesson are we supposed to draw from this thought experiment?

That we don't have enough information to say "it is a choice" or it is not?

And if it is a choice..?

I don't think we can ever find out.  The cost to look at each person's life and attribute fault before the government will release welfare is prohibitive.  We'll just have to continue doing what is practical and release welfare on a bare minimum basis.

[Valmy]

People seem to think that being on welfare or receiving charity is an active life-choice, like taking up jogging or eating more fish.

I've even heard a few conservatards try to spin it as single moms trying deliberately to get knocked up multiple times for the welfare checks.

I have had people tell me they were carrying out this plan but it seems like a dodgy one.

[jimmy olsen]

Are food banks an inferior form of charity to welfare?

Welfare isn't charity. Part of the reason we established a welfare state was to remove the inefficiency and humiliation of charity.

How is charity recieved from the state any less humilating than charity recieved from an individual?

[Eddie Teach]

It's impersonal.

[The Brain]

In Sweden it's a choice to be poor. Education is free, and getting a decent education is a simple and convenient way to avoid being poor (even though it is unlikely to make you rich).

[jimmy olsen]

It's impersonal.

And that's better because...?

[Richard Hakluyt]

Are food banks an inferior form of charity to welfare?

Welfare isn't charity. Part of the reason we established a welfare state was to remove the inefficiency and humiliation of charity.

How is charity recieved from the state any less humilating than charity recieved from an individual?

In principle it is an insurance system that we have here in the UK. While you are working you pay National Insurance, in return you get money off the state for sickness, unemployment and an old age pension.

In practice successive governments have broken or weakened the insurance link so that most of these payments will come regardless of contributions. In addition those that have made large contributions for, say, several decades, get little in the way of special treatment................unfortunate for those that have made large contributions and experience misfortune only to receive miserly benefits.

In any event, because of this insurance principle it is not perceived as charity from the state, it is an entitlement.