I was genuinely gobsmacked by something that happened earlier today

[Berni]

I was on The Guardian website and reading a story about the government's proposal to get rid of the right to have a council house for life where I queried why such a right should ever have existed and said that the only way of guaranteeing possession of something was to own it outright.

I received this response from someone:

"You do realise that having a mortgage you do not own the property. The banks own it until the day you make your final payment. They hold the deeds until that very time. For some people living in a council property is not a choice. But for those of us that do it is for this reason.
We don't want a automatic debt as soon as papers are signed for a mortgage. And we don't want to be paying rip off rents in the private sector & effectively paying someone else's mortage with interest.

Majority of council properties are still of a decent living size. Unlike the pathetic shoe boxes being Peddled off as luxury homes. So until the house prices become more affordable why should any sane person be forced into the private sector?"

So am I mistaken or was this person essentially saying they didn't actually need a council house, but chose to stay in one because it was cheaper than buying or renting?

Now I'm not generally genuinely outraged, but how the f**k is that OK?

[Mo Britain less Europe]

abroad at least twice a year. How is that "progressive"?

[Berni]

matters, but I was under the impression that council housing was designed for those who actually needed it and couldn't afford anything else? Is that not the idea of it? Have I got this wrong?

[redgunamo]

by "choosing" to use the NHS, state schools or public libraries :shrug:

[Mo Britain less Europe]

all property which would have meant everyone would be a council tenant. Of course this created a culture of entitlement and led to the likes of wealthy people, like the late unlamented Bob Crow, living in comfy cheap cpuncil flats whilst other less entitled workers have to commute or pay high rents in the private sector.

[Berni]

which are designed for universal use. I thought council housing was - like unemployment benefit or disability benefit - designed for those in dire need?

[Berni]

There are people perfectly capable of paying for their own accommodation having their housing costs massively subsidised by the taxpayer while there is a housing shortage, ffs! This is madness.

[Mo Britain less Europe]

council employees have jobs for life and are not taken to task for ineffciency, what do you expect?

[redgunamo]

You could also say the same of the items I mentioned, but it doesn't work out that way, does it. Because the educated middle class, young hard-working professionals, have long since worked out that they can merely vote themselves a better deal and purchase flash cars and posh holidays with their cash instead, using "those in dire need" as a McGuffin.

[Mc Gooner]

Over the last 5ish years there have been many 000s of jobs cut across central Government Departments.

There will be many more before the end of the current financial year. (i.e. 5th April)

[Mo Britain less Europe]

[Brexit = Keine Pumpernickel]

Police, Fire, NHS, any of them.

[Peter]

For a tiny fraction of its value?

[redgunamo]

it would've been eradicated centuries ago. It's the energetic involvement of the wealthy that makes it viable and keeps it lucrative.

The needs of the deserving rich are far more important than those of the undeserving poor. Except, as I say, as a moral figleaf for our own voluptuarism.

[Peter]

Are doing and into believing that they are the cause of his miseries.

I mean, man lives in cheap house..... Hardly headline news is it and you wouldnt rush to the cinema to see a film about it.

Live and let live i say. Vive la france an all that :-)

[Berni]

nothing but dirty, ugly, corrupt lies?

What is your socialism actually worth, p?

[Mo Britain less Europe]

[Mo Britain less Europe]

[Mo Britain less Europe]

badge of honour because you're poor.

[redgunamo]

[Mc Gooner]

They DO get sacked. I have sacked 3 during my time in the CS.

And while I know you've a bee in your bunnet about disciplinary action the point about staff reductions is valid. I was around when 700 posts were cut from just one Department.

[redgunamo]

Personally, I can't even take responsibility for my own breakfast; distracted for a moment and my dogs made off with it

http://www.awimb.com/images/smiley_icons/xmashomer1.gif

[Peter]

Incidentally, i note your outrage began on the guardian website. It is almost as though you like being outraged.

You wont find me watching videos of arsenal defensive errors. :-)

[Peter]

Job done. Good man :-)

[Mo Britain less Europe]

commercial sector.

[redgunamo]