Not all people on benefits are scroungers Grendel.
General Election 2019 thread (24 Viewers)
- Thread starter Philosoraptor
- Start date
Not all people on benefits are scroungers Grendel.
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
Says the guy bringing up Leah Betts in a serious discussion on drug policy!
Here, some facts. Research study on drug harm:
Sky_Blue_Dreamer
Well-Known Member
No I'm saying treat them like individuals and human beings rather than a cattle market forcing them into doing whatever is available.
Had a young lad I worked with a number of years ago. His parents were always going on about him having a regular job and income and getting their friends to get him jobs in offices etc that he never lasted more than five minutes in because he hated it. He loved music and was a drummer in a band and his parents were always having a go at him for wasting his time on it rather than knuckling down. Last I heard he was still in the band getting the odd paid gig on weekends, has himself available as a session drummer and also teaches people the drums. Everyone had him down as a bone idle layabout. Another friend of mine just used to spend ages on his computer in his bedroom and his parents were exasperated at him being a layabout but he's now got an extremely well-paid job in IT, works long hours and he loves it.
Loads of musicians/actors/comedians have similar stories of spending years having jobs they'd get fired from after two weeks and spending lots of time on benefits because they hated them. Who'd have thought those people that do shit with YouTube channels or 'influencers' could be making money even though what they do is totally and utterly worthless? That kid on BFQOTY last week who earned a million from playing Fortnite?
There will be those who just won't want to work regardless but they're very few in number but on the whole give a person a job they love and they'll never work a day in their lives.
Sky_Blue_Dreamer
Well-Known Member
David Nutt was the govt drug tsar that they tried to ruin the reputation of because he didn't come back with the answers they wanted isn't he?
chiefdave
Well-Known Member
Not a surprise. On day 1 they were talking about none of the cabinet being on Radio 4.
They've seen what they can get away with. An entire election campaign avoiding any questioning, even hiding in a fridge at one point, yet still got voted in. They're emboldened and know there's no point risking being asked difficult questions where someone might put their foot in it.
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shmmeee
Well-Known Member
Leaving aside the criminal aspect for a second (though read High Society by Ben Elton where the drug gangs go against a politician trying to legalise because it’ll stop their income)
There’s a moral case for me which is that drug use is almost always self medication. People have taken mind altering substances in every society throughout history, more so when their conditions are poor and mental health is bad. So by criminalising you’re punishing ill people (all while providing cash for criminals).
The other side is route into crime. I’ve taught so many teenage boys who see the dealer on their estate with his wads of cash and want some of that. See a bit of delivery as not that bad and paying well and then they’re in the gang system and it’s hard to get out. Asking kids to steal from shops/people or commit other crimes for cash is a much harder sell.
yeah, the book I mentioned is all about the underlying reasons for drug taking by a majority of addicts (not social users). Most need help, not locking up.
LastGarrison
Well-Known Member
So based on this we should all be taking acid and mushrooms instead of smoking weed and sniffing coke?
I’m in!
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shmmeee
Well-Known Member
Everyone should take acid at least once.
LastGarrison
Well-Known Member
All joking aside, I tend to agree.
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
Of all the drugs I’ve done, only acid and modafinil have had a positive impact in hindsight. MDMA cures my social anxiety and I like it but the comedowns are horrendous, weed kills my motivation and long term harms me, beer makes me fat and sick, coke is expensive and makes me a bore, cigarettes are just shit, I proposed to my ex wife on mushrooms (definitely the most expensive drug I’ve ever taken), but acid genuinely gave me a new insight on the world and modafinil got me through my Masters.
I wouldn’t do acid a lot, but I’m definitely glad I’ve done it.
SkyBlueDom26
Well-Known Member
Shmmeee the raving pill head
Sick Boy
Super Moderator
The concept of micro-dosing with psychedelics is an interesting one and I think long, long-term will become more accepted. It would probably also be far healthier than being on man made drugs as well.
LastGarrison
Well-Known Member
Not sure if I’ve posted this on here before but a mate of mine is currently involved in trials regarding using MDMA to treat both PTSD and alcoholism.
Mushrooms definitely gave me my ‘cleanest’ trip and wasn’t always a lover of the comedowns off LSD, although it’s funny how selective memory comes in and you forget about these things as time goes by.
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
MDMA and LSD have definitely got some interesting properties worth investigating. I heard MDMA has been used for Parkinson’s as well I think?
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
Just copying Trump’s tactics while Cummings puts on the Malcom Tucker tribute act.
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
There is also the moral aspect that society ends up picking up the tab for the consequences of addiction. Mind you the same applies for fast food, fizzy pop, gambling etc
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
Im a big believer in sin taxes not to reduce consumption so much but to pay for the externalities. Though I expect it’d make a pint about £15. Would fund the NHS though!
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
I'm fine paying 10p more for sugary drinks since the tax proceeds are used properly. Prefer that to them changing the recipe!
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
Was just wondering if you could set an alcohol tax based on Police and NHS related costs the year before. Then if people can drink sensibly the cost comes down.
Probably not, but it’s be an interesting experiment.
SkyBlueDom26
Well-Known Member
This thread may aswell be named the what drugs have we took thread
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
That gives me an idea.
LastGarrison
Well-Known Member
You start.
chiefdave
Well-Known Member
My hopes that the government might try and bring people together following the election and not just push through whatever they feel like is rapidly diminishing.
Yesterday they voted to remove rights from unaccompanied child refugees; in favour of allowing Northern Ireland's standing in the UK internal market to move out of alignment with GB; against protection for workers’ rights and against continued membership of the Erasmus education programme.
Still early days but not positive signs IMO.
Yesterday they voted to remove rights from unaccompanied child refugees; in favour of allowing Northern Ireland's standing in the UK internal market to move out of alignment with GB; against protection for workers’ rights and against continued membership of the Erasmus education programme.
Still early days but not positive signs IMO.
stupot07
Well-Known Member
This made me laugh. Sums up how incompetent politicians are.
Town of the Year push falls flat after failure to realise site is a city
Town of the Year push falls flat after failure to realise site is a city
Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk
Town of the Year push falls flat after failure to realise site is a city
Town of the Year push falls flat after failure to realise site is a city
Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk
stupot07
Well-Known Member
SkyBlueDom26
Well-Known Member
Oh yeah I'm really fuming stupot
To be fair, I think a lot of the public (left and right leaning) don’t agree with the rail set up.
Most people’s issue with labours manifesto was the ideological nationalisation of other industries (even those performing ok) including the free broadband for all. Even if we’d prefer to have state owned utilities, there isn’t a pot of cash to buy back these industries. Rail is very different.
rather than see it as a negative, maybe people should acknowledge a government willing to be flexible even if it goes against their ideological grain
shmmeee
Well-Known Member
Saw a Sun story on Finland or somewhere moving to a four day week. Was tweeted with a clapping emoji and full of praise. Literally less than a month ago they were screeching about Labour thinking about it would ruin the economy.
See also the difference between labour suggesting a higher minimum wage and Tories.
Tories: not the brightest.
See previous post Shmmeee. Very different stripping an under performing company of its franchise and paying £10s or £100s billions to utilise utilities/energy/broadband (in addition to rail)
I’ve read that Johnson is reviewing the whole rail franchise model, which I for one support
Ian1779
Well-Known Member
So what you’re saying is that there may have been some other motive not directly aligned with the ‘truth’
That’s certainly an interesting take....