Professor Green, living in poverty.
Discussion
cqueen said:
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for people taking responsibility for their own lives, however, I personally believe (as pointed out in the video) that poverty has now become the norm. The working class can no longer afford to live, wages just don't pay enough.
That's just nonsense.To make a serious point, we should bear in mind that "poverty" is a relative term. So even if you raise everyone's standard of living, the level of poverty in the population will not decrease. Poverty does not equal low standard of living. Poverty is more a measure of income inequality.
cqueen said:
When I was a kid my mates dad was a postman. He could afford to buy a half decent house, car etc and raise 4 kids. You try living on a postman's wage today!
Starting pay for a postman - £16,300Average - £18,200
None too shabby for an unskilled job, really.
As for home ownership...
Amateurish said:
To make a serious point, we should bear in mind that "poverty" is a relative term. So even if you raise everyone's standard of living, the level of poverty in the population will not decrease. Poverty does not equal low standard of living. Poverty is more a measure of income inequality.
<nods>Poverty in the UK is defined as 60% of median household income, adjusted for the makeup of the household.
https://fullfact.org/economy/poverty-uk-guide-fact...
Median household income in the UK is currently about £23,500 for two adults. So the poverty line is £14,100 for a two-adult household.
One person working full time at minimum wage earns £14,625 before tax, £13,226 after tax - before any benefits. So that's a household with one person working, and the other doing absolutely zero, claiming absolutely zero.
Edited by TooMany2cvs on Tuesday 26th September 10:54
cqueen said:
I don't think giving up the iphone or fags is going to solve the problem. Certainly, giving up fags will free up some small cash, but the situation will still be the same.
When you say small, it can actually be a significant percentage of their income. 20 Marlboro a day is over £70 a week! I appreciate many will smoke black market tobacco or cheaper brands but they can easily still spend £100+ per month. 
cqueen said:
The rich get richer the poor get poorer.
I can't help feel that the internet shopping age has accelerated this. Everything is a race to the bottom, very little profit/pay for anyone except the handful of at the top.
I thought it was relative.I can't help feel that the internet shopping age has accelerated this. Everything is a race to the bottom, very little profit/pay for anyone except the handful of at the top.
The poor are far better off than before, but the rich are getting richer at a slightly better rate.
There was an interview a while back with a socialist politico who said they'd be happy to make the poor worse off again if it ensured the rich were screwed.
Make if that what you will. I'll see if I can find it.
Anyway, is there a consensus on who's fault it is?
sidicks said:
Eddie Strohacker said:
Why not answer the question instead of asking one in return & demonstrate you possess at least one redeeming feature?
I'm not speaking to you, pleased f
k off.So £18k is take home around £1200/month? I don't think I need to break it down to the finest detail to illustrate that you're going to be poor as fk.
We can't ALL be powerfully built company directors. Regardless of how hard you work, how much effort you put in, financial risk you take or how many motivational memes you see on facebook, SOME people (believe it or not) do not aspire to be millionaires, they're just happy to live a 'normal' life. I'm talking about a modest living, small family home and a ford focus type thing.
There needs to be a working class, but their current income does not support their basic needs.
We can't ALL be powerfully built company directors. Regardless of how hard you work, how much effort you put in, financial risk you take or how many motivational memes you see on facebook, SOME people (believe it or not) do not aspire to be millionaires, they're just happy to live a 'normal' life. I'm talking about a modest living, small family home and a ford focus type thing.
There needs to be a working class, but their current income does not support their basic needs.
Mothersruin said:
cqueen said:
The rich get richer the poor get poorer.
I can't help feel that the internet shopping age has accelerated this. Everything is a race to the bottom, very little profit/pay for anyone except the handful of at the top.
I thought it was relative.I can't help feel that the internet shopping age has accelerated this. Everything is a race to the bottom, very little profit/pay for anyone except the handful of at the top.
The poor are far better off than before, but the rich are getting richer at a slightly better rate.
"Income inequality within London has fallen dramatically since the recession. After accounting for inflation, the incomes of low-income households in London have risen by about 10 per cent since 2007, while falling by around 10 per cent towards the top. This has returned income inequality in London to its lowest level since the mid-1980s.
Income inequality across the country is in fact also still lower than before the recession, albeit to a much smaller extent than in the capital. "
Source: IFS https://www.ifs.org.uk/publications/9552
cqueen said:
So £18k is take home around £1200/month? I don't think I need to break it down to the finest detail to illustrate that you're going to be poor as fk.
We can't ALL be powerfully built company directors. Regardless of how hard you work, how much effort you put in, financial risk you take or how many motivational memes you see on facebook, SOME people (believe it or not) do not aspire to be millionaires, they're just happy to live a 'normal' life. I'm talking about a modest living, small family home and a ford focus type thing.
There needs to be a working class, but their current income does not support their basic needs.
So a two income household would have £36k, which is significantly more than average earnings.We can't ALL be powerfully built company directors. Regardless of how hard you work, how much effort you put in, financial risk you take or how many motivational memes you see on facebook, SOME people (believe it or not) do not aspire to be millionaires, they're just happy to live a 'normal' life. I'm talking about a modest living, small family home and a ford focus type thing.
There needs to be a working class, but their current income does not support their basic needs.
And, as explained above, these people may also be entitled to additional state support.
Amateurish said:
Source: IFS https://www.ifs.org.uk/publications/9552
That might be what the experts publish, but it's sure as hell not what I see with my own eyes.sidicks said:
desolate said:
Not sure I agree that it's "none too shabby"
300 quid a week doesn't seem a lot to bring up a family.
Why would you expect to be able to bring up a family with one unskilled wage earner?300 quid a week doesn't seem a lot to bring up a family.
Would such a family not be entitled to any other benefits?
Don't you agree?
Gassing Station | TV, Film, Video Streaming & Radio | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff