What do other countries do with their underclass?

[raf_gti]

So we have a seemingly growing population of underclass, all those benefits scroungers that us on PH love to hate.

What do other major countries do with their's?

AFAIK the USA doesn't have a welfare system so where do all their unemployed live and indeed just how do they get by? Charity handouts? Soup kitchens are often shown on documentaries about the US.

[Plotloss]

Send them to England to pick veg because ours are too busy smoking Lamberts and producing a new generation of idle spongers.

[Famous Graham]

raf_gti said:

AFAIK the USA doesn't have a welfare system so where do all their unemployed live and indeed just how do they get by? Charity handouts? Soup kitchens are often shown on documentaries about the US.

Errr...yes they do.

And they're usually on the streets, same as here.

As for the chav equivalent - that'll be trailer trash.

[VxDuncan]

Remember Hurricane Katrina? That's the US.

In many countries it's obvious, such as Brazil and the favelas.

Do wonder about Japan and Australia though.

[raf_gti]

Famous Graham said:

raf_gti said:

AFAIK the USA doesn't have a welfare system so where do all their unemployed live and indeed just how do they get by? Charity handouts? Soup kitchens are often shown on documentaries about the US.

Errr...yes they do.

And they're usually on the streets, same as here.

As for the chav equivalent - that'll be trailer trash.

Do they? But surely not to the extent that we have one? happy to be proved otherwise though

[Plotloss]

Welfare in the US isn't the same level it is here, you're correct in that.

The difference is that the US is large enough to hide its 3m people that exist below the poverty line.

[Famous Graham]

raf_gti said:

Famous Graham said:

raf_gti said:

AFAIK the USA doesn't have a welfare system so where do all their unemployed live and indeed just how do they get by? Charity handouts? Soup kitchens are often shown on documentaries about the US.

Errr...yes they do.

And they're usually on the streets, same as here.

As for the chav equivalent - that'll be trailer trash.

Do they? But surely not to the extent that we have one? happy to be proved otherwise though

What I was getting at is that there is definitely a welfare system, and there are definitely folk on the streets, living off that.

However, what does appear to be a uniquely British phenomenon, is the "chav" underclass. Trailer trash in the US is about as close as it gets, but even they don't wander the streets, being obnoxious (as far as I know).

[grumbledoak]

Plotloss said:

The difference is that the US is large enough to hide its 3m people that exist below the poverty line.

1% or so. I suspect we aren't doing as well.

[raf_gti]

Famous Graham said:

raf_gti said:

Famous Graham said:

raf_gti said:

AFAIK the USA doesn't have a welfare system so where do all their unemployed live and indeed just how do they get by? Charity handouts? Soup kitchens are often shown on documentaries about the US.

Errr...yes they do.

And they're usually on the streets, same as here.

As for the chav equivalent - that'll be trailer trash.

Do they? But surely not to the extent that we have one? happy to be proved otherwise though

What I was getting at is that there is definitely a welfare system, and there are definitely folk on the streets, living off that.

However, what does appear to be a uniquely British phenomenon, is the "chav" underclass. Trailer trash in the US is about as close as it gets, but even they don't wander the streets, being obnoxious (as far as I know).

My only experience of trailer trash being from what I have seen on TV it would appear that they are happy to be that where-as our chavvy lot seem to want the trappings of a more successful life but without the work put in to realise it.

[Famous Graham]

Yeah, that was what I was getting at

[Jimbeaux]

VxDuncan said:

Remember Hurricane Katrina? That's the US.

In many countries it's obvious, such as Brazil and the favelas.

Do wonder about Japan and Australia though.

Very ignorant statement; another one who doesn't know a damned thing about what he is talking about. ETA: On second thought, perhaps I am misunderstanding your statement and am being too hard on you. That particular part of New Orleans, the one that made all of the TV time, is the direct result of generational dependence upon welfare. Those people literally do nothing for themselves except perfect the art of b!tching about what more they are owed. The other parts of the state, that got themselves out of the hurricane's way then picked themselves and their neighbors back up, got no mention....I suppose personal responsibility gets no accolades. The media did a very poor job of relaying the real story regarding Katrina. If want to know what really happened about any of that, ask me, I was there.

Edited by Jimbeaux on Thursday 19th November 01:34

[Jimbeaux]

Famous Graham said:

raf_gti said:

Famous Graham said:

raf_gti said:

AFAIK the USA doesn't have a welfare system so where do all their unemployed live and indeed just how do they get by? Charity handouts? Soup kitchens are often shown on documentaries about the US.

Errr...yes they do.

And they're usually on the streets, same as here.

As for the chav equivalent - that'll be trailer trash.

Do they? But surely not to the extent that we have one? happy to be proved otherwise though

What I was getting at is that there is definitely a welfare system, and there are definitely folk on the streets, living off that.

However, what does appear to be a uniquely British phenomenon, is the "chav" underclass. Trailer trash in the US is about as close as it gets, but even they don't wander the streets, being obnoxious (as far as I know).

Welfare is managed by each individual state, with some federal money. Those on it are made to prove they are looking for work. Time limits were placed on welfare by the Clinton administration. That said, many find ways around the rules and abuse the system.

[Famous Graham]

Jimbeaux said:

Famous Graham said:

raf_gti said:

Famous Graham said:

raf_gti said:

AFAIK the USA doesn't have a welfare system so where do all their unemployed live and indeed just how do they get by? Charity handouts? Soup kitchens are often shown on documentaries about the US.

Errr...yes they do.

And they're usually on the streets, same as here.

As for the chav equivalent - that'll be trailer trash.

Do they? But surely not to the extent that we have one? happy to be proved otherwise though

What I was getting at is that there is definitely a welfare system, and there are definitely folk on the streets, living off that.

However, what does appear to be a uniquely British phenomenon, is the "chav" underclass. Trailer trash in the US is about as close as it gets, but even they don't wander the streets, being obnoxious (as far as I know).

Welfare is managed by each individual state, with some federal money. Those on it are made to prove they are looking for work. Time limits were placed on welfare by the Clinton administration. That said, many find ways around the rules and abuse the system.

Yeah, but even if there are people abusing that system and just living off it perpetually, via loopholes and whatnot, you don't get the equivalent of our be-tracksuited fkwits going around causing bother.

It's either the availability of guns there, or the alcohol culture here. I know which I'm inclined to think is to blame...

(hint - it's not the 9mm)

Edited by Famous Graham on Thursday 19th November 02:18

[deviant]

VxDuncan said:

Remember Hurricane Katrina? That's the US.

In many countries it's obvious, such as Brazil and the favelas.

Do wonder about Japan and Australia though.

We have the usual dole bludgers and benefits scroungers...you get AU$5K for having a baby so you get people queefing them out at an alarming rate and then buying new cars. There is also the usual problems of drugs, crime etc. Same same as the UK.

The indigenous population is largely in crisis, average life span is something outrageous like 40 years old. Crime, drug use, alchohol abuse and child abuse are rife in the community. They are a small percentage of the population but make up a big percentage of people in prison. There has never really been a strong government policy in support of them beyond throwing money at the problem and building them houses in the desert and the attitude of white Australians is very much one of ignoring the problem as long as its NIMBY. Obviously not the entire population of indigenous people is 'bad'.

I guess they are stuck in limbo until there are some huge attitude and education changes, the school curriculum barely covers indigenous history and the average view of them tends to be the one that is portrayed by the press.

Their poor treatment in the past is still very much in living memory, its only in the last 20-30 years that they have been allowed to live as an Aboriginal and their children have not been removed and placed in white families to 'breed out the black'

Its a very very complex situation, my partner is doing an indigenous study degree and she could explain things much better than me if anyone is interested.

There is also the 'Bogan' class of people. Very much like chavs but they appear in all levels of the community....from the dole bludging bogan through to the 'cashed up bogan' that has made a fortune as a builder or working on the mines and is now driving a Monaro and has a boat and a 6 bed house. They all act the same though, credit financed up to the eyeballs, loud, thuggish, obnoxious....chav.

[XJSJohn]

Wellfare here has to be earned.

for every dollar you earn 20cents goes into a government savings fund. Your employer also has to put in 15cents ontop of your sallery.

This money can (once accrued) be used for housing, hospital, education or old age. There are also various investment products within the fund that you can put unused money into to help it grow.

Otherwise family is expected to look after each other, or you are on your own.

Crime is dealt with rather bluntly, prison and the cane which generally keeps the chav element under order.

We do however have Ah Bengs but they keep to themselves

[Ayahuasca]

In most of latin america they starve or survive by living on their wits. In Brazil street kids used to be rounded up and shot by the police. Life is brutish and short.

[XJSJohn]

Ayahuasca said:

In most of latin america they starve or survive by living on their wits. In Brazil street kids used to be rounded up and shot by the police. Life is brutish and short.

once you leave Europe / North America its quite scary how cheap the value of life is.

[jeff m]

Trailer park types in the US are not neccessarily lazy, under educated perhaps, but most do something to earn a living.
More of an inner city problem here.
As Jimbeaux stated it's the State that pays out unemployment (with some fed assistance) but the State then bills it back to Corporations, or at least they do in NJ. You get a letter saying Joe Bloggs worked for you in 1986 and he has now filed for unemployment so we are upping your contribution. They also send out extra bills to all corps if they have a shortfall in funds, which is every year since I've been here Next years will be interesting with the current situation.
I also pay a Fed unemployment contribution, I've no idea where that goes. Tyres for Airforce One maybe.

What is the rate for a single unemployed person in UK.
Basic rate and then with max earnings related added? (if you still have earnings related payments)
I may be tempted back to UK as I can't presently afford to binge drink here.

[J5]

XJSJohn said:

Wellfare here has to be earned.

for every dollar you earn 20cents goes into a government savings fund. Your employer also has to put in 15cents ontop of your sallery.

This money can (once accrued) be used for housing, hospital, education or old age. There are also various investment products within the fund that you can put unused money into to help it grow.

Otherwise family is expected to look after each other, or you are on your own.

Crime is dealt with rather bluntly, prison and the cane which generally keeps the chav element under order.

We do however have Ah Bengs but they keep to themselves

Why are you? That system sounds far better!

[jeff m]

My other answer
The US imports a new underclass each couple of years, once it is estabilished there are a sufficient number of food stores and resaurants for that particular ethinicity new tunnels are dug to a different country.

Wheras in UK you seem to elect yours. (Brit wearing his American hat)