Benefits Street

[TheAnimus]

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/benefits-street/4od

So, this is the Channel 4 fly-on-wall documentary about a street in Birmingham which has lots of long term un-employed people on benefits.

It is has stirred up some controversy, as already people have claimed that they were unfairly representing things in the TV show. Obviously it has been designed to pick the worst elements of the street.

So what do the good people of Hexus think?

[spiritdreams]

I personally think the benefits system has gotten out of hand, now created an whole entitlement culture. Too many people now expects too much for nothing, which is not how to world works else where.

Benefits should be something that keeps you clothes and fed during times of hardship, safety net to keep you going, not for Smart phones, Large screen TV, Sky Subscriptions, Dre headphones, foreign holidays etc, having them is not a right, but a privilege that needs to be earned through hard work.

These kind of shows at least attempt to bring attention to such culture.

[shaithis]

These kind of shows at least attempt to bring attention to such culture.

No, all they do is annoy hard working folk as we will not see any differences enforced by government. These people will still have their large screens, sky subs etc paid for by the rest of us as they work the system.

[santa claus]

If disdain is all you feel toward these people, then the programme has achieved its purpose in manipulating the viewers' perspective. For a start, those living in James Turner street were conned as to what the premise of the programme was about - I understand they were told it was about community spirit and surviving hard times whereas they were presented as a bunch of benefits cheats.

These are people trapped by circumstances in which poverty begats hopelessness in a Country bursting at the seams with wealth. No wonder they are frustrated and have all but given up. Their betrayal will be complete when they lose the small handouts they get.

I think people should be given an even break; they are entitled to live with some dignity imho.

Don't blame them, blame those squeezing them.

[Rob_B]

I recall fungi always scrounging for change when I worked in Brum, funny to see him on TV.

You can't blame people for their reactions santa, spending what little money they have on fags, drugs and booze does make it hard to feel sorry for them.

[Chadders87]

No, all they do is annoy hard working folk as we will not see any differences enforced by government.

Almost. The government IS making chanes to some of the benefits the claimants can receive, but not nearly enough. My fiancee has been looking for a job for 2 months and the Job Center (apart from NOT helping her look for a job) have said the Job Seekers Allowance will cease next month regardless of her finding work or not since she is under 25.

Fair enough, cap the allowance or remove it completely then use the money saved to hire actual recruiters to help her find a damn job.

I do agree that there are too many benefits out there that the governemt just gives out as if it were the claimants human rights to receive it.

I am all for the government setting up "Work Centres" like the victorians had. Come to work, learn a trade (be it sewing like then knicker ladies on Corrie, or Bricklaying on new housing developments ), get fed, get your benefits as a wage. It doesnt matter what work they do, just make them work.

[santa claus]

I recall fungi always scrounging for change when I worked in Brum, funny to see him on TV.

You can't blame people for their reactions santa, spending what little money they have on fags, drugs and booze does make it hard to feel sorry for them.

Yes, I understand that Rob but they are trapped; fags, drugs and booze are comforters. Walk a mile in their shoes and all that. Incidentally fungi said he had suffered abuse as a child that had affected him mentally - a scrounger, nah, a lost soul more like.

The only thing I didn't like was that some turned to stealing but those trying to survive on a few quid a week have nothing but my sympathy.

I am all for the government setting up "Work Centres" like the victorians had. Come to work, learn a trade (be it sewing like then knicker ladies on Corrie, or Bricklaying on new housing developments ), get fed, get your benefits as a wage. It doesnt matter what work they do, just make them work.

I think the Job Title for that is "slave".

[kalniel]

I personally think the benefits system has gotten out of hand, now created an whole entitlement culture. Too many people now expects too much for nothing, which is not how to world works else where.

But don't the stats on benefits show that that's not the case. Wish I could find it now - might have been here, might have been on the grauniad, but I think the evidence was that the vast majority of benefits is going to working or disabled people. The number of people getting something for nothing was so low as it be almost insignificant.

These kind of shows at least attempt to bring attention to such culture.

Or just feed into a mis-representation of the scale of the situation.

[BobF64]

I think the Job Title for that is "slave".

Only if they don't get paid. A slave isn't the same as paid mandatory labour.

Maybe the government should just go for full self support and require everyone to have unemployment insurance, that way the government doesn't have to pay anything out.
Those that can't afford it will eventually succumb to natural attrition.

[TheAnimus]

Don't blame them, blame those squeezing them.

If you haven't watched the episode, sorry for the spoilers (and why comment!) but you seriously think that someone steals trousers, magazines and booze to feed their heroin habbit because they are been squeezed?

[Smudger]

When I saw the trailers I thought it was another government-instigated assault on the poor by the media in order to stigmatise a section of the community so people won't care when what little they have is taken away. Similar to the 'NHS is rubbish' headlines we're getting a lot more now...

Haven't watched it so I don't know if this is the case.

[wasabi]

When I saw the trailers I thought it was another government-instigated assault on the poor by the media in order to stigmatise a section of the community so people won't care when what little they have is taken away. Similar to the 'NHS is rubbish' headlines we're getting a lot more now...

Haven't watched it so I don't know if this is the case.

Fascinated to know how you think this is government instigated? I don't see it as conspiracy theory when 'cheap-to-make TV with populist appeal' is a more likely explanation.

Sadly there are worse cases of unfair wealth redistribution (council house for life...) but this type of thing raises the hackles of Joe Taxpayer no end so gets the coverage.

[Barakka]

But don't the stats on benefits show that that's not the case. Wish I could find it now - might have been here, might have been on the grauniad, but I think the evidence was that the vast majority of benefits is going to working or disabled people. The number of people getting something for nothing was so low as it be almost insignificant.

Something like this ?


Showing around 10% of benefits going to the unemployed, I wonder how many people violently venting their spleen over this show happily accept Child Benefit, Child Tax Credits, Working Tax Credits and/or Income Support.

Or just feed into a mis-representation of the scale of the situation.

Shows like Benefits Street are part of a vicious circle essentially driven by the channels, viewers have been conditioned by Big Fat Gypsies and 999 emergency and the rest to associate a level of viewing enjoyment with frustration and anger towards the behaviour of a tiny minority of society. As long as the viewing figures are there the production companies will keep making these shows as the channels care solely about viewing figures as that drives their revenue. The BBC used to be less affected by this, but with the effective annual cut to their budget they are feeling it more now too, but that's a different discussion.

[DanceswithUnix]

It was an amusing program but good for feeding Daily Mail hysteria. Well worth a watch as long as you don't take such things too seriously and believe it is typical of anything.

The way they called shoplifting "work" and benefits "pay" was interesting if a little jarring at first. I guess you would delude yourself with such labels for self esteem?

[pp05]

I'll probably see it later given all the talk on radio this was given this morning.

If it follows past tactics it will go something like > take a few extreme examples and paint everyone on benefits as the same, direct public anger at them and then capitalize said public emotion the next day by appearing before national TV and announce further caps/cuts like some hero.

[Spreadie]

Clearly those people are cannier than me, because I wouldn't have a clue how to survive on benefits. I was made redundant after 16 years and was entitled to £65 a week! Thankfully, I found another job within a few months, but it was the first time I have lain awake in bed wondering how I was going to provide for the family.

The job centre was an eye-opening experience too - as I was just out of long term employment, I was whisked upstairs and assigned a handler to help me get back into work. When I asked why the dozens of Chav baby factories downstairs didn't get the same treatment, I was given a resigned look and unofficially told "because we know you want to find work, and we wont be wasting our time".

Heaven forbid you fall into that demographic but actually want to find work - you'll get no help at all.