black swan

Cheers asked the question 'do you think people in England are better off today than 50yrs ago?'.

Rodney, I was 21yrs old 50yrs ago . . . 5yrs older than you. I don't remember people claiming benefits back then. Everyone that I knew had a job. Most couples married young & started a family straight away. They looked forward to a second income when the children were off their hands.
Although I have'nt been to England since 1993 (I am in West Aust) I would think people today are much better off.
Paula

Bud the Wiser

There's the poverty of need and the poverty of want. The poverty of need is virtually non existent in the UK in 2012. The poverty of want however is causing much hardship.

islandwoman120

Christmas/Seasons Greetings to all. As the world did not end last week, here's to a great 2013. All the best, Rosie

scot47

50 years ago the UK still had full employment. The huge rise in unemployment started in 1973. That was the effective end of the post-WW2 boom. "You never had it so good, " as a Scottish PM said.

Celticspirit

How are you doing Rosie? Is life in the UK being kind to you? Merry Christmas to you :-)

mikelincs

50 years ago being 'on benefits' was looked on as a social stigma, and everyone tried their hardest to stay away from them, even in the late 1990's my stepfather was dying from lung cancer, and needed help round the house, he did apply for help, but as he didn't want the authorities to know just what money he had he was denied it because he didn't fill the form in well enough. It was only after he had been admitted to a hospice, and I had hold of his form to make a new application did things happen. I thought that as he was in the hospice he couldn't claim, but the people there took the form away and said they would deal with it. 4 weeks later he received about 9 months nack benefit, The award came a week after he died.

sallysimmons

I don't know about 50 years, but they're better off than they were 30 years ago - by miles!

islandwoman120

Hi Celtic - Yes, all fine with me here in Devon. Thanks for asking. Hope you are well too - I have not 'tuned in' for a long while so don't know who is where in the world now. Will catch up over the break. All the best, Rosie

Pica

So what made you swap Istanbul for Scotland then?

scot47

I did not work in Istanbul but used to pass through from my work (KSA) to my residence (BG). Divorce (or "relationship breakdown" in Newspeak) and the need for a place to lay my head after retirement !

UkWinds5353

Merry Christmas everyone wish you and yours happy holidays. Hope you have plenty turkey and dressing!

dontheturner

A Very Merry Christmas, and the Seasons Greetings, to those already returned, to those planning to return, and to all our numbers, who are longing to fulfill those same dreams.

From Don & the lovely Tippawan.

mikelincs

Merry Christmas everyone..

lf1

Merry Christmas to all.

Rainy and grey here today, but the fire is on, the carols are playing and OH is cooking breakfast, complete with black pudding. After breakfast we'll open our gifts and I am sure OH will be over the moon with his gravy separator and clothes peg bag. I did buy him a bottle of Highland Park to help him recover from the excitement of it all.

Celticspirit

Merry Christmas to everyone!!
We have had thunderstorms and rain all night long with temperatures dropping and snow forecast from this afternoon and overnight. Fire already lit and its warm and cosy inside.