Well done to the 50000 that applied for fruit picking jobs

This is all second hand from the mate that was looking into it.

He said that rent was to be taken from salary, meaning take home was by far less than minimum wage. The purchasing food from the farm wasn’t actually a requirement, but no road vehicles were allowed on the farm land, other than the farmer’s truck and the nearest shop was about 20 miles away, so there was no choice.

I completely get that the work needs to be done at stupid o’clock, but that doesn’t excuse the live in requirement. That should be a choice. I’d sooner drive an hour at stupid o’clock, do my work and then go home.

 

Probably why veg is so cheap in the supermarkets. Can't believe the cost of some of it when you think of the effort to plant, grow, pick, clean, transport, pack, distribute, put on shelves and then sell.

 

Farmers blame the supermarkets - the supermarkets say they're giving the consumer what they want.

Without getting too political - most of the 'big money' in farming is concentrated in the rich landowners, just like in every facet of modern society - the 'have's' are creaming off the fruits of our labour, leaving scraps off the table for all those below them.

 

It's been interesting to note people claiming universal credit complaining it's not enough to live on. But for years we've been told those on benefits have a great life.

 

Nowt new there; Benefits are either:
Chucking loads of money at the feckless - particularly one legged lesbian single parents

Denying the basic necessities of the most vulnerable people in society.

Obviously depending on the political viewpoint of the respondent. Of course the reality is that it's impossible to keep everyone happy - make the benefit system too difficult to navigate and genuinely vulnerable people lose out - make it to too open and increase the risk of fraud.

 

How much money does a man need?

In a similar vein to this classic short story from Leo Tolstoy.

 

Well I never realized that the vitriol had continued into the weekend, but as I’d only yesterday off work and was busy all day I didn't really have time to tune in. Maybe I should have qualified things for you Donny; we’re now shopping at Sainsbury instead of Waitrose and have resolved only to use my new Q5 for the weekly shopping trip so we’re not fuelling the wife’s evoque which is heavier on fuel. Every little helps as they say. Do carry on old chap.

 

Maybe before they became parents they ought to have the means in place to support their new families instead of relying on the rest of us to pay for them ? Just a thought like.

 

Just maybe the majority of ‘benefit claimants’ did have the means in place to support their kids when they had them, but then lost their job through no fault of their own or became too ill to work.

Y know, as they say **** happens.

 

Well y see I don’t believe you - it’s a funny tale but comes off as just showing off.

for context, neither me nor the Mrs are quite paying higher rate tax, but due to holidays and weekends away being cancelled, having less opportunity to spoil the grandkids, no nights out at restaurants, no football etc we’re saving 2 or 3 times the amount we normally would. There’s just not the opportunity to spend due to lockdown.

the only way you’re genuinely having to make savings is if you had excess debt and I don’t think that’s true

 

I’ll give you the example of my brother in laws brother in law. A beer bellied chain smoking tool who’s never worked, always lived off the state, has brought a family up on benefits ( who funnily enough now life on benefits) and whose daughter is now a single parent and guess what living off benefits. Maybe instead of ploughing their benefits back into the economy in cigs, which will then drain the economy further when the effect of said cigs takes hold on their lungs, they may consider actually contributing to society rather than milking it. But hey, millionaires.

 

With you It’s almost as though having achieved a position where I pay higher rate tax means I’m the enemy. But do carry on chap, I’m working with explosives today so got to go, key worker and all that.

 

Maybe they were in jobs and stable families before they needed to claim. Just a thought like.

 

how much would you say Jeff Bezos has taken out of the UK economy through barely legal methods. More or less than your brother in law?

 

Yep I’ve no idea how someone could be spending more money in the lockdown if they were a higher band tax payer like me could in any way be struggling I’ve saved 3x more than I usually do. Unless they were lying to make a point.

 

Dont think the fella would be up to it TTS, would be wasting the farmers time, would cost the taxpayer extra paying for transport for him to get there, but maybe that would be offset by your enjoyment of seeing him get off his arse.

 

You have mentioned this person before think haven't you? I think you need to let it go! I'm sure its frustrating, I too see people who seem content to live a life on benefits. I think it's best to remember though it's not a representative sample of people who claim benefits. Whatever system you put in place you will get some people like this. It's a tiny percentage, and for context far more money has been wasted switching to Universal credit for example.

 

Vitriol?

 

Surprisingly, Amazon is on course for its first ever quarterly loss. I saw something stating that the cost of hiring extra staff, supporting those who had to isolate/were off sick and the extra cost of protective equipment and disinfecting the warehouses (plus investments in datacentres that are now on-hold) was likely to push them into a loss.

 

Thing is, the high street has took one hell of a beating. Online will clear up over time.