[Misc] Comic relief

[maltaseagull]

I don't remember this charity show featuring so many examples of UK citizens unable to feed their families.
What a sad reflection on what has happened.
How many billions spent on 2 aircraft carriers which are not and never will be needed? Yet people go hungry instead..
WTF is happening?

 

[Hovegull]

Unfortunately, those receiving the average UK wage or less now are unable to get anywhere near to affording mortgages or even rent - it’s a huge problem. Food, energy bills and housing costs are at an all time high and wages don’t come anywhere near to matching what is required to bring up a family.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I don't remember this charity show featuring so many examples of UK citizens unable to feed their families.
What a sad reflection on what has happened.
How many billions spent on 2 aircraft carriers which are not and never will be needed? Yet people go hungry instead..
WTF is happening?

Well, since you ask....the reason for aircraft carriers is that the UK is continuing to signal that it is willing to pull its weight in times of conflict.
Information here:

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/organisation/units-and-squadrons/aircraft-carriers/hms-queen-elizabeth

I am not an expert on warfare or defense.
I understand the concept of deterrence.
We have had nuclear weapons since 1945, but we haven't used them once.
Waste of money?
I have no idea. They said it was deterrence. AKA pulling our weight.
Just as we are trying to do now in Ukraine.
Useful? No idea.

Poverty in the UK is probably in focus now on Comic Relief in part as a reaction to the argument
that we spend all our woke time and woke money on foringers,
while neglecting 'our own'.
I have no idea whether this is the case or not.

We have had poverty here forever.
I did a sociology course at uni in 1976, and was shocked to see how some of our nation lived.
And I grew up in a 'hand to mouth' household where all dad's wages were spent before the end of each month on food and bills.
Today I'm one of the fortunate. But I scan the horizon from time to time, expecting calamity....it never leaves you.

So this year's comic relief is probably simply what it is.
Call me a bad man but I never watch it.
I just get angry and sad about things beyond the scope of my grasp to fix.
And Live Aid was just dabbing Germolene on a wound that would repeatedly re-open due to ignorance,
sectarianism, tribalism, warlords, criminals and exploitation by bad actors such as China, Russia and arguably the US.

If Comic Relief helps some people, that's good, wherever they may be.

 

[Weststander]

We need a functioning military more than ever. Today’s version of Hitler, Putin and his recent buddy Trump, would absolutely love us to throw in the towel. 38m Ukrianians, then Latvians, Estonians and Lithuanians would be next victims to the rape and genocide war machine. When the carriers were ordered the threat was Islamists overseas who’d see us dead.

The answer. Taxation. Multinationals such as Amazon, Dell. Starbucks, MS are all taking the p out of the UK and most of the EU.

 

[NorthstandRacoon]

We need a functioning military more than ever. Today’s version of Hitler, Putin and his recent buddy Trump, would absolutely love us to throw in the towel. 38m Ukrianians, then Latvians, Estonians and Lithuanians would be next victims to the rape and genocide war machine. When the carriers were ordered the threat was Islamists overseas who’d see us dead.

The answer. Taxation. Multinationals such as Amazon, Dell. Starbucks, MS are all taking the p out of the UK and most of the EU.

SPOT. ON.

 

[maltaseagull]

Well, since you ask....the reason for aircraft carriers is that the UK is continuing to signal that it is willing to pull its weight in times of conflict.
Information here:

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/organisation/units-and-squadrons/aircraft-carriers/hms-queen-elizabeth

I am not an expert on warfare or defense.
I understand the concept of deterrence.
We have had nuclear weapons since 1945, but we haven't used them once.
Waste of money?
I have no idea. They said it was deterrence. AKA pulling our weight.
Just as we are trying to do now in Ukraine.
Useful? No idea.

Poverty in the UK is probably in focus now on Comic Relief in part as a reaction to the argument
that we spend all our woke time and woke money on foringers,
while neglecting 'our own'.
I have no idea whether this is the case or not.

We have had poverty here forever.
I did a sociology course at uni in 1976, and was shocked to see how some of our nation lived.
And I grew up in a 'hand to mouth' household where all dad's wages were spent before the end of each month on food and bills.
Today I'm one of the fortunate. But I scan the horizon from time to time, expecting calamity....it never leaves you.

So this year's comic relief is probably simply what it is.
Call me a bad man but I never watch it.
I just get angry and sad about things beyond the scope of my grasp to fix.
And Live Aid was just dabbing Germolene on a wound that would repeatedly re-open due to ignorance,
sectarianism, tribalism, warlords, criminals and exploitation by bad actors such as China, Russia and arguably the US.

If Comic Relief helps some people, that's good, wherever they may be.

My point was really about the comic relief focus. Did it work with UK citizens who were struggling to feed their families.?

And in response to the defence issue, if aircraft carriers were needed 20 years ago but not now, why bother spending more millions on aircraft for them.
It's clear that drones are the more effective weapon.

 

[Weststander]

My point was really about the comic relief focus. Did it work with UK citizens who were struggling to feed their families.?

And in response to the defence issue, if aircraft carriers were needed 20 years ago but not now, why bother spending more millions on aircraft for them.
It's clear that drones are the more effective weapon.

Because next threats evolve. What if Iran/Houthis start attacking our shipping, this actually happens and Trump says this time over to you Europe/Australia/Saudi? We need capacity to act rapidly, with allies.

 

[Dave the OAP]

On another tack, at times it was so bad it was unwatchable!!!

We even switched over to the football

I wonder if these type of fundraising programmes have had their day

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Did even know it was on?

Can’t say I’ve changed my wider viewing habits but had no idea until I saw this thread

 

[Westdene Seagull]

My point was really about the comic relief focus. Did it work with UK citizens who were struggling to feed their families.?

And in response to the defence issue, if aircraft carriers were needed 20 years ago but not now, why bother spending more millions on aircraft for them.
It's clear that drones are the more effective weapon.

Drones are good because they are cheap and expendable. Nothing beats proper air power which our aircraft carriers allow us to be a powerful presence across the world. There's a reason Ukraine begged for F16s rather than drones. The shameful issue of people in the UK not being able to feed their families has no link to us arming our forces properly and everything to do with past governments, and the the current one, not paying a proper level of benefits for those trapped in poverty and instead demonising them for having the cheek to ask for help. People want low taxation, well guess who that benefits the most and who suffers the most. Whack 5p on standard income tax I say - half to go towards defence and half towards benefits.

 

[Eeyore]

The biggest problem for me, and one that should have been seen long coming up the road, is affordable housing. When I was a kid we all had a roof over our head. Council property in abundance. The population has grown by 15 million. Have we built millions more houses ?

The Thatcher government sold off council stock. That's all well and good. But if don't replace it then you are asking for problems. But councils couldn't.

I believe this is what it all goes back to. And the less housing stock, the higher the price in a Capitalist system.

If everyone had affordable housing many a problem would be solved.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

The biggest problem for me, and one that should have been seen long coming up the road, is affordable housing. When I was a kid we all had a roof over our head. Council property in abundance. The population has grown by 15 million. Have we built millions more houses ?

The Thatcher government sold off council stock. That's all well and good. But if don't replace it then you are asking for problems. But councils couldn't.

I believe this is what it all goes back to. And the less housing stock, the higher the price in a Capitalist system.

If everyone had affordable housing many a problem would be solved.

There are over 700,000 empty homes which aren’t being let out. Local councils need to sort that out before building more.

Comic Relief has had its day. Fund raising for charities will still go on, but not via tv.

 

[maltaseagull]

Drones are good because they are cheap and expendable. Nothing beats proper air power which our aircraft carriers allow us to be a powerful presence across the world. There's a reason Ukraine begged for F16s rather than drones. The shameful issue of people in the UK not being able to feed their families has no link to us arming our forces properly and everything to do with past governments, and the the current one, not paying a proper level of benefits for those trapped in poverty and instead demonising them for having the cheek to ask for help. People want low taxation, well guess who that benefits the most and who suffers the most. Whack 5p on standard income tax I say - half to go towards defence and half towards benefits.

Sadly, there are very few voters who agree with you.

 

[Mustafa II]

WTF is happening?

This is late stage capitalism. Many predicted this would happen many decades ago.

There is a extremely wealthy, elite, ruling class worth unfathomable amounts of money. They are getting wealthier literally every second, at the expense of the below.

There are then a lucky few who consider themselves well off and comfortable - either through very well paying jobs or inheriting a million or two from their folks.

Then there is the middle classes. Pretty skint, most of the time, even with well paid jobs - many of these get mortgages and will spend a lifetime paying this debt. Some of them are stuck in the renting trap and will be eternally skint. Might even need to use food banks during difficult months.

Then there is the low earners and unemployed. Absolutely f***ed. Relying on handouts, can't afford bills, struggle to afford to eat well or at all. These are in their millions in this country alone.

...and this isn't unique to the UK. The same effects are seen all over the world.

Capitalism is ending. There is no trickling down - it is the billionaires sucking everyone else for every single penny they can. It's relentless and unstoppable.

 

[zefarelly]

The biggest problem for me, and one that should have been seen long coming up the road, is affordable housing. When I was a kid we all had a roof over our head. Council property in abundance. The population has grown by 15 million. Have we built millions more houses ?

The Thatcher government sold off council stock. That's all well and good. But if don't replace it then you are asking for problems. But councils couldn't.

I believe this is what it all goes back to. And the less housing stock, the higher the price in a Capitalist system.

If everyone had affordable housing many a problem would be solved.

You are correct.

In addition, they sold off the utilities and infrastructure.

we, as British subjects, may own our houses and the land they sit on . . . (If we're lucky, and that's mostly old gits now) . . . . But we don't in any way shape or form own any of our own infrastructure and essential services. That was Sold down the river decades ago . . . . . With no consultation and against most sane peoples will . . . . so whilst we think we're in the clear, we're not . . . We're at the mercy of crooks criminals and ****s. Or 'investors'

It doesn't matter which political party governs, the country is f***ed and broke, and doesn't have anything cards left to deal with.

At least we're part of a bigger tea . . . . Oh.

BoT . . . The fact CiN exists as a cause for any one single child in this country tells you everything you need to know about us as a nation. Ill educated Selfish greedy needy arseholes. . . . an American outpost!

 

[Curious Orange]

The biggest problem for me, and one that should have been seen long coming up the road, is affordable housing. When I was a kid we all had a roof over our head. Council property in abundance. The population has grown by 15 million. Have we built millions more houses ?

The Thatcher government sold off council stock. That's all well and good. But if don't replace it then you are asking for problems. But councils couldn't.

I believe this is what it all goes back to. And the less housing stock, the higher the price in a Capitalist system.

If everyone had affordable housing many a problem would be solved.

Transfer of wealth and assets to the wealthy never has a pleasant outcome for everyone else.

 

[abc]

My point was really about the comic relief focus. Did it work with UK citizens who were struggling to feed their families.?

And in response to the defence issue, if aircraft carriers were needed 20 years ago but not now, why bother spending more millions on aircraft for them.
It's clear that drones are the more effective weapon.

Possibly because there are people far, far more knowledgeable, informed and experienced in matters of defence than you, me or anyone else making such sweeping statements

 

[amexer]

The biggest problem for me, and one that should have been seen long coming up the road, is affordable housing. When I was a kid we all had a roof over our head. Council property in abundance. The population has grown by 15 million. Have we built millions more houses ?

The Thatcher government sold off council stock. That's all well and good. But if don't replace it then you are asking for problems. But councils couldn't.

I believe this is what it all goes back to. And the less housing stock, the higher the price in a Capitalist system.

If everyone had affordable housing many a problem would be solved.

Never understood why Labour have never reversed decision to sell council houses

 

[amexer]

Never understood why Labour have never reversed decision to sell council houses

Sorry wrong thread