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@malacandran wrote:

I suppose hardly anyone here, has actually been to one of these "food banks".  That's because we're intelligent enough to arrange our lives without having to beg for food.  Most people can manage that, by our own efforts.  We don't need to suck from others.

 

I mean, honestly!  The United Kingdom is a fabulously rich country to live in.  We have everything we need.  No competent person actually has to beg for food in the UK.   If anyone does so, it can only be for one of these reasons:

 

1.  Stupidity

2.  Drink

3.  Drugs

4.  Being an illegal immigrant

 

These reasons are all shameful.  They shouldn't be allowed. They don't in the least justify UK "food banks".

 

Shouldn't proper citizens of the UK, real people who work,  get rid of food banks, and only give food to people who work for their living?

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Total and utter balderdash

In nearly all cases you need to be sent to a foodbank by an agency or even your Doctor - unlike the myth that you just drop in.

The massive rise in Foodbank use is due to the broken Benefit system and the draconian cutting or stopping of payments for minuscule infractions of 'the new Rules'. Masses of people get sanctioned, the Government refuse to release those figures. People waiting on even starting to get benefits or those who have not been paid because of mistakes.

Councils and the DWP(DHSS) used to have systems for giving emergency aid, these have either been cut completely or slashed so they only help a very few. Councils yearly emergency budgets run out after a few months now.

Another massive group of people who are skint and have to visit FBs are the wage Slaves now FORCED to take 'zero hours' contracts

The DWP also use Foodbanks as fall back, instead of sorting out mistakes or delays in paying benefits (they used to give out emergency payments.

Low paid Working people are hit by rocketing private rental costs, so need aid to feed their families.

Yes we are a rich Country, one that has cut in real terms  the wages of many 100000s of the lowest paid workers by a minimum of 12%. By imposing 'wage restraint'

As usual the weakest and poorest are made to pay for the Countrys ills by a Tory government, while they give massive handouts and Tax breaks to their pals and even to the People who caused this crash in our economy

The Bankers, traders, hedgefunds, Financial Intitutions they caused the crash. not Brown/Darling etc etc (they were just idiots)

They are also helping mulitinationals (extra Tax breaks on the little Tax they pay)