Comments | selened: Class more of a disadvantage than race?

selened

Class more of a disadvantage than race?

Jan 14, 2010 19:51

A UK government official has been giving his opinion on the topic today ( Read more... )

Comments 7

rickfan37 January 14 2010, 20:21:23 UTC

You start by reforming the welfare system more comprehensively than any of the parties have the balls to do. Benefits act as disincentives to work, and to marry too, for that matter.

selened January 14 2010, 20:36:58 UTC

As I remember it the benefit system was Mrs Thatcher's sticking plaster for the damage she did to the British economy and the handing over of the social housing stock. It's gone on way too long though. As a single childless woman I've never received much when I've been between jobs. The website www.etitledto.co.uk opened my eyes to what some people get.

shiv5468 January 14 2010, 20:57:46 UTC

I think it's more complex than merely reforming benefits. People don't stay on benefits if they think there's somethin better for them, and there are three generations of some families lost to unemployment who know no other way.

I think the loss of grammar schools also decreased mobility. Now people talk about how taking people out of poverty and giving them a chance alienates them from their culture.

selened January 14 2010, 22:08:14 UTC

I think there's a job gap at certain skill levels. The manufacturing industry employed a wide range of skill levels, much more so than the service industry does.

labellerose January 14 2010, 22:55:21 UTC

Althoug I live in the US I'm fascinated by these points which match upwith some experiences of Mine. FOr instance where I live there is a subastantial community of upper middle class professionals of color, and several 'trailer parks' where poor whites live. I can't assume that a white student is privledged or that a student of color is automatically disadvanted anymore.

selened January 14 2010, 23:32:30 UTC

The UK is a bit of a patchwork regarding ethnic mixes. Generally, the larger the city, the more mixed it is. I live in an area which is almost totally white. At a guess about 5% of my colleagues are non-white and they commute in from nearby cities. Nottingham was the nearest city to where I grew up and was quite mixed, but the only coloured children in our group of villages were those from the city who were living in foster care.

off topic mollyssister January 22 2010, 14:45:09 UTC

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