No absolutely not, don't forget the kids, but the ones who are not inspired by education should go straight from school to work. I know people who quit school at an early age and went straight into manual labour or factory work or any other job they could find! I even know people who have got onto the wrong path, gone to prison and have managed to come out and do exactly the same, work, its about having a strong work ethic. It should be expected to have to work, it should be the norm!

Kids have to work really hard to get into uni, its not easy, the stress of exams etc, but they then have degrees and have decided to put themselves into debt in order to make sure that they have enjoyable, profitable jobs when they graduate - I don't know of many students who don't either work straight after uni, or do postgraduate courses.

My opinions aren't based on this one bad apple, I hate the benefits system here, I think it sucks, take from those who earn to feed those who can't be bothered?? When I lived alone I was literally left with hardly anything after paying my rent, bills etc, I would have been quite comfortable had I had my own income tax given back to me, but instead it goes on people who stay in bed until midday get up to sign on and then go back to watch daytime telly.....call me bitter, but I don't think thats the way a country should be run!

Excellent post and I agree entirely.

I in the most part agree with you Lorna, what i dont agree with as i have said before is everyone being tarred with the same brush, because having worked with people on benefits, know they are not people who stay in bed until midday get up to sign on and then go back to watch daytime telly, but are people who are at a difficult point in their lives and are struggling with life in general or have been brought up in life to just sign on, for both of these there has to be some tailored support/inspiration to motivate them and like i have said before i have seen brilliant colleagues do this and i hope i did too, which got people back into education and work.
Its an interesting fact that most men i worked with in the hostel enviroment were illiterate and this simply was their barrier, a barrier of shame in the most, maybe try to imagine how to apply for the most basic of job, without the ability to read or write or to have to admit you cannot do either when your handed something to fill in.

I may be being stupid, but i read the article again and cant see the above anywhere?

Yes but whose fault is that, does one not have responsibility for themselves ? unless of course there are mental health problems/learning difficulties

It may have been on the news then, I know it said that somewhere .

Of course you have responsability for yourself, but Sometimes people just need a helping hand, i know i have needed that before.

I don't for a moment think that our government goes into war as an act of altruism. They are always looking out for their own interests.

Depends on your point of view re war, what would have happened if we hadn't retaliated when Hitler invaded Poland ? Our troops are still fighting and being killed regardless of the reasons some people think they are there.

Oh a helping hand because they couldn't be bothered to learn, so they pass the consequences on to someone else ! thats the problem isn't it now its always someone elses problem .