Family claims they are too "fat" to work

[Bobby+Umit 161]

Pvt. Pike - what is the Xfactor? Is that some sort of "idol" type show?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

That family would be a good candidate for a visit by Geraldine McKeith!

Pvt. Pike - what is the Xfactor? Is that some sort of "idol" type show?

I think so, but I don't watch much regular TV.

[minimule 3]

isnt the x facor a British version of American idol?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

isnt the x facor a British version of American idol?

No I think that was Pop Idol.

X-Factor I think is for theater musical performers.

[JimandChristy 1,689]

This is just one of many examples of how the benefits system in the UK is used and abused by people. Now I can take people being on benefits if their intentions are genuine and are actively looking to get back into work but this is just taking the biscuit so to speak. Meanwhile you have hardworking people in the UK and more so in the USA who have to work two different jobs just to make ends meet and that doesn't include free healthcare.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Ah, seems this family likes the limelight.

Eviction

Oh that's really sad to watch.

I think too fat to work may also include too fat to work out. The Dad has other medical complications and one daughter also says they all want to lose weight but they don't know how.

I think people hide behind health problems - surely its just a case of seeing a doctor and finding out what sort of exercise the guy can safely do. Few people wouldn't be able to manage a 2 mile walk - so its not like anyone would expect him to jump into marathon training. Even if you have some sort of leg/foot injury there are still other things you can do for cardio - handbikes for example.

If that's accurate about the daughter - my guess is that she probably hasn't tried. I mean... its pretty elementary dietwise - low fat, low sugar, low salt, no red meat and a lot of fruits and vegetables.

I agree. Easier said that done though.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

This is just one of many examples of how the benefits system in the UK is used and abused by people. Now I can take people being on benefits if their intentions are genuine and are actively looking to get back into work but this is just taking the biscuit so to speak. Meanwhile you have hardworking people in the UK and more so in the USA who have to work two different jobs just to make ends meet and that doesn't include free healthcare.

Well again - the UK health system is not "free" healthcare. Its only free at the point of consumption, its actually paid for by everyone's national insurance contributions.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I agree. Easier said that done though.

It isn't really though - its a question of willpower. A lot of people get into bad habits as far as diet and exercise go and end up needing a health scare or two before it dawns on them that they really need to take better care of themselves.

Certainly it is difficult to ditch the "good stuff" when you've been hooked on it for so long, but with a little imagination its entirely possible to discover new, healthy things that taste just as good.

[minimule 3]

she tried out the year after for a second time...iv seen her...

[JimandChristy 1,689]

This is just one of many examples of how the benefits system in the UK is used and abused by people. Now I can take people being on benefits if their intentions are genuine and are actively looking to get back into work but this is just taking the biscuit so to speak. Meanwhile you have hardworking people in the UK and more so in the USA who have to work two different jobs just to make ends meet and that doesn't include free healthcare.

Well again - the UK health system is not "free" healthcare. Its only free at the point of consumption, its actually paid for by everyone's national insurance contributions.

Sorry about that, should have clarified that better, it is free relative to them because they aren't contributing anything. About the NHS, I think it was one of the greatest things this country ever did but we've become too soft in recent years when it comes to the benefit system.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

This is just one of many examples of how the benefits system in the UK is used and abused by people. Now I can take people being on benefits if their intentions are genuine and are actively looking to get back into work but this is just taking the biscuit so to speak. Meanwhile you have hardworking people in the UK and more so in the USA who have to work two different jobs just to make ends meet and that doesn't include free healthcare.

Well again - the UK health system is not "free" healthcare. Its only free at the point of consumption, its actually paid for by everyone's national insurance contributions.

Sorry about that, should have clarified that better, it is free relative to them because they aren't contributing anything. About the NHS, I think it was one of the greatest things this country ever did but we've become too soft in recent years when it comes to the benefit system.

I think thats only true when you look at stories like this, and these kind of things are pretty much geared towards give the Daily Mail reader something to beat his fists on the armchair about.

Any sort of massive bureaucracy is prone to inefficiency, and every public benefits program is subject to abuse. The question is what level of abuse is tolerated before the public get wind of it and demand action from the government.

[JimandChristy 1,689]

This is just one of many examples of how the benefits system in the UK is used and abused by people. Now I can take people being on benefits if their intentions are genuine and are actively looking to get back into work but this is just taking the biscuit so to speak. Meanwhile you have hardworking people in the UK and more so in the USA who have to work two different jobs just to make ends meet and that doesn't include free healthcare.

Well again - the UK health system is not "free" healthcare. Its only free at the point of consumption, its actually paid for by everyone's national insurance contributions.

Sorry about that, should have clarified that better, it is free relative to them because they aren't contributing anything. About the NHS, I think it was one of the greatest things this country ever did but we've become too soft in recent years when it comes to the benefit system.

I think thats only true when you look at stories like this, and these kind of things are pretty much geared towards give the Daily Mail reader something to beat his fists on the armchair about.

Any sort of massive bureaucracy is prone to inefficiency, and every public benefits program is subject to abuse. The question is what level of abuse is tolerated before the public get wind of it and demand action from the government.

Absolutely, probably one of worst cases of abuse I've seen is a bloke who has a mistress and a wife in the same household and is fathering something like 10+ kids. They were only making upwards of £30k a year on benefits.

[Amby 490]

Seriously?

I guess you can get to a point where you're so big you don't even care anymore. I assume once you get there you just continue eating and getting bigger and bigger. These people probably don't even realize how big they actually are. A lot of people who are morbidly obese are in extreme denial about their size. They don't even know how big they are/were until they either die (do you know then?) or lose a sh*t ton of weight.

Why not have more kids if they want more money? Maybe they're too fat to work that one out?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

This is just one of many examples of how the benefits system in the UK is used and abused by people. Now I can take people being on benefits if their intentions are genuine and are actively looking to get back into work but this is just taking the biscuit so to speak. Meanwhile you have hardworking people in the UK and more so in the USA who have to work two different jobs just to make ends meet and that doesn't include free healthcare.

Well again - the UK health system is not "free" healthcare. Its only free at the point of consumption, its actually paid for by everyone's national insurance contributions.

Sorry about that, should have clarified that better, it is free relative to them because they aren't contributing anything. About the NHS, I think it was one of the greatest things this country ever did but we've become too soft in recent years when it comes to the benefit system.

I think thats only true when you look at stories like this, and these kind of things are pretty much geared towards give the Daily Mail reader something to beat his fists on the armchair about.

Any sort of massive bureaucracy is prone to inefficiency, and every public benefits program is subject to abuse. The question is what level of abuse is tolerated before the public get wind of it and demand action from the government.

Absolutely, probably one of worst cases of abuse I've seen is a bloke who has a mistress and a wife in the same household and is fathering something like 10+ kids. They were only making upwards of £30k a year on benefits.

If that's accurate - its hard to understand why someone would do that. 30K GPB sounds like a lot of money - but if they're supporting two families with it, they're going to be barely scraping by.

Edited April 8, 2009 by Private Pike

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Oh man.... what can I say that you guys don't already know.... I guess this is good family values and #######