700 queue for food parcels...in Dublin

BrookieD

SheroN wrote: »

I wonder how many of the 700 are smokers/drinkers......

Sorry whats your point?????

Highsider

WindSock wrote: »

This is the only charity I donate to. I think they do a fantastic job with feeding and cleaning the poor & homeless. €1 = 1 meal. It makes it slightly easier to walk past beggers when I have donated to this place.

http://www.homeless.ie/Capuchin_Day_Centre/Who_we_are.html

Excellent link. Just donated a small fee myself and hope other's on here will follow the link and do likewise.

SheroN

BrookieD wrote: »

Sorry whats your point?????

My point is that I would imagine a certain percentage of the 700 who turned up for free food are also on all sorts of social welfare payments from the govenment. But they spent those payments on fags, booze and shiny things. Thus leaving no money for food.

Highsider

SheroN wrote: »

I wonder how many of the 700 are smokers/drinkers......

Right over my head with that one Wrong thread maybe?

Highsider

SheroN wrote: »

My point is that I would imagine a certain percentage of the 700 who turned up for free food are also on all sorts of social welfare payments from the govenment. But they spent those payments on fags, booze and shiny things. Thus leaving no money for food.

Oh sweet jesus...stereotype much do ya. Have you actually seen the line for food parcels or this is an informed guess?

SheroN

Highsider wrote: »

Oh sweet jesus...stereotype much do ya. Have you actually seen the line for food parcels or this is an informed guess?

It's a guess. Have you seen the queue for food to say otherwise?

Highsider

SheroN wrote: »

It's a guess. Have you seen the queue for food to say otherwise?

No. But i'm not guessing they are all drinkers and smokers either. What's next all single mum's are spongers?

SheroN

Highsider wrote: »

No. But i'm not guessing they are all drinkers and smokers either. What's next all single mum's are spongers?

I never said they all were. I said a certain percentage. But it's my opinion that there's a certain number of people in the 700 who were there because they hadn't managed the money they received from the social welfare in a responsible manner. Do you disagree with this?

ejmaztec

Highsider wrote: »

Oh sweet jesus...stereotype much do ya. Have you actually seen the line for food parcels or this is an informed guess?

I expect a neighbour of mine is at the head of the queue with a shopping trolley, because the lazy, dole-fiddling bastard can never miss out on the opportunity of a freebie, no matter what they're giving away. If it was dog-sh1t in batter, he'd be there!

SheroN

ejmaztec wrote: »

I expect a neighbour of mine is at the head of the queue with a shopping trolley, because the lazy, dole-fiddling bastard can never miss out on the opportunity of a freebie, no matter what they're giving away. If it was dog-sh1t in batter, he'd be there!

I know the type. Why spend the dole money on food when you can get it for free. Dole is for fags and booze.

That's not to say the majority of people there weren't genuine cases.

ShooterSF

SheroN wrote: »

I know the type. Why spend the dole money on food when you can get it for free. Dole is for fags and booze.

That's not to say the majority of people there weren't genuine cases.

Corruption and advantage taking is always going to happen but it doesnt mean a few bad apples should damage the good work people are doing for the real unfortunates.

My name is URL

Wow there's a lot of resentment towards people on the Dole from members here. I had to sign on last week for the first time in my life and I feel shamed to admit that here after reading the obnoxious generalized comments that some of you make. Would you prefer people not sign on and maybe top themselves instead? Which isn't as big of an exaggeration as you'd think. Suicide cases have already increased dramatically since the recession began, and bankers only make up a small percentage of it... =p

ronbyrne2005

Let them eat cake.

Highsider

Upward Spiral wrote: »

Wow there's a lot of resentment towards people on the Dole from members here. I had to sign on last week for the first time in my life and I feel shamed to admit that here after reading the obnoxious generalized comments that some of you make. Would you prefer people not sign on and maybe top themselves instead? Which isn't as big of an exaggeration as you'd think. Suicide cases have already increased dramatically since the recession began, and bankers only make up a small percentage of it... =p

Yeah but you must smoke and drink. That mean syou are undeserving of any money according to some people :rolleyes: Hope you find a job soon.

SheroN

Upward Spiral wrote: »

Wow there's a lot of resentment towards people on the Dole from members here. I had to sign on last week for the first time in my life and I feel shamed to admit that here after reading the obnoxious generalized comments that some of you make. Would you prefer people not sign on and maybe top themselves instead? Which isn't as big of an exaggeration as you'd think. Suicide cases have already increased dramatically since the recession began, and bankers only make up a small percentage of it... =p

Have no problem with people signing on the dole if they need to. I had to do it myself a few years ago for a few months.

I do however have a problem with people signing on the dole and then apparently having money to drink it up. Having lived in the Liberties for the past 6 years you see quite a few of these characters floating around.

SheroN

Highsider wrote: »

Yeah but you must smoke and drink. That mean syou are undeserving of any money according to some people :rolleyes: Hope you find a job soon.

Way to pick me up incorrectly.

Heineken Helen

SheroN wrote: »

I know the type. Why spend the dole money on food when you can get it for free. Dole is for fags and booze.

That's not to say the majority of people there weren't genuine cases.

so why say anything at all? :cool:

It's horrible to hear about this... I'm not in much of a position to donate at the mo unfortunately... being that I too am unemployed for the first time in my life as many are.

I'm living in England so I only get £60 a week... after covering rent, food, bills, etc. how much of that do you reckon is left for fags and booze? :rolleyes: Not that the Irish dole is much better... considering it's WAY cheaper to live here. I CAN make do on the £60 a week and hope I won't have to be hitting any of those queues anytime soon... but ya just never know. Kick em when they're down why don't ya?

Heineken Helen

SheroN wrote: »

Have no problem with people signing on the dole if they need to. I had to do it myself a few years ago for a few months.

I do however have a problem with people signing on the dole and then apparently having money to drink it up. Having lived in the Liberties for the past 6 years you see quite a few of these characters floating around.

While there are undoubtedly SOME who manage to have money left over for drink and fags and still avail of the free stuff... do NOT tar us all with the one brush... were you one of those people? The way you're talking, you'd swear you were never unemployed. Even BEFORE I lost my job, I never judged anyone on one small group of seemingly rich poor people... we're all individuals ya know. And you've really picked a wrong time to go on about spongers... considering the amount of people who've been working their whole lives and now find themselves in an unfamiliar situation and are using every spare second and spare penny to try and get themselves out of that situation.

the_dark_side

this may seem slightly out of context.. a plumber I know was given the contract of fitting out 2 prefabs with a high end air conditioning system and the whole plumbing works, at a well known regional hospital (which I feel as if I cant name). 2 weeks later the prefabs were demolished on order of a site foreman.. resulting in the destruction of all the contents, including the plumbing... the reson being that the hospital had grant money that needed to be spent before a deadline, or they wouldnt qualify for the next year's grant.
A small example of how government money was recklessly SQUANDERED during the boom, now we have people queuing for food on the streets of our capital, and the friary relying on charity to keep running

Capt'n Midnight

Mark200 wrote: »

I think it's shocking that our Government are still sending 100's of millions overseas to feed poor people there, when there's quite clearly poor people here that aren't getting fed. I'm all for charity in any form, but you should be helping the people closer to home first.

We have already cut back overseas aid, despite government commitments to raise it.

Overall the west makes far money on interest payments on loans, and selling patented technologies and medicines than they give back. This is the whole Trade not Aid debate.

On the Trade not Aid debate, it would be interesting, as a thought experiment, to see how many people in that queue would work for their food, not to earn it but so they wouldn't feel they were taking charity. Bearing in mind that a meal is €1 and the minimum wage, we are talking an hour a week rather than workfare.

But yeah there are a lot of people who the celtic tiger hasn't helped.

the_dark_side

:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad: S Q U A N D E R E D :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

Ireland's new motto: WILLFUL WASTE MAKES WOEFUL WANT

junior_apollo

WindSock wrote: »

I doubt many people would love queing with 700 mainly mentally ill and drug addicted folk to get some 'free nosh'

You would be oooooh so surprised what people will do for freebies... its pathetic when there are people who are barely surviving and in need of these type of services.

Its those kinda greedy people who will end up destroying the free services and making it even harder for the really poor and starving out there. I find it sickening to be honest...

ejmaztec

Upward Spiral wrote: »

Wow there's a lot of resentment towards people on the Dole from members here. I had to sign on last week for the first time in my life and I feel shamed to admit that here after reading the obnoxious generalized comments that some of you make. Would you prefer people not sign on and maybe top themselves instead? Which isn't as big of an exaggeration as you'd think. Suicide cases have already increased dramatically since the recession began, and bankers only make up a small percentage of it... =p

I don't resent people on the dole, only people like the neighbour that I mentioned earlier. He's now in his 40s, and hasn't had a legal job since he was 20. He's employable, but only by people paying cash. He couldn't be arsed even trying to find a proper job in the boom years. Unfortunately, the local rock & roll office can't seem to catch him out, because he's got it down to a fine art.

I was on the dole for a time, twenty years ago, and I resented that bastard then, not to mention the ones stinking of slurry and rolling up on their tractors to pick up their pocket-money. The people behind the screen must have had no sense of smell.

Heineken Helen

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

We have already cut back overseas aid, despite government commitments to raise it.

Overall the west makes far money on interest payments on loans, and selling patented technologies and medicines than they give back. This is the whole Trade not Aid debate.

On the Trade not Aid debate, it would be interesting, as a thought experiment, to see how many people in that queue would work for their food, not to earn it but so they wouldn't feel they were taking charity. Bearing in mind that a meal is €1 and the minimum wage, we are talking an hour a week rather than workfare.

But yeah there are a lot of people who the celtic tiger hasn't helped.

I read recently of some not for profit cafe's opening in the states... where people pay what they WANT... and, if they can't afford to pay ANYTHING they agree to work for an hour in the cafe. I think this idea could work... because it makes good food and many people who would eat out for lunch eat there to help the others. Of course there are people who stuff the envelopes (it's anonymous what you pay) full of napkins at the end of it, but there are others who pay $20 for a coffee and a cake.

http://springwise.com/food_beverage/paywhatyouwant_restaurants/

It was the SAME cafe in Denver that I read about. Somehow it works:eek:

zuutroy

lol povvos

SheroN

Heineken Helen wrote: »

While there are undoubtedly SOME who manage to have money left over for drink and fags and still avail of the free stuff... do NOT tar us all with the one brush... were you one of those people? The way you're talking, you'd swear you were never unemployed. Even BEFORE I lost my job, I never judged anyone on one small group of seemingly rich poor people... we're all individuals ya know. And you've really picked a wrong time to go on about spongers... considering the amount of people who've been working their whole lives and now find themselves in an unfamiliar situation and are using every spare second and spare penny to try and get themselves out of that situation.

I was unemployed, but I never had to pick up free food as I was able to survive (and reasonably comfortably) on my dole money. Then again I adapated to the situation and lived within my means.

I'm not labelling everyone on the dole a sponger by any means. But to turn a blind eye to the sizeable percentage of people on the dole taking advantage of the system does no one any good in the long run. During the boom years people came from every corner of the globe to work in Ireland yet there was 3 or 4% of the working population unemployed.

And I think it's more than "a few bad apples", it's a sizeable proportion in my opinion.

Heineken Helen

SheroN wrote: »

I was unemployed, but I never had to pick up free food as I was able to survive (and reasonably comfortably) on my dole money. Then again I adapated to the situation and lived within my means.

I'm not labelling everyone on the dole a sponger by any means. But to turn a blind eye to the sizeable percentage of people on the dole taking advantage of the system does no one any good in the long run. During the boom years people came from every corner of the globe to work in Ireland yet there was 3 or 4% of the working population unemployed.

And I think it's more than "a few bad apples", it's a sizeable proportion in my opinion.

Perhaps in the Liberties or other such areas (no offense to anyone from there... but there's not always the same opportunities and same funding)

So you survived reasonably comfortably? Perhaps that's what they're doing too... they're being responsible with their shopping and have enough money left for luxuries... would you have handed back any excess money at the end of the week?:D

I'm going to take a jump here and presume you were single? Debt free? So am I! And that's why it's easy to survive on the dole... if I were supporting a family or even just one kid, I don't know how I'd do it to be honest... and it probably WOULD drive me to drink:D especially if I'd debt collectors or loan sharks knocking on my door.

There are several reasons why people can't survive on the dole... sure some of it may be irresponsibility... but they can't all be as mature and responsible as you or I! We all make mistakes... some bigger than others! Some people get themselves into situations they just can't get themselves out of... sometimes as a result of abuse or domestic situations... you and I are the lucky ones.

Even though I'm on the crap English dole at the mo... I DO consider myself lucky that I'm not a single mother, don't have any addictions, have a roof over my head and family who love me.

Guy:Incognito

WindSock wrote: »

No one should ever go hungry in this country (again). Places like this are doing a great job to make sure of that. They may have bags of shopping but you don't know the circumstances that would have them queuing for a food pack aswell.

A good few of the people I saw queing each time definately we NOT starving.

sunnyside

SheroN wrote: »

I never said they all were. I said a certain percentage. But it's my opinion that there's a certain number of people in the 700 who were there because they hadn't managed the money they received from the social welfare in a responsible manner. Do you disagree with this?

I agree. €200 is loads to live on if you have no outgoings or debts. I'm listing approx what my bills and loans cost (excluding mortgage) every month to explain how I could be in the food queue if I was unemployed again.

Phone €40
Internet €20
Loan repayment €250 (per month)
Sky €22.50
Car Insurance €50 (monthly direct debit)
Car Tax €30
House Insurance €26 (monthly direct debit)
Electricity Approx €50 a month
Gas Approx €50 a month
TV licence €160 per year
Refuse collection €220 per year approx (bins weighed so varies a bit)
Contact lenses €25 a month

I could easily have forgotten something there. That's before food and petrol and I have no children to feed.

Some people pay rent out of the €200 because they don't have rent allowance.

I know somebody who claims disability when she really could work. The €200 a week is exclusively pocket money in her case. She doesn't pay any rent, lives in a house belonging to her parents. She regularly goes on holidays with the taxpayers money she gets. There are many people like her who are living it up on the dole and others who pay all the bills I've listed out of the dole and are lucky to have anything left for food let alone alcohol or cigarettes.

People's circumstances are so different there is no correct amount of money that an unemployed person should be able to live on.

I fear that the publicity given to the food packages will cause the queue to double in size next week now that everybody knows about it. And as the queue gets longer it will less embarassing to be there.

SheroN

sunnyside wrote: »

Phone €40 - move to pre pay and limit the calls you make
Internet €20 - use internet cafes if and when you need internet access
Loan repayment €250 (per month) - try to defer payment
Sky €22.50 - cancel your sky and go back to indoor aerial
Car Insurance €50 (monthly direct debit) you shouldn't be able to run a car while on the dole
Car Tax €30 - same as insurance above
House Insurance €26 (monthly direct debit)
Electricity Approx €50 a month
Gas Approx €50 a month
TV licence €160 per year - i believe you don't have to pay this should you be on social welfare
Refuse collection €220 per year approx (bins weighed so varies a bit)
Contact lenses €25 a month - wear glasses



I fear that the publicity given to the food packages will cause the queue to double in size next week now that everybody knows about it. And as the queue gets longer it will less embarassing to be there. - I agree, i think had some of the people in the queue known about it sooner they would have been there years ago!

.