Why should my hard earned money go to those less fortunate?

[ukatheist]

People seem to think government assistance is sustainable as a living, that you can just collect and not work. That you can just sit around and have enough to survive.

You can in England. I've known a few people who lived like this.
They've had no job ever but had money to have 4 children who have 4 laptops none of the children have laptops they all smoke weed.
I mean that's just one family I knew as an example but I know other people who can easily live off government assistance.

Indeed, in the UK there are some who undoubtedly 'game the system', and view a life on benefits as a viable and legitimate lifestyle choice

BUT

These people are very much a minority, despite the plethora of docusoaps that would have you believe otherwise. Fact is far and away the biggest recipients of gov't aid (besides pensioners) are people in work.

Imo that leads to other problems, as in effect the gov't is subsidising business, as it enables business to get away with keeping wages down as the gov't 'tops them up'.

I hope that as the gov't moves the minimum wage closer to a 'living wage' that burden will start to shift from the gov't (and the taxpayer) to the employer, and the gov't can shift its resources to helping people into work (e.g. expanding free pre-school childcare).

On one other point, I really don't get the 'they are not working and get x, yet I work y hours and only get a little more than x' mindset. For me, financials aside, working helps to give me self respect, and sets an example for my kids. It enables me to meet people from varied cultures and backgrounds. I took a pay cut to be able to work term time only, since my kids are still relatively young, and it is cheaper to cut my hours than pay for childcare, but tbh by the end of the holidays I'm climbing the walls with boredom. I see it as a good thing, a measure of success, that I put more into the system than I get out.

I once earned very little above what I would get on benefits in fact it was probably less since it was before the days of both nmw and working tax credits, but honestly, most people start at the bottom of an organisation, but you pay your dues and usually end up some way above that. I think the 'it's not fair' mindset is more reflective of dissatisfaction at their own circumstances, so they can blame the fact that they have been passed over for promotion, can't be bothered to acquire new skills, simply aren't good enough at their jobs to warrant a raise on those who don't, or can't work.

/rant