The usual half baked provocation and mangled sophistry that I'm getting used to doesn't really deserve a response but the joy of forums is that you can be quoted and thus provoked into responding.
Plus it seems others do not want to chip in so:
Yes you haven't grasped it.
'Universal' in the context of welfare support means entitlement if specific criteria can be confirmed without the need for individual means testing.
I'm struggling to think of a benefit that that last sentance would not apply too.
Old Age Pension if you are old, Maternity pay if Pregnant, Incapacity Benefit if Incapacitated, Child trust fund payment if you are a child, TV Licence if you have a telly, Blue Badge etc etc.
The 'universality' refers to meeting the entitlment criteria. If Shoes knows of some benefit that this rule doesn't apply too then I'd love to hear about it. If He does not why make his absurd statement in the first place?
You cannot choose to get old true but you can choose not to claim the Pension or campaign for it's abolition.
The principal , to reluctantly use a Blairite phrase that actually is appropriate in this case - is based on us being Stakeholders. - We are all paying in so should all be entitled to what is available. It's a simple contract between State and Citizen. Doesn't mean every one needs it - and in the example we are discussing, people (£45k earners) do not - but the contract is being broken.
Its not fair that a household getting £80k gets this allowance and one getting £45k does not.
I'm guessing you would abolish the single occupancy allowance which exempts lone dwellers from paying full Council Tax - if they were earning above average wages (and of course paying above average Tax).
The State is not a formalised Charity. Wealthy and Needy have both to benefit. I might not be 'entitled' or 'need' certain benefits, privilages or concessions etc but I can expect certain standards, facilities, utilites to be provided if a Goverment raises Tax from me.
The Royals Pay for themselves do they? Then lets have the Homes, Castles, Yachts, Trains, Aircraft, Staff and Civil list allowence back then shall we and build more Libraries, Hospices and Parks.
But if we had no Royal Family no one would visit the UK would they? Like no one goes to America or Europe!
Glad you think that not only the poor should be put into Camps - get the Doctors, Teachers, Dentists, Firemen and Military Officers in there too.
I'll say this to TEK MONKEY in answer to "F*** Entitlement" - Do you think the bankers were 'entitled' or 'needed' £700 billion of Taxpayers money?
They gambled away your savings and pension paid themselves bonus's of treble their salary, sold millions of toxic mortgages on the world markets - argued for LESS regulation, laid off low paid counter staff and asked you for a handout which you will pay back in VAT and christ knows what else.
Why is not every employee of Northern Rock on an equivalent pay scale to a Public Sector organisation?
