"Seeking opportunity in a moment of crisis, David Cameron this week spoke of Britain's "slow-motion moral collapse". The prime minister sought to identify "deeper problems" and came up with a sociological canard: the culture of poverty. This analysis is one that regards the chaotic lives of poor people as cause, not symptom, of the collapse of their communities. For the prime minister, these families and their children simply chose to be feckless, indolent or on the wrong side of police lines. Such talk will do much to harden public attitudes – helpful to a prime minister who wants to push draconian social policy through the Lords in the autumn. The rhetoric will profit the contentious welfare reforms, a policy built on the idea that poor people are "culturally" unique and dependent on welfare by their own design." - M F

"In truth, the welfare bill, as a percentage of GDP, is roughly the same as when Labour took power in 1997 – despite a recession, inevitable higher unemployment and the spluttering economy. But to convince voters that Britain is broken, the prime minister is pushing social policy based on ideology rather than evidence. It is a belief system that will do little to help the people who need it." - M F

Did you really expect anything else from the Tories, where are the Lib Dems voice in all this? - Halil

I don't know, this stuff really gets me down. - M F

Did you see my serfdom post? I was making a dig at the direction we're seeming to be heading down. http://ff.im/JWbul - Halil

This guy has never had to look for a job or flat, he never had to ask for a loan, he never had to change his plans because he did not have the money he does not understand what it is like not to be privileged. - M F

Indeed, so how can he be so sanctimonious with his judgements about something he has never experienced. It's like the poor trying to pretend they know what truffles tastes like...I know a stupid analogy, but I'm tired. - Halil

There are three things I find difficult to understand in some people. First is people who are motivated by revange, I think it is a very negative feeling, you want justice not revenge. I want these guys to get punished if they have done something wrong but eventually they should be helped to become well adjusted adults. That should be the aim. Second is people who stereotype people and are not prepared to see any differently. Not all teenagers who behave badly have parents who do not care. I saw 15-16 year old guys from very good families who were totally out of control, I mean did very unpleasant things. Cameron himself was no angel when young. Third is people who lack empathy and are unable to see what is like to be in someone else's shoes or don't even try. Cameron seems to be good at all three. - M F

a commenter: Division of Marketable Wealth (property etc, inherited by family, i.e not income based / not earned)In the UK since the 1970's 50% of the population own just 7% 1% of the population own 21% (government office of national statistics) ~ Cameron's war on feckless families: PM attacks the human rights laws and backs national service Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news... - Halil

National service? I thought we had no money left. - M F