UK: James Rees-Mogg: "People using foodbanks is 'uplifting'" - Polidicks

[IMG]https://ichef-1.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/14C8/production/_97802350_mediaitem97802346.jpg[/IMG] [QUOTE]The voluntary support given to food banks is "rather uplifting" and "shows what a compassionate country we are", Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg has said. He told LBC radio the only reason for the rise in their use was "that people know that they are there". The North East Somerset MP said the former Labour government had failed to inform people of their existence. When challenged by a caller to LBC about the increased use of food banks, Mr Rees-Mogg argued they fulfilled a vital function. "To have charitable support given by people voluntarily to support their fellow citizens I think is rather uplifting and shows what a good, compassionate country we are," he said. "Inevitably, the state can't do everything, so I think that there is good within food banks. "The real reason for the rise in numbers is that people know that they are there and Labour deliberately didn't tell them."[/QUOTE] Sources: [URL="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41264965"]BBC NEWS[/URL] [URL="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jacob-rees-mogg-uk-food-bank-uplifting-conservative-mp-leader-a7946096.html"]Independent[/URL] [URL="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/sep/14/jacob-rees-mogg-increased-use-food-banks-rather-uplifting"]The Guardian[/URL] The Independent and Guardian sources have the sound clip.

Wow, now we know what it sounds like to live in an ivory tower How can you look at food banks and think 'this is fine'

[QUOTE=Shadow801;52682098]Wow, now we know what it sounds like to live in an ivory tower How can you look at food banks and think 'this is fine'[/QUOTE] What? He's saying that food banks are a good thing because they help people, and he's glad that more people ever are donating. How's that bad? The title is worded badly. He said the people [I]giving[/I] to the foodbanks is uplifting.

As an ignorant american, what is a food bank and why is it bad? [editline]14th September 2017[/editline] Unless there is nothing wrong here, and the thread icon and first post are just confusing me?

[QUOTE=Rastadogg;52682124]As an ignorant american, what is a food bank and why is it bad? [editline]14th September 2017[/editline] Unless there is nothing wrong here, and the thread icon and first post are just confusing me?[/QUOTE] We have food banks in America too...

[QUOTE=Socram;52682145]We have food banks in America too...[/QUOTE] I figured that out, but I've always heard them called food shelves. The wording combined with my initial assumption that this was something bad is what confused me.

[QUOTE=Rastadogg;52682124]As an ignorant american, what is a food bank and why is it bad? [editline]14th September 2017[/editline] Unless there is nothing wrong here, and the thread icon and first post are just confusing me?[/QUOTE] It's disgusting that we've reached the point where people aren't able to get enough money either through their jobs/benefits in order to obtain food and other basics. I got to meet and do some volunteer work alongside the disabled, elderly and poor at a local foodbank in Birmingham who have no chance of getting work or were screwed over by the Job Centre regarding benefits.

pretty sleazy of him to bitch about labour considering the past seven years of economic trouble and increasing vulnerability of people on the margins of society that has transpired under the tories

[QUOTE=Rastadogg;52682156]I figured that out, but I've always heard them called food shelves. The wording combined with my initial assumption that this was something bad is what confused me.[/QUOTE] They're just places where surplus food can be donated and they distribute it in baskets along with essentials like soap and toilet paper for those less able to provide for themselves. Some chain stores donate their out-of-code food too. They're a lifeline for the poor in this country but they were little known about until after the recession.

There shouldn't be food banks in the fucking[B] United Kingdom[/B].

[QUOTE=scurr;52682224]There shouldn't be food banks in the fucking[B] United Kingdom[/B].[/QUOTE] why not? there's poor people everywhere

[QUOTE=Shadow801;52682098]Wow, now we know what it sounds like to live in an ivory tower How can you look at food banks and think 'this is fine'[/QUOTE] Wanna try reading the OP again?

[QUOTE=Turing;52682242]why not? there's poor people everywhere[/QUOTE] The point is that people needing them is bad. Demand has gone up significantly during the last 7 years despite the economy in theory growing. It's got to the point where NHS nurses have had to go to them because their pay has been cut by iirc about 15% during this government, whilst MPs have had major pay rises, taxes have been cut and the richest have got significantly richer. The UK has enough money for everyone to have at least enough to get by.

Looks like there's some confusion between "the fact that people have to use food banks is good" and "I'm glad food banks are there to feed hungry people"

To be fair, It's a tone deaf statement to make even if he's not saying "I fucking love it when poor people need to go to food banks". Through both negligence and ideologically motivated policy, His party is responsible for the rising levels of poverty and strife suffered by the lower classes. "Well, good thing you lot are willing to look after all those people we clearly couldn't give a fuck about- too bad mean old labour tried to hide the food from them!" isn't exactly a brilliant statement to be making when discussing the massive rise in food bank use under the Tories.

[QUOTE=Rastadogg;52682124]As an ignorant american, what is a food bank and why is it bad? [editline]14th September 2017[/editline] Unless there is nothing wrong here, and the thread icon and first post are just confusing me?[/QUOTE] imagine if the good will was a grocery store and there's nothing wrong with it.

[QUOTE=Trekintosh;52682123]What? He's saying that food banks are a good thing because they help people, and he's glad that more people ever are donating. How's that bad? The title is worded badly. He said the people [I]giving[/I] to the foodbanks is uplifting.[/QUOTE] It's bad because he is deflecting from the fact that people are more reliant on food banks now. He's claiming that there is no increased demand for food banks due to his party cutting social programs, only factor for increased use being that people are more informed about them. Government can't do everything but it certainly could do a good deal more. And of course he's using the opportunity to shift blame on labour. It's astonishing that this level on nonsensical politi-speak is taken at face value. [quote]When challenged in April about claims that nurses were now using them, Prime Minister Theresa May said there "many complex reasons why people go to food banks".[/quote] Chief among which, [I]lack of money[/I]. Is this level of drivel really an acceptable argument for UK electorate?

[URL="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/sep/14/jacob-rees-mogg-increased-use-food-banks-rather-uplifting"]It's also "unchristian" according to the food bank operators[/URL]

[QUOTE=Trekintosh;52682123]What? He's saying that food banks are a good thing because they help people, and he's glad that more people ever are donating. How's that bad? The title is worded badly. He said the people [I]giving[/I] to the foodbanks is uplifting.[/QUOTE] Whilst this is mostly true, I think the problem people have whenever the Tories praise food banks is that they seem to not understand that food banks are not something that should be existing in the first place. They are praising the 'solution' but not addressing the problem.

Heartwarming to see food banks but it's because of people such as him and his wretched party that people have become reliant on them.

It's uplifting that people are generously donating to food banks to feed the poor but it'd be even more uplifting if the Tory government that's barely hanging onto power by the tattered edges of a billion-pound bribe to 10 Nor'Irish twats (apologies to the non-twat population of NI) stopped cutting welfare and instead tried to feed their people themselves instead of relying on the charity of the middle class. Let them eat Jaffa cakes, almost literally.

I think the only thing the government can do is try to improve the supply of food by finding new deals FAST following Brexit, the problem is our £ has plummeted in value following that vote so either way it's not going to be any cheaper after the actual Brexit, the EU will likely just increase the prices for imports either from the value of our £ being worth less or just from import taxes or something. They might try something like tackling food waste or rationing otherwise but I don't see either likely as they'll try to explain that companies are private and so they don't want a hand in it beyond ensuring they don't sell us poison whilst rationing seems unlikely because they also don't seem receptive to the idea of increasing welfare. Essentially the worst government possible for preparing for a Brexit that will likely leave food prices high for a long time and their contribution is to praise food banks for existing, well I hope their plan is better than this in the future.

[quote] "Inevitably, the state can't do everything, so I think that there is good within food banks."[/quote] the state can't do everything, like provide food to those in poverty