Post by @Rickd6@mstdn.ca

2026-05-11 13:08 UTC

@ChrisMayLA6@zirk.us @alantperry@mstdn.ca I also agree with this sentiment the real question becomes ‘what do we do with the freeloaders?’ I know that under the current system there’s no end to the wanting (never enough money) but dealing with the ‘I deserve more’ crowd exists at both ends.

Replies (1)

@alantperry@mstdn.ca 2026-05-11 13:36

@Rickd6@mstdn.ca @ChrisMayLA6@zirk.us I think we can agree that there are no freeloaders receiving either wages or pensions, so living wages and decent pensions are a given. The "problem" of freeloaders is often posited by right-wing politicians as a reason not to increase benefits for those who can't work (disability) or currently don't work (unemployment). The reality is that these benefits are so far from adequate that no-one would choose to live on them given an alternative. And there are already eligibility criteria that must be met to receive these benefits. The narrative that there are large numbers of benefits cheaters is simply false. It's not zero, but it's vanishingly small, and not a valid reason to keep benefits at destitution levels. Better in my view to have a few people taking advantage of a good system, than to have people falling through the cracks of an inadequate system.

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