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Similar to my background. Living conditions have improved in the UK, we use to have ice on the inside of the windows in the winter and a coal fire to heat the water. I've been homeless twice, a self employed tradesman for 20 years on low wages and kept out of debt and poverty.
I've not heard many stories from people who stay impoverished throughout their lives while also working hard to improve their lot. Met a lot of addicts and gamblers who would happily screw their own lives up and take you down with them though.
If people want to complain about the big picture why don't they do something directly for the 'underclass' on their street. I'll do people a favour when they need it, I don't expect the government to handle it all or payment for everything I do. There are people in life you can't help though, self destructive people.
Your point about the NHS and Social Housing (I would add free education) making a difference is true and we have those facilities and it has changed peoples lives. All of this was started hundreds of years ago by wealthy industrialists and landowners (the elite).
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Airhead
sausagefingers
De-construct the systems that perpetuates privilege, and strengthen the ones that provide everyone with equal access.
What's important isn't taking from the rich and destroying them, but ensuring that the opportunities they get are available to all. Today they are not. If you happen to be born a poor black female in the UK today, there's still no way that you are going to have the same opportunities as a male, as a girl that is white, as someone born wealthy.
The stories of those who overcame their circumstances and managed to do better for themselves than was predicted are what they unfortunately are: isolated examples.
Going back to my first line, this is why universal healthcare and access to social housing is also crucial. A child living in a mouldy and damp council flat, always ill, unable to attend school because of illness... that child has a disadvantage from so early on. Everything is against that child from an early age. I know, I was that child.