[DanaC]

An interesting documentary following the lives of four children living below the poverty line in modern Britain. As the voice over tells us, they speak for the 3.5 million children living in poverty here today.


One of the things that angers me is the disparity in cost of living on basic needs. It isn't just that the poor can only afford the worst of everything, and sometimes not even that. It's the fact that everything is less value for money. The damp in t he house that wrecks your clothes, and means you have to replace them sooner. The cost of electricity and gas for your home costs more if you are so poor that you pay through metering. You pay more, for less. You don't get any of the savings that come from being able to py regularly, upfront through direct debit. You don't get the savings that come from being able to invest, up front, the purchase cost for your television, your friedge or your washing machine. These things are only available on credit, and the only credit that will touch these people with a ten foot barge pole, is the high interest variety.

Everywhich way.

The rich have loopholes, the poor have potholes.