...eh, didn't want to offend US of A, maybe I was a bit clumsy, my point is, I can understand if one is upset with people who fatten themselves to the point of qualifying for disability, and worse still, they feel entitled to everything, they behave like they should be regarded almost as a heroes, etc.
There is certainly something wrong with the system, that promotes such aberrations. In a healthy, robust system of social security, it would be impossible. But on the other hand, I have yet to see a "healthy, robust" system of social security.
I have always believed, that people who are on a social paycheck should still somehow EARN these benefits. There's plenty of jobs that could be done by them, once they are collecting the bens anyway, and nobody else is willing to pay for them free market rates that would attract some employees. Like cleaning up the streets, public spaces, sorting the rubbish in the recycling centers etc. This way, someone would have to be at least fit and self sufficient, to collect the bens - and he would move his arse, and burn some calories in the process as well - not to mention his productive contribution to society.
It drives me crazy to see all the litter, that could not be picked up in my town, because "council has no funds" (why all that litter ends up on the streets instead of bins, is another matter, but I digress), yet at the same time, council spends pretty pennies on unemployment benefits. OK, so give them something to do - clean up the streets, if you really want to be a part of the society, and contribute to it! What, you don't? Too bad, get a hike!
It is so perverse here in our ultra-socialistic Yurp, that I have been talking to few people on bens, and they told me, they would like to work, because it drives them crazy to sir at home -but... BUT: IT doesn't make sense for them to start working on low paid, low security jobs, because they are better off financially, collecting the benefits!!! What the hell!!! So if they do the maths, and account additionally that benefits are secure, and jobs are not - the rational decision can be only one. That is sometimes against their morality (not all of them are so decent, though!), well, too bad, but they have families to fed.
We are living in a totally fecked up system, my friends.
PS.
Oh, and BTW, back on the original topic - do not worry, it is exactly like that also in other countries - at least I can confirm incidents like that in Poland. There are equivalent of "black Friday" sales in electronic shops, or when a new mall opens and it is bound to have some crazy promotions on the first day, that will surely not satisfy the demand - exactly the same scenes here... "That is my palette of sugar, I am buying it all!!!" - and eagle-spreaded woman diving on the fucking thing, like a fully-trained commando, on a mission, fighting for his dear life with a knife-bearer, in a best of Hollywood movies! Screaming at anyone approaching "her" palette of discounted sugar, like she was protecting her children from ze Germans! Saw it myself, my wife is a barber and she was working in the hair saloon inside the mall, with a good view of a shopping hall. If it wasn't so embarrassing, it would be quite funny.
. Can't imagine someone getting too fat, being in the mercy of charitable soup kitchens, gland problems and all.
