Episode 13

SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS ABOUT THIS EPISODE

SHOULD WE STILL PAY PEOPLE TO HAVE KIDS?

"As a single chap earning 30k I get nothing in the way of tax breaks! I am in good health thankfully so have yet to be a burden on the NHS. My brothers have children and they chose to have them when they could afford them. Children are not a right but when they arrive we have to ensure they are looked after therefore the poor should have some help. Well off people should not. At the moment it seems almost like we are demonising children for something that obviously isn't their fault-being born!
I feel that child benefit should be stopped for everyone and replaced with additions to the Child Tax Credits. Those who are on low income will benefit, those who don't need it won't get it."
Stephen, Hereford

"People on benefits should definitely not get child benefit, they get far too much as it is, that's why they keep breeding, people who have to work have to pay for people who won't, that's the norm in this country!"
Wendy

"Having children is a lifestyle choice, not a privilege.
It can never be the role of the state to subsidise more and more children.
Instead offer parents with a difficult financial position low-interest loans.
The mechanism of paying per child is insane. Nothing less."
Carsten

"My fear is that if we reduce or abolish money to families we may see an increase in child neglect and children being placed into care."
Craig



SHOULD THE NHS PRESCRIBE CLASS A DRUGS?

"If the NHS pays for class A drugs now, then how much more will they have to pay out for the health complications these addicts will have further down the line."
Tom, Newmarket

"I am a recovering addict I was addicted for 4 years in this time I lost a number of jobs not because I was addicted to heroin but because I couldn't get heroin. Eventually I got caught with a bag and was convicted of possession so I lost another job now I’m unemployed with a criminal record so finding a job is even harder. I started taking heroin because I was depressed it is a medical problem and a social problem for a fixed period you should get it on the NHS then get into counselling."
Bobby

"The NHS should not prescribe Class A drugs and Terry Christian is naive in his argument. Diazepam is still a prescribed drug and yet they are still dealt with illegally because whatever people are prescribed they will always want/need more Also why should I as a tax payer have to pay for people to take drugs for what is too easily classed an illness! Remember these people decided to take drugs in the 1st place unlike a lot of people who have decided to not be stupid!
Also although you talk about crime stopping, criminals and Organised Crime Groups will just change tactics and undertake other forms of criminality!"
Paul, Fife

"Why should class A drugs be available to drug addicts on the NHS when cancer drugs are not? It is a ridiculous suggestion for an over-stretched NHS!!!!"
Sheila.

"It wouldn't matter if drugs were made available over the counter, there would always be a Black Market for any product in demand that could be bought cheaper, especially if it's from people you know.
Its support, understanding and education that will make the biggest difference to the trade, as the demand for them comes down, therefore the supply will follow."
Ash

"Your guest spoke of Zurich's Needle Park from the 80s. What came from that was prescribed heroin, with centres where addicts can go to safely and cleanly receive their prescription and shoot up. They are in many neighbourhoods in Switzerland, and you don't even notice them around. Addicts don't run through the streets mugging for money to get their drugs, and you don't see rampant drug use in the streets. Prescription heroin works."
A view from a Swiss.



ARE WE PARTLY TO BLAME FOR ISLAMIC TERRORISM?

"This country wasn’t targeted by Islamic “terrorists” until after Tony Blair took us to war in Iraq in support of the U.S. invasion & occupation. The bomb attack against the UK Consulate in Turkey & the 7/7 attacks in the UK all took place whilst former President George W. Bush was staying in our country being treated like royalty. The recent BBC documentary “Secret Iraq” has revealed the large extent of the slaughter of civilians by the US/UK coalition. It angers me to see what has been committed in our name over many years - so it should come as no surprise that the UK has been, and continues to be being targeted by those who are retaliating against the atrocities committed against their fellow Muslims and countrymen."
Paul, Dorset

"Acts of Islamist terrorism predate any of the usual things which are blamed, such as foreign policy in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The first gulf war in 1990 did predate 9/11 for example but that was a UN sanctioned action, supported by many Middle Eastern Muslim countries and was in defense of a Muslim nation, Kuwait.
There were many acts of Islamist terrorism that took place before that war in any case.
As to radicalization, many white ethnic British people such as me have been radicalized against Islam by the behaviour of Al Qaeda and others. This is not a healthy situation.
Yes we have brought it on ourselves. Withdraw all forces from Iraq and Afghanistan immediately. We have absolutely no right to be there having our kids blown up for no acceptable reason. 15 of the 17 9/11 bombers were Saudis but we have not invaded Saudi Arabia. Islamic terrorism springs from the repressive police states run by brutal Dictatorships in the Middle East in Saudi Arabia, Syria, Kuwait et al."
Adrian

"I think Britain lacks a cultural identity and sense of "one-ness" which means that some young people identify more closely with other cultures and systems of belief. The media perpetuates the marginalisation of Muslims which directly affects the way many people in society respond to them. This marginalisation pushes people who feel alienated to extremism. I think we all have a social responsibility to preach and practice tolerance of other faiths and beliefs."
Sarah-Jane