In these tough times we are all facing, surely it is time for the Government to seriously shake up the country’s benefits system; not only MPs’ taxpayer- funded benefits, but the benefits that are squandered away in their thousands each year on lazy, ignorant people who just don’t want to work.

Let’s be honest, we all know someone who’s doing it and a secret anger is festering inside us because we just can’t understand how they get away with it.

And when the time comes for us to claim our hardearned state pension, they will get exactly the same, having never worked a day in their lives for it, because you paid for them!

I personally know of a young couple who openly admit that they can’t be bothered to work, their relationship is one of lazy convenience, not love, with the aim to churn out as many children as possible to get as many benefits as possible and as big a house as possible.

T heir children have no responsible guidance or structure to their lives and the parents waste money on takeaways and nights out clubbing.

Perhaps it’s a case of low expectation and confidence, an easy option in life for the lazy, and a case of “well, if they’re giving it away, we’ll take it”.

Or is it a case of an education system where kids are fully aware about sex and the consequences by the age of 12, but have no idea about personal responsibility in the world, motivation to work and pay your own way where possible, only using benefits in emergencies?

Not forgetting, of course, accountability, morals, and respect.

As for teenage or single mums, many didn’t plan to be in their situation, of course, and it takes much courage to raise children alone.

But to stop all such families getting tarred with the same brush of system manipulators (which the country just can’t afford any longer), I propose limit the amount of child benefit paid out to a maximum of two children only.

If they want a third or fourth child, then they can pay for it.

Or instead of throwing money at the very young and uneducated parents of Tendring, why not give them vouchers that can be exchanged for food and clothes, and even day care, only, so that the parents have a little time for education and work themselves?

The same could apply for people with disabilities and lon-term unemployed – voluntary work and re-education should be compulsory.

If you take taxpayers’ money, you should put something back into the community or the benefits will stop.

It’s not rocket science, is it?

C A Woodrow
Clacton