Below the poverty line....

 I watched a BBC programme about the 3.5 million children who live below the poverty line in the UK

This dear child, who lives in the tower block pictured (in Glasgow) was well spoken , well educated, well aware of the dangers posed by the damp and mold present in their flat.
In this flat, yes, the mold was bad, yes, it was less than great living space, but the sheets on the beds were clean, there was a washing machine, a fridge, a microwave, a cooker, water and electricity and gas.
The parents didn't work, were on benefits and the little girl spoke of being cold when the money for the gas meter had run out,and bored when the money for the TV had run out (£1 for 6 hours, I didn't know you could even do this!)
There wasn't much food in the house, but they have a school dinner every day. There was a park for them to play in, not a great park, but grass and trees and a few swings and so on.
 By the end of the programme, they had been rehoused in better accommodation.
In a country of 64 million, I find it hard to see 3.5 million as a bad statistic. The poms think it is horrendous. Sure it is indeed.

 By what standard? My heart breaks for these kids, as in a first world country there should be no poverty, but it  is hard for me to see this as true poverty.

The way this child lives is luxury compared to the kids in Cape Town.
But, it is abject poverty here in the UK, and unacceptable, and things are being done about it.
This child, no matter how poor her family may be , has access to medical care, housing, schooling, counselling...I love this. I love that an hour long programme was made about it, speaking only to the children, and their perception of being 'poor'
And what thoughts they had! How accepting they were of their  situation, how understanding of how hard it is  for their parents to get jobs, how much they did their bit to help, bless them! One little lad said " In this area, 1 in 5 is unemployed and it is hard for my daddy, when he did a google search, only 2 jobs came up" This kid was about 8 years old.
Perhaps when they grow up to be teenagers , it will be a different story altogether.
 The way I see it, everyone is doing their best.
If nothing else, surely it is a good start. I pay my taxes gladly here.