Welfare Cuts

That Was The Week That Was

There was a joke from the 60's or 70's about newspaper readership. The Times was read by the people who ruled the country. The Guardian was read by people who wanted to rule the country and The Sun was for people who didn't care who ran the country as long as she had large breasts!

Well this article from The Guardian journalist Polly Toynbee struck a chord with me because I would like to rule the country. I will admit I find it a little, how should I say, biased? No, certainly slanted. But I largely approve of the sentiment. There was also an interesting article from the BBC (I hope you can see it if you are outside the UK) about the way those receiving benefit are viewed in the UK. 

Is it just the fact that we are all under the cosh with austerity? It seems to me that there is a hardening attitude  to those on benefits. I have met people who know the system and are able to extract value from the state. But I don't think they are a majority. It is a convenient misconception. Convenient for George Osborne that is. As we make a steady return to Victorian values that will see children return to sweep chimneys, the perception that those receiving benefits are scroungers in the public eye just makes it easier for him to cut the payments. 

My view has always been that, though there are people who abuse systems (London Bankers and the LIBOR exchange included), but in terms of welfare state the alternative is starving children. Children denied life chances due to accident of birth. Greatness can come from anywhere and to fail to look after our children is a failure of the long term health of this nation. In any form you care to measure.