I’ll resist calling Clapson’s death a tragedy. Tragedy suggests a one-off incident, a rarity that couldn’t be prevented. What was done to Clapson – and it was done, not something that simply happened – is a particularly horrific example of what has, almost silently, turned into a widespread crisis. More than a million people in this country have had their benefits stopped over the past year.And have a million people starved to death?
No?
It’s a tragedy then.
How can you run a welfare system that accommodates people who, knowing that receiving free money is conditional on simply turning up to an appointment, decide not to bother?
ReplyDelete"A petition for an inquiry into benefit sanctions, started by Clapson’s sister, Gill Thompson, is now on the verge of its 200,000th signature".
ReplyDeleteI propose a petition for an inquiry into where this poor bugger's sister was whilst he making making such a colossal cock-up of his life. If he'd worked for 29 years, where were his savings, his pension etc. My guess is that there's far more to this story than one missed appointment.
It is the way it is done that is causing the issues.
ReplyDeleteWe all know of the people that have never worked and have no intention of working. They are where this is supposed to be targeted. But our government couldn't hit a barn wall if it was inside the barn so they come down hard on who they can. Those that don't know how to abuse the system.
Well first of all we tax people for decades and drive the economy in the pan, they lose their jobs and need help but we can't afford it so we screw them over with rules.
I for one am surprised that it hasn't blow up yet but making people sign every day and if they are late or miss a session then their benefits are cut should do it.
I for one will be shrugging my shoulders when people start to fight back and I won't blame them.
Violence should always be the last resort but we must be near that line now.
It is a disgrace what is being done here.
The final paragraph of the Cif article mentioned that he stopped work to look after his Mum. I did the very same thing four years ago. I cannot claim Job Dodgers' Allowance, so I claim Carers' Allowance. Ok, so there are certain conditions which apply in my case which may not in his, he really ought to have had better advice at some point. Very sad, it is a bloody tragedy.
ReplyDeleteXX And have a million people starved to death?
ReplyDeleteNo?
It’s a tragedy then. XX
It is for a politician, or a scumbag journalist.
WHAT windmills have they to tilt against, when no one dies?
"How can you run a welfare system that accommodates people who, knowing that receiving free money is conditional on simply turning up to an appointment, decide not to bother?"
ReplyDeleteYou can't. Hence, this is an aberration.
"I propose a petition for an inquiry into where this poor bugger's sister was whilst he making making such a colossal cock-up of his life."
'It's the State's job, innit?'
"We all know of the people that have never worked and have no intention of working. They are where this is supposed to be targeted. But our government couldn't hit a barn wall if it was inside the barn.."
The blunt hammer of State is no precision instrument, it's true.