Sue Marsh from Diary of a Benefit Scrounger, reports on a concerted effort in the right-wing press to prevent any real debate over benefits.
Sue Marsh blogs at Diary of a Benefit Scrounger
Today, the Daily Express and Daily Mail are full of cheating, scrounging sick people.
The Express screams: “Blitz on Britain’s benefits madness”, contrasting those on “sickness handouts” with “hard working taxpayers”.
According to the the Express, Tory MP Philip Davies joined the outcry, saying:
“People are sick to the back teeth of being taken for a ride by people sponging and scrounging and abusing the system.”
While the Mail screams:
“Scandal of 80,000 on sickness benefits for minor ailments… including diarrhoea.”
To accompany the claim that “drug addicts” have been allowed to claim, they included a picture of someone snorting white powder through a rolled up note.
The papers go on to list “blisters”, “headaches”, “depression”, and “problems with scholastic skills” as evidence that there are hundreds of thousands of people living the good life at “taxpayers” expense who have nothing really wrong with them.
For a moment, let’s forget the fact that only the first ailment a person lists on their claim form is taken into account in these figures. Let’s ignore the fact that someone with “nail disorders” might also have cancer or kidney failure. Let’s ignore the fact that someone classified under “drug abuse” might also suffer from schizophrenia or multiple sclerosis..
I have “diarrhoea” but why? Well, because of the 32 growths I’ve had to have removed from my guts and the seven major operations to remove rotten lengths of bowel, leaving me with half as much intestine as your average ill-informed hack.
My friend has “blisters.” She suffers from the rare skin disease Epidermolysis Bullosa. Her skin blisters and comes away at the lightest touch, leaving her scarred and in constant, terrible pain.
“Headaches?” Cluster headaches (also referred to as “suicide headaches”) are thought to be one of the worst pains known to man, not something to be confused with a hangover.
I could go on, but I’m sure you’re beginning to see why these horrible articles, fuelled by “statements” today from Chris Grayling, minister for Work and Pensions and our very own prime minister, only serve to turn a sensitive, delicate subject into a form of attack. They aim to pitch one condition against another whilst asking more fortunate citizens to view those who are unwell with mistrust and contempt.
Perhaps there is a legitimate debate to be had over which conditions “hard working tax-payers” are willing to support. There is certainly some validity in the claim that many sick or disabled people would love help and support to find a job.
However, surely none of us agree that this is the way in which to conduct that debate? Surely allowing our politicians and our media to whip up hate and prejudice against a particular group of society is something we should all be ashamed of?
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148 Responses to “Right-wing hate campaign clouds debate on benefits”
Noxi
RT @falseecon: Right-wing hate campaign clouds debate on benefits: http://bit.ly/gBMkmR writes @suey2y (via @leftfootfwd)
Robert
Well I’m not sure what this is about both labour and the Tories have had meeting and have concluded we should have one benefit for all, that benefit of course will end up being means tested and worthless to most people.
I do not really care much I’m slowly coming to the end , of my life and hopefully I can last long enough to watch labour and the Tories come together in a coalition, under one blue banner which seems to be the in thing now for labour.
eirlys dafydd
RT @leftfootfwd: Right-wing hate campaign clouds debate on benefits http://bit.ly/f9qXNM
Sue Marsh
Anon E Mouse – What on earth makes you think more money will go to the “deserving” such as those with MS? People with MS are being found fit for work every day.
I will NEVER get into the murky waters of judging who deserves my compassion and who doesn’t. You don’t get to decide, Grayling doesn’t get to decide, nor do the Mail, Express or BBC.
In an ideal world, consultants would decide – you know, people who actually have some understanding of the conditions rather than a whole heap of unfounded judgement.
Sadly all we have is a 15 question tick box.
I think if someone told me that a young girl who was sexually abused by her father, ran away, ended up on the streets as a sex worker, fell into drug addiction and became mentally ill needed my Incapacity Benefit, I’d give it to her. She is WAY more “worthy” than me.
Lianne
Right-wing hate campaign clouds debate on benefits http://bit.ly/hXYLxo