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”
Sue Marsh
Anon E Mouse – You asked me a straight question and I gave you a straight answer. Your incessantly antagonistic responses do nothing to further your arguments.
Anon E Mouse
scandoulousbill – Actually both as I posted earlier!
Have a good one…
Anon E Mouse
Sue Marsh – Have a good Easter – hope the kids and the chicken pox have cleared up.
(Actually the question was about the heroin addict but hey…)
SSP Campsie
RT @leftfootfwd: Right-wing hate campaign clouds debate on benefits: http://bit.ly/gBMkmR writes @suey2y
Sue Marsh
Thanks Anon E Mouse you too.
Heroin addicts have just as many reasons for A) Falling into dependency and B) Remaining addicted as alcoholics. If you’ve ever known anyone battle with heroin demons (as I have) you’d know that nothing is ever clear cut.
Surely we’re talking about failures of society here? The ONLY way to sort them out is to address them and tackle the route causes. Throwing them off benefits will not help at all – you’ll just have the same people living on the streets and committing more crimes.
They need rehab, counselling, support and understanding. However much people may want to pillory them, it won’t stop a single person drinking or taking drugs.