Sunday Express and Benefit Claimants

WITHOUT PREJUDICE

What is it with The Sunday Express and people on benefits?  What they fail or forget to realise is that most genuine claimants need this money, paltry as it is, to live on.  It is not, contrary to their 'research' a fortune.  Most are not scoungers and most are definitely not thumbing their noses at the taxpayer.  This paper has a go at claimants because they are an easy target.  I have given up complaining to them and one of their writers who shall remain nameless, who is usually the main writer of these missives.  Whether he is responsible this time or not I don't know but it really is not nice to tell readers half the story.  Some people play the system and they are the ones who need stopping but you cannot blithely go on at length about how badly the taxpayer is being conned by all these claimants.  If the Express cared one iota for it's readers, many of whom are disabled they would soon realise that NOT everyone claiming these paltry benefits is a shyster, but they won't print that exception because it takes away the power of their arguments.  Most claimants have already paid into the system and not being able to predict when or even if they would become disabled in their lifetime, are simply claiming back what they need to live, but as the money received is so poor even that cannot be guaranteed.  Until fresh air is able to feed, clothe and house a disabled person then the state, as a 'caring' state has to do it.  Tax payers need to know that, God forbid, if anything happened to them in their lifetime they would have help when they need it.  Just because they are able bodied now does not guarantee mishaps in the future but NO-ONE even thinks about that, and it's something they do not realise, disablement can easily happen to them.  Most disabled people do not choose to be this way, and if the Express think it's right or fair to have a go at these people then they are wrong.  One line which really angered me was where they say 'Research shows that if a person claims benefit for more than 1 year then they stay on it for 7 years.'  They leave the statement like that, so what are they saying? that someone decides to claim benefit for a year and then says 'oh I can't be bothered lets stay at home for another 7?'  Doesn't work like that Express.  Let me explain it for you yet again - most long term disabled people are on benefit long term because their condition worsens over time and in some cases is not operable, you are simply left by the NHS to get on with it. 

I will no longer buy the Express after this article was printed today because I am sick to the back teeth of this persecution of those on benefit. 

Perhaps they would like the people on benefit to be forgotten about and live on the streets because if you want to take their money away that's the outcome.  So, here's a question they can't answer for all their bluff and bluster - what will you replace it with?

© silversapphire 2009

All rights reserved. No part of the publications, or of this website may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means without the express prior written permission of the Author