Benefits & Scroungers
By CraftyCorner
@CraftyCorner (5600)
United States
July 29, 2009 5:04pm CST
As the economy circles the drain, services are cut, and taxes skyrocket angry voices are raised. One group of people are hearing derision almost as angry as that shot at the banks that got the world economy into this mess. It is the loosely grouped cluster of people known as 'benefits scroungers'.
*
'Benefits scroungers' aren't fraudsters as they technically qualify for the benefits they receive. Yet I can see the annoyance of taxpayers watching those living on benefits having ten children living in a seven bedroom consul home.
*
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1077401/The-jobless-couple-10-children-rake-32-000-year-benefits--STILL-arent-happy.html
*
Every one's definition of 'scrounger' verses 'needy' is very different, and this definition changes as economics change. What worries me is this debate is beginning to look more like the making scape goats of people we don't like. The chronically obese are being attacked in the Daily Mail. The mentally ill and the chronic pain sufferers (your just a drug addict) are also attacked in the USA regularly in the right wing blogs.
*
Sorry, off soap box...
2 people like this
2 responses
@GardenGerty (169449)
• United States
29 Jul 09
All these people who are being labeled as scroungers need to be looked at on a case by case basis. The chronically obese, for instance. I have relatives that fit that category. They work hard, it is just their bodies have never worked right. They hold jobs, but not necessarily the highest paying. The mentally ill, well, they are ill. That does not mean we are going to take them out and shoot them. They need to be taken care of, or they will become a bigger problem to our society. Chronic pain is an issue all of its own. It is not well managed. I cannot imagine how it would be to have chronic pain. I had just short of three weeks of pulled muscle or some other kind of pain, and nothing was working very well for very long. I just cannot imagine living my life that way, but some do. I believe that there are jobs that can be adjusted to these categories, but not while our economy is in the pits.
1 person likes this
@CraftyCorner (5600)
• United States
31 Jul 09
You have just said a mouthful. Mental illness and pain conditions are also not readily seen conditions either, as is a person with out legs too. The fat people who are fat due to medication reaction and illness are out there too.
*
The people though that drive ME nuts are the people on benefits that continue to have double digit families of children on benefits. When you have people like the Cromptons, somethings off. There are families like this in the USA as well.
*
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1077401/The-jobless-couple-10-children-rake-32-000-year-benefits--STILL-arent-happy.html
@mrakobesie (1246)
• United States
29 Jul 09
I honestly just hate it when people abuse the benefits. i've seen a lot of people who do abuse it, and my hard earned money that government took from me is going to people who don't even need it, they are just too darn greedy. I think people should stop depending on money so much, honestly, food grows on trees, so plant some and get over the prises... i grow a lot of things in my studio apartment and it does help. if i can grow food in this little apartment, every one can. people have obesity and yet they are too darn lazy to walk a few blocks to a store instead of driving... this would save some money too. honestly, people have to stop and think, there were days when money didn't exist, people lived during those times too... money isn't everything, we have to stop depending on it so much...
1 person likes this
@CraftyCorner (5600)
• United States
31 Jul 09
That is very true. I grow herbs in my apartment, which is a second story affair minus a proper porch. I use the herbs to add flavor to soups and such. Admittedly, I am on my country's version of benefit as I have a number of nasty health problems that can impact on working and paying rent (a money dependent activity at least in the USA). One week or more a month can see me crash...as in flat on my back unable to open my eyeballs. Employers don't take well to this.
