The country we left behind
Nov 16th 2017, 10:26 am
#1
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Location: Moncton, NB, CANADA
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The country we left behind
Elaine Morrall died in a freezing home – the state is tossing away people’s lives
There is no doubt: “it” – that is, the safety net in this country – is breaking. Scan the news from the last week and there is ample evidence. First, the finding from the MS Society that, in the face of cut care packages, thousands of young disabled people are being put in homes for the elderly. Then the Birmingham Mail reported that pupils in the city are “stockpiling” food in their pockets at school to avoid starving at the weekend. Or – achingly in the light of Elaine’s death – the warning that cuts to support for the poorest and ill people to heat their homes will lead to “needless winter deaths and acute suffering”.
Nov 16th 2017, 10:32 am
#2
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Re: The country we left behind
Having worked with at risk and homeless youth in NS I’m not entirely shocked tbh.
In the UK they still have it better than here.
Nov 16th 2017, 10:57 am
#3
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Location: Moncton, NB, CANADA
Posts: 50,755
Re: The country we left behind
Absolutely.
The lack of support - call it what you will - can be dismal here. But Canada never had it to miss it.
For the UK to have something good, in place, and then dismantle it is just criminal.
All of the things that needed to be done to tighten things up could have been done under existing powers without the wholesale sledgehammer-to-crack-a-nut changes.
The lack of support - call it what you will - can be dismal here. But Canada never had it to miss it.
For the UK to have something good, in place, and then dismantle it is just criminal.
All of the things that needed to be done to tighten things up could have been done under existing powers without the wholesale sledgehammer-to-crack-a-nut changes.
Nov 16th 2017, 11:37 am
#4
Yo
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 24,474
Re: The country we left behind
It is hard to believe given the incredible wealth that exists in this country. And yet, "Theresa, there is no magic money tree" still manages to scrape a victory.
Nov 16th 2017, 2:05 pm
#5
Lowering the tone
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Here and there
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Re: The country we left behind
The Tories will be out on their arse next time, and for a very long time too. The only people who benefit from their slashing policies are becoming too small in number to sustain them in power.
Could you imagine being so shameless in 21st century Britain to decide that a town can't afford a library?
Could you imagine being so shameless in 21st century Britain to decide that a town can't afford a library?
Nov 16th 2017, 3:16 pm
#6
Listen to the Music
Joined: Mar 2013
Location: Fraser Valley BC
Posts: 4,702
Re: The country we left behind
The welfare state costs money, it costs a lot of money. How often have you seen reports that this new drug or that new treatment is available or that this little girl will die unless....
People's expectations of a service with finite resources is becoming infinite and therein lies the problem.
In the 1950s I remember my father receiving care in a convalescent home by the sea following an operation, nowadays you're packed off home before the blood dries. So why was it possible then in a bankrupt UK full of war invalids when it isn't possible now? Perhaps it was the limited expectations of a nation grateful to have any healthcare at all, or perhaps there was a realisation that you couldn't have it all without paying for it.
I think that it's about time the welfare state got it's priorities sorted out and concentrated on the basics once again.
People's expectations of a service with finite resources is becoming infinite and therein lies the problem.
In the 1950s I remember my father receiving care in a convalescent home by the sea following an operation, nowadays you're packed off home before the blood dries. So why was it possible then in a bankrupt UK full of war invalids when it isn't possible now? Perhaps it was the limited expectations of a nation grateful to have any healthcare at all, or perhaps there was a realisation that you couldn't have it all without paying for it.
I think that it's about time the welfare state got it's priorities sorted out and concentrated on the basics once again.
Last edited by dave_j; Nov 16th 2017 at 3:48 pm.
Nov 16th 2017, 3:44 pm
#7
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Re: The country we left behind
The Tories will be out on their arse next time, and for a very long time too. The only people who benefit from their slashing policies are becoming too small in number to sustain them in power.
Could you imagine being so shameless in 21st century Britain to decide that a town can't afford a library?
Could you imagine being so shameless in 21st century Britain to decide that a town can't afford a library?
Nov 16th 2017, 4:15 pm
#9
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Re: The country we left behind
In the 1950s I remember my father receiving care in a convalescent home by the sea following an operation, nowadays you're packed off home before the blood dries. So why was it possible then...
She certainly did. Maybe even two.
Nov 16th 2017, 7:46 pm
#13
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Re: The country we left behind
Simple fact is that no party has any way to fix the UK. It's far, far too broken for that. The idea that tossing May out and replacing her with Corbyn will lead to a magical, free-pony-for-all utopia is simply laughable.
But, back to the point up above about people freezing to death, it's almost as though artificially increasing the cost of fuel might mean some people can't afford to buy it. Odd, that.
Nov 16th 2017, 7:49 pm
#14
.
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 20,185
Re: The country we left behind
A pony would be nice, too.
Simple fact is that no party has any way to fix the UK. It's far, far too broken for that. The idea that tossing May out and replacing her with Corbyn will lead to a magical, free-pony-for-all utopia is simply laughable.
But, back to the point up above about people freezing to death, it's almost as though artificially increasing the cost of fuel might mean some people can't afford to buy it. Odd, that.
Simple fact is that no party has any way to fix the UK. It's far, far too broken for that. The idea that tossing May out and replacing her with Corbyn will lead to a magical, free-pony-for-all utopia is simply laughable.
But, back to the point up above about people freezing to death, it's almost as though artificially increasing the cost of fuel might mean some people can't afford to buy it. Odd, that.
Nov 16th 2017, 7:52 pm
#15
Yo
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 24,474
Re: The country we left behind
A pony would be nice, too.
Simple fact is that no party has any way to fix the UK. It's far, far too broken for that. The idea that tossing May out and replacing her with Corbyn will lead to a magical, free-pony-for-all utopia is simply laughable.
But, back to the point up above about people freezing to death, it's almost as though artificially increasing the cost of fuel might mean some people can't afford to buy it. Odd, that.
Simple fact is that no party has any way to fix the UK. It's far, far too broken for that. The idea that tossing May out and replacing her with Corbyn will lead to a magical, free-pony-for-all utopia is simply laughable.
But, back to the point up above about people freezing to death, it's almost as though artificially increasing the cost of fuel might mean some people can't afford to buy it. Odd, that.
