So thats how the country works with the Coalition government in charge...bankers gamble enormous sums of money and loans are made to people who they know have no hope of paying it back. The government uses their money to support the bankers. Four years later people with disabilities and other poor and disadvantaged people are told that the state can no longer afford to keep them and their income must be reduced. And then bankers get to keep their million pound bonuses. Thats how "we're all in this together" things are.
I can't go on a demonstration as I would like to, as I'm housebound and too ill, so you won't see me. There are thousands of others like me. But it doesn't mean we're not here, that we're not hurting. It is very likely that I will have to live in poverty for the rest of my life as a result of these cuts. Not definitely, I have to jump through some assessment hoops first, but possible. And if even if I "win", there will be others who lose.
Some of the cuts are partcularly nasty and vicious. Cutting housing benefit by 10% for anyone unemployed for over a year is simply cruel. How on earth are people supposed to survive on £65 a week minus 10% of their rent? Its also incredibly short sighted, as it can only mean increased homelessness, which makes it less likely the person will get a job. Cutting mobility allowance for those in care homes is also just plain wrong. You are getting care, so don't need to be able to go out?
I urge politicians to reconsider. Surely you didn't come into politics to make people like me suffer, and the bankers buy a spare house or three?
Originally posted as part of the One Month Before Heartbreak Campaign Jan, 2011
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