The budget
My best laid plans of updating the blog on a daily basis fell to the wayside with a manic week in work and just about enough time to get home and get some sleep. I’ve decided to post a rant, don’t I always about the budget. About the governement’s somewhat clever in their minds tactic of releasing some figures regarding social welfare fraud. So when the time came for them to cut social welfare, no-one would give a damn. Sure why would we? In theirs and a lot of other peoples minds, scarily enough, they don’t contribute to society in any shape or form so why give a damn? Do they honestly think everyone on the dole is a waster?
Someone that can’t be bothered to get a job? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not that niave to think that everyone is honest and everyone wants a job. But I also refuse to tar them all with the same brush. Thankfully the kid is in full time education so she gets to keep her allowence, the full whack. The boyf loses 50 euro a week. Again they’re lucky enough that there are no kids. Notice they didn’t touch the old age pension after the last disaster which was getting rid of the medical card. They learned somewhat even if it did take the wrath of the nation’s grannies and grandads down upon them.
I am so angry I can hardly articulate what I feel but I did read this article in the examiner this morning which shows me I am not alone in my thoughts or anger and expresses a lot better how I feel.
In terms of its social outlook, in terms of its contribution to the building of a community, in terms of any concept of fairness, today’s was a merciless and unforgivable budget. Of course, if you like a drop of whiskey or are in the market for a new car, it wasn’t too bad. But if you’re a lone parent trying to raise children, if you’re a person with a disability struggling to live as independent a life as possible, the message is different. You, I’m afraid, are going to have to cut a new notch on your belt. The minister may not have had the nerve to mention it in his speech but in another shameful cut both people with a disability and people who are blind have had €8 a week taken from them.
