I was forwarded a joke recently.
Then it appeared on facebook.
It was the one about David Cameron and Nick Clegg in an aeroplane.
Cameron says he could make someone happy by throwing a £1000 note out of the window.
Clegg reckons he could do better and make ten people happier by throwing £100 notes out.
The Pilot overhearing this conversation comments to the co-pilot: I could make 28 Million people happy by throwing them both out.
It is increasingly dispiriting to face the day.
The latest demand to reduce taxes for the wealthy by lowering the 50% tax rate whilst actually increasing the tax burden on average earners by increasing VAT.
The free schools that are being opened in privileged areas by privileged individuals and groups.
The emotive and highly charged language of punishment, withdrawal of benefits and eviction for a range of offences.
I have written about Beveridge before in this blog.
The essence of Beveridges welfare proposals were not to reward people for laziness or idleness in fact the welfare state was designed to create a sense of security for all citizens by insuring against income loss and guaranteeing that life chances were enhanced through education, growing old was made more secure through pension payments and ill health addressed through health insurance.
It troubles me both personally and publicly that these humanistic ideals are being reversed by a co-alition government that has lost sight of the ideals of public service that were built into the founding of the welfare state.
It is that important sense of security that is now missing.
As the economy continues to flat line and it becomes clear that the cuts in fact are contributing to the loss of demand as people remain anxious as to what lies ahead for them and their families it is crucial that we begin to question the claims that are being made by our politicians and test them against the key question addressed by Beveridge: do people feel secure or is the future increasingly uncertain for everyone.
So after last weeks 8-2 win over Arsenal and today's 5-0 win over Bolton this is my suggestion, Sir Alex for PM.
That should work .... an old socialist who knows how to win.
Then it appeared on facebook.
It was the one about David Cameron and Nick Clegg in an aeroplane.
Cameron says he could make someone happy by throwing a £1000 note out of the window.
Clegg reckons he could do better and make ten people happier by throwing £100 notes out.
The Pilot overhearing this conversation comments to the co-pilot: I could make 28 Million people happy by throwing them both out.
It is increasingly dispiriting to face the day.
The latest demand to reduce taxes for the wealthy by lowering the 50% tax rate whilst actually increasing the tax burden on average earners by increasing VAT.
The free schools that are being opened in privileged areas by privileged individuals and groups.
The emotive and highly charged language of punishment, withdrawal of benefits and eviction for a range of offences.
I have written about Beveridge before in this blog.
The essence of Beveridges welfare proposals were not to reward people for laziness or idleness in fact the welfare state was designed to create a sense of security for all citizens by insuring against income loss and guaranteeing that life chances were enhanced through education, growing old was made more secure through pension payments and ill health addressed through health insurance.
It troubles me both personally and publicly that these humanistic ideals are being reversed by a co-alition government that has lost sight of the ideals of public service that were built into the founding of the welfare state.
It is that important sense of security that is now missing.
As the economy continues to flat line and it becomes clear that the cuts in fact are contributing to the loss of demand as people remain anxious as to what lies ahead for them and their families it is crucial that we begin to question the claims that are being made by our politicians and test them against the key question addressed by Beveridge: do people feel secure or is the future increasingly uncertain for everyone.
So after last weeks 8-2 win over Arsenal and today's 5-0 win over Bolton this is my suggestion, Sir Alex for PM.
That should work .... an old socialist who knows how to win.
It's an interesting notion. Giving individuals a basis for self sufficiency, security and confidence to move forward and take their place in society. I'd only been vaguely aware of Beveridge in the past. Your blog has inspired me to dig a little deeper.
ReplyDeleteThanks Geoff - it is good to hear someone talking about the very good reasons that the welfare state was originally set up, which are often forgotten now. And if people want to understand from a human perspective, they only have to read some of the heartbreaking accounts about people becoming unemployed in the 1930s, and descending into complete degradation and poverty despite their pride in and desire to work. Unreliable or nonexistent 'unemployment insurance' and visits from the 'Means-test Man'punished families within which one or more members had lost their jobs. Looks like Cameron would have us heading the same way again...
ReplyDelete