My OperaSteal From the Poor, Give To the Rich
Thursday, April 10, 2008 1:05:02 PM
The Reverse Robin Hood at number 10 has decreed that the rich are just not rich enough. We should all weep bitter tears over this parlous state of affairs. But what to do about it – Ah a light bulb moment – reduce the standard rate of income tax from 22% to 20%.
Now this is all well and good but where do we get the money from? Answer – take it from the poor. Those on low incomes don’t really need the 10% rate so we’ll do away with it. They won’t mind paying double! Problem solved.
Of course there’s still the matter of those on benefit. Can’t have it can we – the blind shall see, the lame shall walk and all will work full-time. This mantra shall we intone at number 10.
Only trouble is the financial gloom approaching. Greedy people in finance thought they would make a killing on US sub-primes. Huh! So that leaves the rest of us to clean up the mess. It’s likely that we will all suffer. A world-wide recession is a distinct possibility.
With this storm approaching what does Mr Brown and his cronies do – they look for scapegoats. Which groups in society can’t fight back? Which groups haven’t they had a go at lately? Well they’ve already hammered single parents and asylum seekers so it just has to be the sick and unemployed!
For the last 10 weeks I have been floundering at her majesty’s pleasure on the punishment system known as New Deal IAP (Intensive Activity Period). This farce purports to be giving me the skills and training necessary to get me a job. We are also promised Tax Credits to top up our income. So there will be no more unemployed? That’s about as likely as the Pope becoming a Muslim.
What it’s really all about is conning you – the taxpayer . Rumour has it that so-called ‘training’ companies like mine (who are registered charities) are getting around £360 a month for each impressed slave. For the over 25’s there is no requirement for any training whatsoever. The only compulsory activity is job-search. It’s a sham to massage the unemployment figures and provide a sop to the right-wing elements of New Labour and Tories alike.
After forcing those wicked, work-shy, layabouts into crummy McJobs on minimum wages the powers that be are turning their attention to the sick and disabled. Stricter tests will be gradually brought in. No doubt a lot of re-classification will take place. There will be no excuse for claiming sickness benefit.
Don’t think this is a new phenomena - history repeats itself endlessly. In 1990 I saw a letter from the DHSS asking a claimant to prove that he was still unable to work. Had he recovered from his injuries? This was no doubt a standard letter – a pity that nobody had checked – the claimant was a multiple amputee.
Now this is all well and good but where do we get the money from? Answer – take it from the poor. Those on low incomes don’t really need the 10% rate so we’ll do away with it. They won’t mind paying double! Problem solved.
Of course there’s still the matter of those on benefit. Can’t have it can we – the blind shall see, the lame shall walk and all will work full-time. This mantra shall we intone at number 10.
Only trouble is the financial gloom approaching. Greedy people in finance thought they would make a killing on US sub-primes. Huh! So that leaves the rest of us to clean up the mess. It’s likely that we will all suffer. A world-wide recession is a distinct possibility.
With this storm approaching what does Mr Brown and his cronies do – they look for scapegoats. Which groups in society can’t fight back? Which groups haven’t they had a go at lately? Well they’ve already hammered single parents and asylum seekers so it just has to be the sick and unemployed!
For the last 10 weeks I have been floundering at her majesty’s pleasure on the punishment system known as New Deal IAP (Intensive Activity Period). This farce purports to be giving me the skills and training necessary to get me a job. We are also promised Tax Credits to top up our income. So there will be no more unemployed? That’s about as likely as the Pope becoming a Muslim.
What it’s really all about is conning you – the taxpayer . Rumour has it that so-called ‘training’ companies like mine (who are registered charities) are getting around £360 a month for each impressed slave. For the over 25’s there is no requirement for any training whatsoever. The only compulsory activity is job-search. It’s a sham to massage the unemployment figures and provide a sop to the right-wing elements of New Labour and Tories alike.
After forcing those wicked, work-shy, layabouts into crummy McJobs on minimum wages the powers that be are turning their attention to the sick and disabled. Stricter tests will be gradually brought in. No doubt a lot of re-classification will take place. There will be no excuse for claiming sickness benefit.
Don’t think this is a new phenomena - history repeats itself endlessly. In 1990 I saw a letter from the DHSS asking a claimant to prove that he was still unable to work. Had he recovered from his injuries? This was no doubt a standard letter – a pity that nobody had checked – the claimant was a multiple amputee.
solidcopper # Sunday, April 13, 2008 4:57:21 AM
moonbear # Sunday, April 13, 2008 5:10:12 PM
I am a full-time carer for my husband, who has a complex range of disabilities. Despite being in constant pain, he took the brave and risky road back into the workplace, via self-employment. It's been an uphill struggle all the way. Disability Employment officers who are generally clueless - and often absent from their place of work; a full investigation into our 'business' by the Inland Revenue with immediate effect as soon as we 'signed-off,' to name two problems. We were sold a lie. We were assured many times that we would have the safety-net of tax credits whilst the business was being established, which didn't happen for some time. Our tax credits were withheld until a full inquiry had taken place (because we had undertaken an unusual line of work) - this trauma even before we'd earned one penny! We consulted the DEA at the Job Centre about some kind of crisis loan to tide us over during this time and were coldly informed that my as my husband had now signed-off, he was 'available for other work' and able to cope. Presumabley they now thought that he could be sent to the coal-face or something...
No reference to his disability and serious health condition, no compassion, nothing....
We starved until the tax credits came through - not easy when my husband also suffers diabetes....
Almost two years on, we're still struggling. We've had countless run-ins with the local authority about what counts as legitimate 'business expenses' for rent rebate, been initially turned-down for business insurance on his Motability vehicle (which is essential to continue working), and endless problems in accessing the so-called 'Access to Work' scheme!
The entire system counts against you if you are disabled and trying to be self-employed, particularly if you take-up something out of the norm.
As my husband's medical condition is so complex, he had to reinvent himself in order to develop something that worked. The pressure to become immediately financially viable is huge - and no-one can prepare you for the ruthless attitude of all the organisations involved. Before you take the plunge, there's a plethora of advice - but as soon as you sign along the dotted-line, the entire experience is akin to jumping from an aeroplane - without a parachute.
My advice to anyone disabled and considering self-employment: Unless you've got money under the bed and a very thick skin - DON'T.