The number of disabled people in “absolute” poverty rose by 100,000 during the coalition’s second year in office, according to new figures obtained by Disability News Service (DNS). The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) published figures two weeks ago that showed the number of disabled people in “relative” poverty – those who are poor in comparison with the general population – fell by 100,000 in 2011-12.
Street Democracy writes: This is stating the yawningly obvious and it does question the intelligence and moral codes of our Governments conduct when you hear announcements like this. The average common citizen was complaining about poverty to the Tory Coalition Government. But democracy got deserted, and hopes of instituting an honest Government became remote as the days went by. An unscrupulous power based Government that shifted to the far right that even 1935 Berlin would have recognised the traits.
What is demonstrably true is the harsh brutal care the disabled soon began to receive. The codes of ethics that should be high on the list got scrapped, screwed up and thrown in some waste paper bin in Westminster. The shocking account of brutalising the disabled in such a humiliating manner, the long term sick who suffer enough each day, ruthlessly treated at the hands of ATOS. Government demonization and penalisation dominated the agenda as important monies were slashed in benefits, crushing the disabled the most poorest and most vulnerable, some to their death.
Reform is needed but there are ways of change, that don’t expose the sick, the ill, the disabled, certain members of the public to financial massacre. Poverty being the most silent of weapons ‘Bill Cooper’ that can break the spirit of even the most hardy. With economic books filled with sterile digits that cause financial devastation. The only sensible thing our Government could have done, was visit a disabled group, a disabled charity and ask. That is just too simple however, but riddled with common sense.
It should have been the disabled who designed work programs, and welfare payments, benefits for certain disabilities and so on. Not some over grown Etonite with no concept of poverty, if they touched on the subject it was back in grade 6. So far the Tory Coalition Government have produced a breeding ground of discrimination. A nation filled with broken people with misery and fear. Fear of extreme poverty, fear of rent arrears, fear of evictions. Fear is a monster by itself and can cause people to behave in ways they wouldn’t normally, like suicide.
We are still in shock, our Government needs to calm down and needs to reach out, after apologising most humbly. We are a great body of humanity, warm and peaceful citizens who just wish to live our lives without fear of debt. Democracy is our hearts and minds and we need to enforce this back into Westminster.
