Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

STATE DEPENDENCY

Maybe its my age (grumpy old man on the horizon), maybe I ve just had a bad run, or maybe I am right: that there is a growing band of people who still, after all the tough medicine of Thatcherism and the tidal wave of consumer-driven “me”-ism, still think that the state owes them a living. I am having to bite my lip more and more often at those who no matter how irresponsibly they have lived come to me to demand that the rest of us bail them out. I m pregnant again, get me a bigger house (partner? don t be daft); I have a twinge in my back, I couldn t possibly work; I’m a budding poet, why should I have to work for my benefits, I need space to create. (No, you just need space.)

When I think of the hard pressed families caring for disabled children 24/7 or those with chronic illness, or those suddenly made redundant or suffering tragedy, and the lack of adequate help they often receive, it makes my blood boil that there is a tiny but growing minority who are perfectly capable of standing on their own two feet, but who choose to come knocking on the door of state provision every five minutes.

The default position for all of us should be: I am responsible. Only if I can’t make it, or hit hard times, should I look to my fellow citizens for support.

I am totally committed to helping those in need and I do not mind paying my taxes for that. But it is assessing the “need” from the “want” that we don’t do very well. I want to know that anybody we help from the benefit system is trying their hardest. If they are, let them be helped and generously. If they are not, well come back when you are.

Above all, we need a system that knows the difference between the two. We don’t have that at the moment and an overhaul is needed.

There has never been so much money showered upon the British people as now. When the next recession hits, as it surely will at some stage, there is going to be a massive squeeze on public expenditure. We need a streamlined system that channels limited resources to those who really deserve it, not those who are having a laugh.

posted by Nigel on Monday, May 21, 2007