This has suddenly come into the news as a result of Banker’s bonus; elderly care and the recent riots and pillage, with all the outcry associated with topic of the week. Yet it has been a problem which has been steadily growing for many years, resulting from a general loss of morality and basic standards.
Since humans first started to group in tribes for mutual protection and strength, social responsibility has been an integral part as that grouping developed, this civilisation developed into today’s sophisticated society, but the basic reasons are being forgotten.
It is all being blurred with human rights displacing social rights, once straightforward when you offended or broke the rules you were driven out of the tribe, often killed or left to die. This slowly became inhuman; death penalties were abolished, rehabilitation was started with the criminal becoming more important than the victim.
Criminals by their own actions should lose all social and human rights, apart from basic needs, until they have earned re-instatement preferably by social work. This would eliminate compensation claims, immunity from deportation and all social benefits both financial and communal.
W e have descended into a society where Idealism reigns over Realism and the basics of social responsibility take second place; Community, Regional and even National aspects of society are lost in personal interest and global demands. There was a saying- “Charity begins at home”, which is still important today as ever.
A good example occurred this week on the Remploy fiasco, where disabled people are being expected to integrate into the normal workplace for which many are not suitable. From my own experience, with a disabled son, they need extra care and attention, many can cope and excel but the majority cannot cope with the stress, pressure and prejudice that occurs in competitive work.
The true economic facts have not been disclosed, even to those involved in local or regional areas, how much more is the cost per person than incapacity benefit and other disability costs and support, especially if they deteriorate due to inactivity on the dole. There is nothing wrong with specialised employment, particularly when successful.
This type of idealism occurs regularly now, which is OK as long as it is combined with common sense and good old fashioned sensitivity. People are no longer individuals but statistics to be disregarded or even discarded as the occasion or economics justify or appear desirable.
Our children cannot find jobs, our elderly and disabled are neglected, our students put into debt, the poorest poor are pandered at the cost to the lower paid workers; Money is God and to save costs, short term measures result in redundancies that cost the State more in the long term.
There appears to be no overall assessment of social requirements, their true cost and what is affordable; of course we are living beyond our means but what should those means be?, what is the real internal cost to the country?
How much can we afford to import?; how much expenditure abroad can we afford?, including charities and individual immigrant cash exports; what is the money circulation ratio and how far can we expand it.
These matters do not appear to be considered, we are more concerned with Commercial ratings, our global position, our reputation abroad than our balance of payments deficit. The successful countries today pay due regard to these factors and the more advanced look for a balanced welfare situation.
Of course this is a long way from my normal pension blog, but does affect pensioners, who are becoming an increasing part of vulnerable Society, dependent on charity and benefit, often against their will. A fair and well supported pension system, saving today for tomorrow could well avoid this situation becoming worse.
Annuities, Public Sector, NHS, Teachers, Police, Local Government, Hutton, State Pensions, Transport, Comment
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