Don't believe all that you hear . . . Welfare myths.

Brought to you from Steve Lord, via Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/steve.lord2/posts/10150510062908843


Don't believe all that you hear . . . . . Welfare Myths:


Myth 1: "Benefit claimants are idlers and parasites." Wrong.


             The majority of those who claim benefits are in work, 
             including nearly 90% of those who claim housing benefits.


Myth 2: "Unemployment is a lifestyle choice for those who wish 
             to live comfortably without working." Wrong.


             Firstly, there are between 4 and 5 million people looking for 
             work, but only half a million job vacancies. 


             Secondly, only 5,000 people, 0.017% of a UK workforce of 
             30 million, have been claiming Jobseekers Allowance for more 
             than 5 years. And,


             Thirdly, according to the CBAG, after housing costs have 
             been deducted, the UK poverty threshold is £124 for a 
             single person with no children, £214 for a couple with no 
             children, and £348 for a couple with two children. 
             JSA amounts to £67 per week for a single person with no 
             children, £106 per week for a couple with no children. A 
             couple with two children would receive an extra £34 per 
             week in child benefit, and a maximum of £109 per week 
             in child tax credit - a total of £249, and nearly £100 below 
             the poverty level.


Myth 3: "The massive welfare bill is crippling the economy and 
             needs to be cut." Wrong.

             But in 1997 welfare spending as a % of GDP was 7.76%. 
             In 2010 it was 7.26%. And unemployment benefits in the 
             UK are among the lowest in Europe, having fallen from 17% 
             of average earnings in 1976 to 10% in 2011. 


             As for the proposed Housing Benefit cap, this will save £290 
             million per year, a minuscule 0.5% of the £53 billion per 
             year in welfare payments given to those in the top half of 
             the income scale. 


Myth 4: "The UK is being bankrupted by benefit fraud." 
             More Nonsense.


             Benefit fraud has been declining for years and now 
             accounts for less than 0.5% of the welfare budget 
             (£1.1 billion). Compare this to the £16 billion of 
             benefits which go unclaimed every year to the annual 
             £20 billion-plus which is lost through tax avoidance 
             and evasion.


Myth 5: "Welfare saps the will to work." 

             In which case, how come post-war employment was 
             at its lowest in the 1950's, when unemployment 
             benefits were at their highest in relation to pay?

The Wretch[ed], or Les Misérable

Today we want to tell the truth,

a truth that you want quickly buried.

Your treatment of us is no good,

as if we have no rights or merit.

The poor, the sick, the troubled minds,

are blamed for all this country’s problems.

We have to live a life of shame,

because we need a means to live by.

We didn’t bring our illness on,

and yet we’re blamed as if we did do.

We want to live without this shame,

but how can we with all your false truths?

 Why is it not for us to say,

what needs we have, and how to meet them?

Why do you say things every day,

as if you have the right to do so?

We want to know what we’ve done wrong,

to have such vile and hurtful things said?

Why could the state not be more strong,

and blame the ones that really did this?

You need to change what you have done -

a country’s strength is in it’s people.

The poor, the sick, the troubled minds,

have not deserved this wrongful treatment.

The way we live needs turning round,

so we don’t need to fear tomorrow.

We need to stand on solid ground,

and not be blamed for what the banks do!

(To be sung to the music of 'I dreamed a dream')