Mr Ed (The Stables)
Well-Known Member
What an eye opener that was.
Four years after the end of WW2 with obviously loads of ex-soldiers incapacitated due to the effects of war, we see the formation of the Welfare State in the UK.
So fast forward to 2013 and 3 people with differing circumstances agree to appear and be judged under 1949 rules:
01 A pensioner and widower aged 75 who has worked all his life and ends up having to pawn his Grand fathers watch to survive, only to find he then has to go into a residential home and I assume give up his house.
02 A young lad suffering from Spina Bifiida who has not made any NI contributions, confined to a wheel chair and consequently is told he doesn't qualify for any benefit because of that, ie no National Insurance Contibutions.
However because he's willing to undertake any work, he gets some decent brass from the 1949 system. He then goes on a work placement and ultimately gets the offer of a real job which he has never had before.
03 A middle aged woman who has worked for 20 odd years, who has paid National Insurance contributions. She has everything wrong with her, bad back, bad neck, bad shoulder, arthritis etc (although nothing visible). Although her diabetes, arthritis in her joints must be visible.
By 2013 standards she's unfit for work, by 1949 standards she's fit for light work which she refuses to do.
So sat here in 2013 with the country in an economic mess. What do we do as a compassionate society?
A hard question to answer because we are in a different age and I believe we do have a duty of care to our elders, and those that find themselves on the lowest spoke of fortunes wheel.
However the 1949 rule which states you can only draw out if you've paid in provides food for thought imo, especially with the immigration issue.
What do you think?
Four years after the end of WW2 with obviously loads of ex-soldiers incapacitated due to the effects of war, we see the formation of the Welfare State in the UK.
So fast forward to 2013 and 3 people with differing circumstances agree to appear and be judged under 1949 rules:
01 A pensioner and widower aged 75 who has worked all his life and ends up having to pawn his Grand fathers watch to survive, only to find he then has to go into a residential home and I assume give up his house.
02 A young lad suffering from Spina Bifiida who has not made any NI contributions, confined to a wheel chair and consequently is told he doesn't qualify for any benefit because of that, ie no National Insurance Contibutions.
However because he's willing to undertake any work, he gets some decent brass from the 1949 system. He then goes on a work placement and ultimately gets the offer of a real job which he has never had before.
03 A middle aged woman who has worked for 20 odd years, who has paid National Insurance contributions. She has everything wrong with her, bad back, bad neck, bad shoulder, arthritis etc (although nothing visible). Although her diabetes, arthritis in her joints must be visible.
By 2013 standards she's unfit for work, by 1949 standards she's fit for light work which she refuses to do.
So sat here in 2013 with the country in an economic mess. What do we do as a compassionate society?
A hard question to answer because we are in a different age and I believe we do have a duty of care to our elders, and those that find themselves on the lowest spoke of fortunes wheel.
However the 1949 rule which states you can only draw out if you've paid in provides food for thought imo, especially with the immigration issue.
What do you think?