Hard Times

It's well over a week since I read a letter in the paper.
And I can't get it out of my mind.

The heading was 'I fear the winter and hope for nothing'. It was written by an ordinary working class bloke who had a heart attack in the same week as his wife. They are unable to work and have become poor.

Although they have been told it is essential for them to keep warm they can't afford the fuel. Neither can they afford fresh fruit nor many other healthy foods that we take for granted.

The full letter is here.

On the following day there was a reply from someone who lived here:

[Ed: That's the third time you've used this picture]

It said .... "While the middle classes worry about the value of their properties and how much petrol costs, people like the letter writer struggle for their very existence. I felt the anger rise in my chest as I read, because nothing sums up the state of this country better". ...

I also feel angry and want to do something for this family and others like them.
I could send a cheque - but they wouldn't want that because it would be charity.

Why can't my taxes be used to keep them warm and well fed?

I don't want my taxes to be used:

X: for Bombing civilians

X: for Flying worthless princes to stag nights

X: for Paying MP's expenses


X: or for Encouraging rampant pensioners to go gallivanting up and down from Land's End to John O'Groats and paying not one single penny.

I want to help people who are cold and poor and ill or need to care for sick children or relatives.

If Gordon really needs more tax to care for us all let him take it from those who can afford it - me included.


And I shall slap the next person who says " I'm not really interested in politics".

KAZ