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"This is just the latest idea for raiding social security given the inability of the two main parties to address wider inequalities, under-taxation of the wealthier (including the lax terms attached to the bank bailouts).
It becomes easier to promote the idea that welfare is wasted (and thus a fair target for a raid) when there has been continual negative coverage of benefit claimants and benefit/poverty issues, in no small part encouraged by government ministers and the language they use("languishing", "dependency", "play by the rules" etc).
However, what is a more immediate and serious threat is the Green Paper on Social Care and the proposed transfer of AA/DLA. Given the importance of these to claimants' incomes and also to the work of welfare rights advisers, people should be hopping mad. But so far there seem to be few signs of opposition".
Following on the above from Neil well argued points; which i've copied and posted from another discussion area. The emphasis being on Neil's last paragraph specifically about DLA/AA and lets face it Disability's hardly a life style choice (none of us are immune to it) and is synonmous with poverty.
This is thinking out aloud as a lowly mere local authority welf temp but for me in terms of lobbying the AA/DLA implied abolition.
Its arguable the above is a single moral lobbying issue that should and could unite disparate groups with very different interests e.g. apolitical or otherwise.
I would like to see for example the leadership of NACAB, CPAG/ DA/ NAWRA, Age Concern (and other older persons groups), Shelter, MIND etc etc and so on and so forth should start communicating with one another immediately and work together actually showing some leadership, guts and and being vociferous in public and speaking out against this, and actively and energetically engaging with other potentially supportive groups e.g. Health and Care groups/orgs/professionals Church figures and groups, politicans, Unions, journalists etc etc to create an umbrella alliance and lobby the Govt (and the Govt in waiting) aggressively over this issue, as do the Roads lobby, Media moguls and big business to achieve their aims.
In case the above seems a bit like revolutionary socialism, its alright don't worry, i'm only a fluffy Green (in common with Edward Heath (nationalised British Aerospace) and patrician noblesse oblige Harold MacMillan who was critical about his fellow party members "selling of the family silver") i just think the former public utilitilies should be owned by the state for expedient reasons).
The serious point further to Neil's arguments, is this that this single social issue transcends age, gender, ethnicity, in work and out of work,religion and political affiliation (excluding neo-liberals and supine party hacks) etc etc and will impoverish further some of the most economically disadvantaged people in our communities.
So passivity from the likes of the Harker's, Greens et al in dealing with the Govt won't work, exposing the selfishness, the injustice and shaming in public this Govt might just work, but it needs them to create a rainbow coalition and actually raise awareness of the implications of the Govt's intentions for all of us in the community.
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