LET'S NOT SQUEEZE THE NUTS OF THE VULNERABLE

Now here’s an interesting article:

“Beneficiary with children had benefit cut by half for seven months” [STACY KIRK, stuff.co.nz]

Hmmm.  And here’s another:

“Christchurch tetraplegic man disgusted after benefit slashed without warning” [CATE BROUGHTON, stuff.co.nz]

Oh, whoops, and here’s another:

“Marriage to US pensioner cuts Kiwi's pension to $80 a week” [CATE BROUGHTON, stuff.co.nz]

You’re seeing the picture about now I guess.  You have to wonder, why are so many of these stories hitting the New Zealand news right now?  Well, this is Election Year 2017 here in New Zealand, and we go to the polls on 23 September.  So, the main reason these stories are hitting the news now IMHO, is that the opposition Labour Party are using such stories as electioneering.  It’s a little cynical, but frankly, this current right-wing government in New Zealand needs to be severely taken to task on this issue.

And the issue is this: there are vulnerable people in this country who are not being given the help that they need.  The issue is real, and it is not confined to the people referred to in the articles above.  My own experience was entirely consistent with that.  

Now, the “Comments” sections in these stuff.co.nz articles are always fascinating reading.  These are comments that readers can add to the foot of the article, and multiple comments can build up quite an interesting debate.  Of course, there are a few comments from ill-informed, right-wing hacks that decry the radicals.  These hacks say that the issue of benefit cuts is NOT an election issue, and it is to do with our benefits department, WINZ (Work & Income New Zealand), only.

Oh, but it is an election issue.  And here’s why.

It’s fair to say that the culture and policy at WINZ is defined by the government of the day.  And these stories, above, show that there is currently a culture and a policy of trying to scrimp money off our most vulnerable people.  As you can deduce from the articles, the problem is systemic, when previously it was not under the Helen Clark Labour government.  Therefore, it is – at the very least – recent government policy.  So, the logic is that this current National Party, right-wing, heartless government is trying to claw back money from those who need it most.  So, rather than raise the tax rate at the higher income level, it is preferable for this government to target the vulnerable instead.   

All because the rich don’t like paying tax.

It would perhaps be justifiable – if immoral – were the National Party to be honest about the current policy at WINZ: “Well, our rich friends and sponsors – the ones who really support us, not the moaning, middle-class mortgage whores – want us to reduce their tax burden.  Rather than spend money on those who need it, we’re trying to rape and pillage every penny we can from social services, so we don’t have to raise income tax on our wealthy mates.”

But no, instead we see this spin from John Key; “… you can measure a society by how it looks after its most vulnerable”.  John Key was our previous Prime Minister who resigned suddenly, left to holiday in Hawaii and gifted Bill "Dull" English the leadership.

From what you can gauge in the articles above, Key's words are in complete contrast to what his government has ACTUALLY been doing over the last nine years, since those utterances.  Make no mistake; just because Dull English has taken over the reigns, that attitude and policy towards beneficiaries was formulated under Key and continues under English.

Call me old-fashioned, but I thought the definition of a civilised society is that the Haves look after the Have-Nots.  A civilised society does not demonise the vulnerable and deny help to the needy, as this right-wing government constantly does.

All because the rich don’t like paying tax.

Remember, remember, 23^rd September; you have a choice, New Zealand.  You can continue to vote for a party that squeezes the nuts of the vulnerable.  You can continue to vote for a party that is morally bankrupt.  Or not.

FURTHER READING:

"Under the line: Impact of poverty on children's health" [SAMANTHA GEE,  stuff.co.nz]

"Cristiano Ronaldo appears in court on tax charges" [Richard Conway, BBC Sports News]

"The (not so) wonderful world of WINZ" [CLAIRE BROWN,  stuff.co.nz]

"New Zealand's welfare system is no longer a functioning system, experts claim" [JOHN EDENS,  stuff.co.nz]

John Key  “you can measure a society by how it looks after its most vulnerable”.

https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/john-keys-first-speech-national-party-leader

SOCIETY BENEFITS

Now here’s an interesting article;

 

“Canterbury's mental health funding to be cut” [ASHLEIGH STEWART, stuff.co.nz, 16  February 2016]

And here’s another  . ..

“11,000 disabled children lose welfare benefit” [NZ Herald, 19 March 2015]

Aaaannnd another  . . .

“Benefits cut for 13,000 parents in new regime” [Simon Collins, NZ Herald], 23 October 2013]

Starting to see a pattern?

I had the misfortune to have to go to a Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ) office recently to secure a particular allowance for someone.  I have to add that this was only because I was thrown off the phone by WINZ’s automatic phone system that didn’t have enough capacity for its “customers”;

“I’m sorry, but our lines are all busy.  Please try again later …  [beep, beep, beep]”

So I’m at the WINZ reception desk, and I go to hand in a form that is signed by a doctor and another relevant health professional.

Receptionist; “Have you been with us before?"

Me; “Me? Yes, but not for many years.”

Receptionist; “Then you need to fill in this form and make an appointment.”

Me; “Why?”

Receptionist; “Because you’re applying for ‘Extra Help.’”

So I had brought in, what I thought was, a simple two-page form completed and signed by a GP and another health professional.  That wasn’t enough.  A 28-page form (yes, honest - 28 pages!) was thrust in my hand and I was told to go away and come back another day.  I’m not even going to start on why the quake-traumatised person's allowance I was advocating for should have been easy.  It wasn’t.  It's suffice to say that eight years of a right-wing, National government were in absolute clarity at that moment.

I felt sick, heavy and dizzy.  Everything slowed down . . .

I took a deep breath, held it for a moment, then breathed out slowly and looked around at the “customers” in that office.   I didn’t see any stereotypical scruffy dole dodgers with their tin cups out to beg.  No drug addicts, drunks or half-starved dogs. The people in there were all quite smart, respectable and the place was deathly quiet.  The one unifying factor that all the visitors had, was the same look.  In fact, a lot of people in Christchurch have that look now.  All the visitors in that WINZ office had the look; stressed, tired and “I don’t really want to be here.”

Eight years of a National government, and benefits – any benefit – are extremely difficult to secure.  Eight years of a National government, and you have jump through hoops to receive what you’re actually entitled to.  But of course, eight years of a National government has made “entitlement” a swear word, hasn’t it?  The greed of the National Party's sponsors and supporters have ensured that every drop of social service is squeezed to alleviate the government's screaming debt crisis.  I mean, God-forbid we raise income tax at the higher end to maintain a civilised society,  right?

You know, as I stood in the queue and looked around, I didn’t see any bludgers.  Next time you're passing a WINZ office, go in and have a look yourself. Spend some time in there and take in what you see.  

See what I saw.  

I saw a lot of vulnerable, desperate people, asking for help.  

But they weren’t getting it.

All because the rich don’t like paying tax.