To: Iain Duncan Smith
The disabled deserve their dignity!
Dear Mr Smith,
Isn't it about time that you began to seriously listen to groups and organizations who are highlighting the current desperate plight of disabled people in Britain. The rhetoric that is oft implied of the 'malingering millions', or the 'deserving poor' are Victorian in origin, and have no place in our civilized society. It has turned a group of people, who already have an uphill struggle to be a part of life, and who are often in the poorest 10% of the population, in to a target where disabled people are abused on the streets, forced to move from their homes, and in some well documented cases come to the conclusion that life would run much more smoothly if they weren't there at all.
Why is this important?
I myself know how easy it is in the current climate what it is like to begin thinking that life really would be much more tolerable if it were just to stop! It's worrying when you suddenly realize that for the past 20 minutes you've been trying to think of reasons why your daughter would be better off without you! Why you might ask, does someone find themselves in this position? With the continual attack on disabled people, with the catastrophic changes to the benefit system, on which the majority of disabled people merely exist, the rhetoric staining disabled people as malingerers, or liars have all filtered through and have radically changed societies views, encouraging abuse and attacks on the very people who are least able to protect themselves. Of course, this is all being done under the auspices of saving money, and cutting expenditure, after the financial collapse of the banking system. Isn't it time to inject a little compassion in to the debate and begin to put right some of the damage you have inflicted upon those whom look to you for leadership ?
