I would be very interested in what conservative voters think on these questions. I know some good people that are conservative, and I am struggling to understand the thinking.
- What do you think are society’s obligations to the poor, the sick and the disadvantaged?
- Do you think that current cuts will impact the above? If yes, is it unavoidable? If no, why not?
- At what point is the cut off point beyond which a person should not get any help?
- Do you believe that state has any role in this help, or should it all be personal generosity?
- What do you think should happen if personal generosity does not cover required help?
Anyone that does not feel comfortable answering in a comment is welcome to contact me by email if you know my address or via the contact page shown on the top right.
I sense this is intended to kick start an argument, so will remain silent…
I really do want to know what you think! Please, if nothing else, email me your answers. I’m not going to argue with you personally.
Ok, at serious personal risk of flaming…
- What do you think are society’s obligations to the poor, the sick and the disadvantaged?
Depends how you define society, but I think as human beings we have an obligation to care for the poor, the sick and the disadvantaged.
- Do you think that current cuts will impact the above? If yes, is it unavoidable? If no, why not?
I’m assuming you don’t mean my opinion!? Yes there will inevitably be an impact on the poor, the sick and the disadvantaged - the cuts will affect everyone, including those groups. It’s not something that anyone would do happily, but I do think it is unavoidable.
- At what point is the cut off point beyond which a person should not get any help?
That’s a tough one, I am not an economist! For me it’s important that work is more rewarding than staying on benefits, and that people are given help to get back into work. Those that can work should. There are those who are legitimately unable to work, and they should be protected.
Do you believe that state has any role in this help, or should it all be personal generosity?
I don’t think that personal generosity will ever cover the need, and of course there should be state help. I think that there is a role for charities and for personal generosity, but I don’t think that enough people in the UK (or anywhere!) are that socially minded. Charities on a local scale are exceptionally effective in giving aid - for example one charity in which I am involved in collects and distributes food in the local area and is so effective that the local council refer people. Similarly the local YMCA is very effective. I suppose this is “personal generosity” in some sense.
What do you think should happen if personal generosity does not cover required help?
I think I’ve just covered that…
I think there’s a lot of caricaturisation in politics - it’s too tempting to assume that because someone votes Tory, LibDem or Labour that their politics must be directly aligned to those parties - I think the reality is a lot less black and white.
I know that the readership of your blog may well disagree with me, but I want to say now that I won’t respond to personal attacks!
Thank you for responding. Don’t worry, I’ll be deleting any flames in the comments.
“I know some good people that are conservative, and I am struggling to understand the thinking.” - while I didn’t vote conservative, I would imagine at least part of the thinking is that there is no “Reopen nominations” box in UK elections, so to make your voice heard you may have to vote for a party which you don’t 100% agree with. In many areas the LibDems can’t win, and labour got our country to the point where they had to say “sorry, there’s no money left”.
Even a hardcore socialist (I’m not one of those either!) might wake up to realise that socialist policies cannot be advanced by making the country bankrupt.
Cheers,
David.
1. What do you think are society’s obligations to the poor, the sick and the disadvantaged?
The sick and the disadvantaged should be given societies full support. Poor people however should not - i am not trying to be offensive here but most poor people are poor for a reason - mostly due to the fact that they dont work hard (or at all in some cases), or they spend all their money. So why should these people deserve societys support? If they themselves dont and never would support society?
2. Do you think that current cuts will impact the above? If yes, is it unavoidable? If no, why not?
Yes the cuts will effect everyone, not just the above but even the rich and the upper classes. A countrys driving force is its working and middle class, but the rich are those who organise and run the big buisnesses, if the people are suffering then the they suffers aswell. As for whether or not its is unavoidable, i wouldnt say it is, but this is the best way to deal with the crisis, we are drastically lagging behind the rest of the world at the moment and we need to get out of this crisis.
3. At what point is the cut off point beyond which a person should not get any help?
People who have the oppertunity to work and support society but choose not to, should not recieve societies support - how is it fair that people work hard to support those who dont?
4. Do you believe that state has any role in this help, or should it all be personal generosity?
Both the state and personal generosity should provide help to those who genuinly need it only - not to those who dont deserve it or need it.
5. What do you think should happen if personal generosity does not cover required help?
If people are not willing to genorusly support other members of thier society - it generally means that those people who ask for it dont really deserve it or dont really need it.
Thank you for your response.
One more question - given that there are approximately half a million job vacancies, most not full time, and there are some nine and a half million unemployed, what do you think the nine million that cannot get a job should do? They are poor for a reason - the reason being that there are no jobs.
I understand the point your making, and i will admitt than even when times are going well - there will always be poor people who dont deserve to be, and they need to be supported. The real issue that annoys me, is the ammount of support they recieve. I know a family that have not worked in 2 generation - actually have a better standard of living than most people who actually earn thier living. If your not working you should have enought to live on and have a few comforts - and that is it!!