“Early Bird Passes For The Elderly To Be scrapped”, bleat the Hull Daily Mail, replete with the statutory Old Dear looking forlornly into the distance.
A gimme story for a, let’s face it downmarket tabloid which is what the HDM really is.
But, as ever the devil is in the detail.
Tory run East Riding of Yorkshire will save £220,000 by not allowing concessionary pass holders access the Public transport before 9.30am. Fine and dandy as retired people can jolly well wait, as they have nothing important to do. What’s the problem?
The “problem” is this. I in 5 pass holders are working disabled people. A group that are disproportionately low wage earners who are now expected to fork out an extra £8 a week just to get into work.
“Ah, isn’t that why they the Disability Living allowance?” Er, no. That’s to help with day-to-day issues such as cooking, cleaning, gardening and the such like, which we are unable to do ourselves. And yes, as my physio pointed out, it’s to pay for a takeaway when you have been busting your ass all day try and lead a “normal” productive life, and you are just to knackered to cook.
The story in the HDM is a classic divide and rule tactic. Get the disabled cross with well of pensioners instead of the Council and the mean minded poisonous ConDem Coalition.
For me? This means if, God forbid I have a hospital appointment before half ten, two quid please! If I want to go to Samaritans to do a shift, either they or I pay, and prison visits similarly are going to be charged more to cover costs. Brilliant.
But please do remember chums; we are all in this together.
Once again, as if we should be surprised, the poor and vulnerable are made to carry the can for the mess left by the Bankers and fat cat capitalists.
And people wonder why some of us hate the Tories with such venom?
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