Letters - 30 August 2013
From lone parents to death notices
The Lone Parent Trap
The Fox Report (16 August) gave a shocking insight into the daily humiliation and fear experienced by many lone parents claiming benefits.
The assumptions underlying Jobseekers’ Allowance are that there are secure jobs, which would pay a living wage, and that claimants must be compelled to apply for them. I believe these assumptions are largely wrong. Compelling claimants to spend their time making large numbers of job applications, most of which are simply a hopeless box-ticking exercise done solely to avoid sanctions, is soul-destroying. It’s degrading and harmful to their wellbeing and their essential role as parents.
A better system, surely, would be to provide a Citizens Basic Income (CBI) to everyone, rich and poor. This was the subject of Annie Miller’s special interest group at Britain Yearly Meeting 2013. Annie, a retired economist, has costed a model CBI scheme, which would replace benefits, paid for by fairly small adjustments to taxation.
People of working age would receive a lower rate than retired people and those unable to work due to disability. It would normally be supplemented by work and would enable people to accept part-time and temporary work, when available. People would also be able to put their energy into voluntary work, which would be of benefit to their communities and contribute to David Cameron’s ‘Big Society’.
Restoring dignity to claimants and enabling them to make a contribution would benefit them, their children and the whole of society.
Wendy Pattinson
Syria
If Britain hopes to save lives and reduce suffering in Syria, are there any military options, at all, that do not make the region’s problems worse?
Whichever of the opposing factions (in Syria and elsewhere) perceives that it ‘lost’ or at least ‘didn’t win’ are likely to blame any ‘outsider forces’ that become involved and who will, then, become regarded as ‘enemies’ for decades. Entrenched enmities hinder efforts of negotiators and conciliators.
British action should be to support and succour refugees, from either side, while they cannot return home. There should be no other intervention.
Tony Osborn
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