There hasn't been a true Labour party in Government since 1979.
Since then we've had the Tories and Tories Lite.
Bring back a Socialist labour party and I'll be happy. Until such time as that happens (if ever) then the closest we can get to my ideal is the Lib-Dems. yes it may be a wasted vote, but I cannot in all conscience vote for either Labour or Conservative. They are both too far Right for my sensibilities.
Why do people get so uptight about people claiming benefits?
The simple fact of the matters is that these people are entitled by law to the benefits they are claiming otherwise they wouldn't be getting them.
So why, over time, has something which all of us are entitled to should we meet the requirements become and excuse to be called a sponger or someone that is forced into a situation that probably isn't best for them?
State benefits for the entitled are one of the things that sets us apart from most other countries (and I mean that in a good way).
Why must the right wing always be moaning about the cost of benefits paid out when the Government wastes far more money on other things that don't really benefit us as people. Trident missiles anyone? Bailing out incompetent banks. Lending money to countries who obviously will never be able to pay it back.
I wonder how many people could have benefited from the money spent on the Millenium Dome, or Blair's pied de terre?
People should always come first, something the Right always seem to forget.
If I had to choose from two options, neither of which are real chocolate, I'm afraid I'd have to choose Galaxy.
It also seems to me that the politicians who go on about work shy mothers and the 'fact' that they need to go back to "work" are forgetting one very important point...
Looking after a kid IS a job. It's an unpaid, very difficult and most of the time, untrained job.
When we had our first child I worked and the ex-wife stayed at home looking after her until she was of an age where the wife could go back to work.
When our second child arrived I was out of work due to injury so I looked after our youngest whilst the wife worked.
The end result is that I've seen it from both sides, so know just how much work it is to bring a kid up. No mum (or dad) bringing up a kid single-handed should ever be called "work shy". They may well be doing a shite job, but it's still a job nonetheless.
Personally it would have been...
1) "Of course dear, you go and lie down"
2) Leave presents in middle of floor.
3) Go do something else far more interesting and involving.
4) When the missus wakes up direct her to the presents with the accompanying speech "I left them for you dear, you are so much better at this than me".
5) Return to the interesting task you had to pause doing when she woke up.
6) Job's a good 'un. She feels superior, you didn't have to wrap them and you got an hours peace and did something you actually enjoyed doing.
If they want mums to go back to work perhaps they should put their money where their mouths are and start getting some Government subsidised (and compulsory) crèche facilities in all firms (with above a certain number of employees).
Half the time mums don't go back to work is because there is no affordable child care available (in some cases no child care full stop).
