asredastheycome
Well-known member
As a child, I always thought by the year 2020 we would have flying cars, etc. and everyone would want for nothing. Instead, this passage from A Christmas Carol, first published in 1843, seems more apt.
“Are there no prisons?” asked Scrooge.
“Plenty of prisons,” said the gentleman, laying down the pen again.
“And the Union workhouses?” demanded Scrooge. “Are they still in operation?”
“They are. Still,” returned the gentleman, “I wish I could say they were not.”
“The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?” said Scrooge.
“Both very busy, sir.”
“Oh! I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course,” said Scrooge. “I’m very glad to hear it.”
This is still happening with the Tories now just different terminology. Last night on Newsnight David Simmonds said the poor always have foodbanks in cases of emergency. The conversation was something like this abridged version.
Kirsty Wark.......A senior Tory told me whether you agree with the lockdown restrictions or not, they put people out of work, many people on minimum wage and they still have to feed their children
The boy Simmo replied.........As we heard from the Secretary of State at the dispatch box there are several resources available to people who find themselves in difficulty including Universal Credit which has been increased, money provided to help local authorities like my constituents, to provide emergency support. We heard about the support available in an emergency situation from food banks and other kinds of benefits available etc etc etc
I cannot believe that in this day and age a member of our Government is telling people to go to food banks. It is absolutely shameful.
Link: about 25.30 minutes in. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000npj3/newsnight-21102020