A Post Office spokesperson said (words to the effect – I can’t be bothered to dig out yesterday’s paper from the bin to reproduce the statement word for word) “We do not believe there is a general problem of affordability. However, these are difficult times for families. Large corporations have a duty to mitigate the effect our actions have upon customers”
Quite so. So let’s get this right. Those people who are about to receive a nice 5.2% increase on their unearned income benefit from that munificence. Those who work but who may have considerably lower disposable income than the “poor” (and many of whom have seen no increase in their income for a couple of years) must pay the full whack to send their Christmas cards. So, apparently, only families on benefits are suffering “difficult times” – or at least difficult enough to require discounted postage. Whatever next? Means tested potatoes at Tesco’s?
The UK is fast developing into a two-tier administration. Taxpayers pay ever higher levels of tax and pay increasingly high (full) prices for goods and services. Many benefit recipients pay no taxes, are provided in many cases with free housing (most people’s biggest expense), are sheltered against the effects of inflation and receive an increasing number of free or discounted services not available to those at work. Disregarding the practicalities of implementing the scheme, this latest idea is a disgrace and an insult to genuinely struggling but hard working families.
Today I read of a couple of quotes. From the Prime Minister:
“Britain will never again put up with families ‘languishing on the dole and dependency’ after an overhaul of the benefit system"
“Working people could rest assured that they would be better off than those who spend their life on benefits.”
I’ve just seen a squadron of pigs flying over my allotment.