A letter i got from David Cameron

Replies

By Alice

Re: A letter i got from David Cameron
Wed 16 Jan 2008 07:36

I have been carer for 40 years, nothing much has changed,
like all politicians Mr C is talking rubbish. !!

By morello

Re: A letter i got from David Cameron
Wed 16 Jan 2008 10:49

Placating or trying to, they are all full of c---, give me a politician who says he wil help and actually says what he or she will do and does it, then you have a miracle.As I have said before we can all spout this and nothing is done. Could he live on CA and all the overlapping benefits, whichs means we get practically nothing. I doubt it very much and we all know that. Patronising is another word that springs to mind. They are all the same
Mo

By angelica

Re: A letter i got from David Cameron
Wed 16 Jan 2008 14:41

I agree with Mo - they are all the same. Re: "We must ensure all carers are informed of the benefits and support they could be receiving." He's not promising any extra money is he. . Yes we know that it's important to inform carers about the benefits they are entitled to. That could easily be solved by a national advertising campaign (which they wouldn't do in case it created too much demand) BUT when will they acknowledge that even when you've got all the benefits you're entitled to the chances are you are still poor. I don't smoke or drink, I've had only 4 or 5 holidays in the last 18 yrs of being a 24/7 carer for my husband ( and then off season caravan ones in this country with my husband and friends to share the cost.) and my social; life consists of work, cups of coffee with friends and a night class. I'm also working part time and clearing about £35 quid more than I would if on income support and I'm still really worried about this year's heating bill. The part of my husband's brain that controls body temperature is damaged so we have loads of heating on especially the last couple of months. Because he has mobility problems I can't pile on too many clothes or bed clothes. And I'm sure loads of us have extra expenses caused by having to deal with disability.
Both Gordon Brown and David Cameron have disabled children and I'm not underestimating the emotional imact of this but having to cope with all that plus inadequate respite and worrying about bills is something else!!!!

By angelica

Re: A letter i got from David Cameron
Wed 16 Jan 2008 15:10

And another thing.. My roof's leaking. I lay awake the night before last listening to the rain dripping on the ceiling!! Now I've got to find the money to get that fixed!! Perhaps we should all e-mail Messrs Cameron and Brown. If nothing else it'll keep their staff busy.
Sorry for going on it's one of those days..

By morello

Re: A letter i got from David Cameron
Thu 17 Jan 2008 10:38

Angelica, I know that feeling only too well. I have been weighing up the pros and cons of my house insurance,what should be a necessity in your own home, as if I lived in a council house, my rent would be paid and no worries about repairs. In your own house it is another constant struggle and worry. I have a house where half the electric wiring doesnt work, and certainly cant afford a rewire or even to call out an electrician. I pray it doesnt all go, as apart from hot water, my tv is my only companion. You know it gets bad when all you have to say goodnight to is the news reader LOL. There should be some help to home owners instead we are penalised and soon will have to sell up and then they will have to house us and get no rent. More waste of money on their behalf I would say. I am just glad I am on the way out of this world and not coming into it, I have had enough.
Mo

By laptopbob

Re: A letter i got from David Cameron
Thu 17 Jan 2008 10:56

All this from a bloke who should know better - but then he's got money and doesn't feel the pain - thinks he does - but.....

I reiterate:

Would it not be fitting for politicians to undergo an apprenticeship of 4years, living in the worst street of their constituency, living on the minimum wage, subject to the local economy and the local health service.
I feel then we may get some sensible decisions that the majority wish to see.

Some politicians from those humble beginnings have forgotten their past?

By angelica

Re: A letter i got from David Cameron
Fri 18 Jan 2008 09:45

It's not so much that they've forgotten their past. It's that they think they've got where they are today on their own merits and therefore deserve the rewards. That's the problem with a meritocracy it assumes that we all have the same ladder of opportunity which of course is totally not true.What did Neil Kinnock say; "Don't get old, don't be sick..." and it's as true under New Labour as it was the Tories.
MPs are thinking of awarding themeselves a £6000 pay rise at the moment. That's on top of the £60,000 and the £20,000 expenses they already receive (and they can claim up to £250 a month without submitting receipts - how corrupt is that!!). The whole pay structure of this society is wrong. It doesn't reflect the contribution people make.
The bit that gets me is the you're all unsung heroes, we owe you an immense debt, we recognise your huge contribution to society patronising rubbish they spout. I know that all us carers are made of sugar and spice and all things nice, we can live on fresh air and are so practical we can patch up our houses and cook a brilliant three course meal on a pittance, and that's with only three hours sleep a night but honestly......How do they justify a pay rise that is more than our whole income??
Anyway I'm off now to polish my halo
Love and peace (it doesn't cost anything!)
Angelica

By lizzie_T

Re: A letter i got from David Cameron
Fri 18 Jan 2008 22:05

Oh boy! Perhaps Max Hastings writes his letters for him. What a load of old coddswallop comes out of mouths nowadays. Who do they think is going to pay for all that lovely help for carers? I did not get a reply so you did better than me. I found out that I was right about the elderly and/or their families were pushed into selling homes below value for inheritance tax avoidance so I wrote to DC also. I also wrote to the govenment departments. The following week the minimum was raised to £500,000 so that has helped because I have been told that Social Services are repossessing less homes. That of course has nothing to do with caring on the face of it, but when you think about it, it looms pretty large.
In stage two of our complaints precedure the County have had to admit to the inquirey that they were wrong to refuse us direct payments, carer's assessment - though actually we are both disabled, though my husband is elderly, I have the lefe threatening conditions which they refuse to accept despite our GP. I wonder how many other people are in a position to make an official complaint? Not many. Only the difference in our ages has made it possible - and the fact that the County Council sent all our Social Service notes through the post - 300 pages of the most awful stuff you could immagine - and we have that on our side too.
The fact is that no Government can provide it all. It is something that homeowners - elderly - have better value in their homes with the change in IHT. Nor will any Government admit that unemployment is neccessary to stop too much money leaving the country in cheap imports and foreign holidays. I learned that years ago when I was studying accounting and bookeeping which included such things. I never thought I would say this, but I do believe that we will have to accept that taxes will have to go up so that these services can be put in place. I say that because I think almost everyone will at some time need the services. I do not think it has anything to do with immigration either. Those who are working are paying the NI and taxes, apart from those of course who do not declare it. We have already seen that the '60's children had huge classes, few university places, and even fewer jobs; they also faced the prospect of having to settle for 1 or 2 year contracts when they left school in the 1980's to avoid the new ''you cannot sack people after 2 years'' policy. So now we will see forty=plus people who have not been able to work to save, nor have pensionable jobs. Strangely enough, the wealthy and the MP's who say they will give up their bonuses, high pensions etc, will make the problem worse in some respects because of course the Government grabs back more than half of their income. They claw back more from one rich person than a milion minimum wage earners, so even that will not help the situation. Things only get better when those in charge start to experience what we are going through.