This is my first ever blog. Please be gentle. On the other hand maybe no-one will read it. I don't mind - I just need an outlet that doesn't make my family and friends run for the hills screaming SHUT UP!
Now today's blog has 2 edges: my self imposed marginalisation, and the inane Legal Aid cuts announced yesterday by Mr 'I'm-the-Churchill-dog-understudy' Ken Clarke. One impacts on the other, and not in a good way.
This gentle, caring unelected government has announced that Legal Aid will be cut from those most in need. This includes debt, employment, welfare benefits, education and most of family law (including divorce and contact). In effect this means if you lose your well paid job and then try to claim benefits, can't keep up with your loan repayments, fall behind in your rent/mortgage, and your wife/husband leaves you for the fitness instructor, then it's all up to you to do something about it. Ken doesn't care if you're depressed/suicidal/disabled about it.
Given my job (solicitor for a social welfare charity), I am appalled and astounded by the deep tendon cuts that have been announced. I immediately search the media for equally appalled articles and editorials. Apart from the Guardian (which marvellously and intelligently covers every aspect), the media quite simply just. don't. care.
Why? Because insiduously (yes, yes I can't spell it, but I am 3 glasses in ) the media has relentlessly portrayed Legal Aid and its solicitors as fat cats on the inimitable gravy train. And it has worked. The 'general public' genuinely think that they will never need Legal Aid because it is for the scum of society who quite frankly don't deserve any rights. They got themselves into their mess, and they ought to get themselves out.
When did compassion and caring stop? Am I the archetypal softie leftie liberal? Am I wrong to think that those who have been lucky enough in society to have had a caring family, a good education, a good job and people who love us should lend a hand to those who haven't? When did we start stomping on those who haven't ever had a chance to have what we do?
This is where my self-imposed marginalisation starts - I don't WANT to be part of that society. I don't WANT to aspire to want and desire and need at the expense of others. And if I am wrong to not want that, then I will self marginalise. Rather ironically just like those that Ken and the rest of his ConDemNation wish to pretend don't exist.
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