Welfare to Work policy 'casts the disabled as cheats' {UK}

[xchrom]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jul/24/welfare-policy-incites-hatred-disabled

The government's flagship Welfare to Work policy is inciting hatred and violence towards the disabled by portraying them as cheats and benefits scroungers, an alliance of charities has warned.

A drip-feed of statistics about claimants who have been denied benefits by the Department for Work and Pensions because they are deemed fit to work threatens the safety and quality of life of its members, says an alliance of 50 charities. The government is feeding a negative attitude towards people with disabilities, which, the charities warn, will ultimately end in violence.

The alliance has written an open letter to Iain Duncan Smith, the work and pensions secretary, after complaining that private warnings on the issue have gone unheeded. The charities say the government should instead be promoting the talents of those who no longer need to claim benefits. Alice Maynard, the chair of Scope, who is a wheelchair user, said: "We just feel it is too much now. It is becoming such a frequent occurrence, it is likely to have some very serious negative effects. I think in the end it ends up in violence."

She added that a hardening of attitudes meant she now "thought harder" about going out at night in London.

[ejpoeta]

1. yeah, that's just what they want... to be like us.

[Union Thug]

2. "they are deemed fit to work"

Translation - you will acquiesce to to the whim of employer regardless of your health or disability. You will accept low wages, no benefits and undignified working conditions with a grateful smile and a polite "thank you, sir." Now pull up your wheelchair, start yer stitchin' and quit yer bitching. We've got a sweatshop to run here!

[xchrom]

3. +1

[WingDinger]

4. We become the wolves. Chewing off the legs of a weaker pack member, so as to not slow the pack.