tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603704502574749096.post4180523093333437879..comments2023-11-04T21:13:46.108+00:00Comments on That Boarding School Girl: Thin linesJoanne Caroline Rhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08871608468524180344noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4603704502574749096.post-35133097225047699592014-01-11T19:13:46.730+00:002014-01-11T19:13:46.730+00:00Just as the politicians are apathetic to any kind ...Just as the politicians are apathetic to any kind of real debate on immigration, the media are also just as apathetic with both immigration and welfare - with the media repeating the allegations that immigrants come here in their thousands to claim benefits / take British jobs / oversaturate the housing market / fail to integrate with the rest of the local population; while a few outlets go the other way with pointing out the amount they contribute to taxation and they're doing jobs no Brits either can do or want to do. There's never any examination of both sides of the coin, a recognition it's a shade of grey rather than pure black or white.<br /><br />With welfare, you hear a lot in the media about "scroungers" (in reality the overpayment rate is about 2% - approximately equal parts deliberate fraud, failing to notify changes in circumstances that could affect the claim and DWP error) but not much about those who aren't playing the system and struggling to cope. There are ever increasing numbers of people using food banks - the government claims this is merely because more food banks have opened and nothing whatsoever to do with their policies (which they claim are lifting more people out of poverty).<br /><br />Meanwhile tax avoidance and evasion by big companies is quietly swept under the proverbial carpet whenever possible - possibly because these companies also contribute lots of money to party funds, and the politicians feel donations would dry up if they 'forced' the companies to pay their fare share of tax (which, after all, smaller companies can't wriggle out of!).<br /><br />Public apathy towards politics and politicians is also influenced by all three increasingly chasing after the same demographic of 'floating voter' in marginal constituencies, so unsurprisingly issue very similar policy statements to try and woo the extensively profiled stereotype their advisors have told them is crucial to winning the next election.mittfhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15913876602710593791noreply@blogger.com