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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel the Disenfranchised have been Scapegoated.

186 replies

Gilead · 26/11/2025 17:28

Just fed up with a society that has become so incredibly selfish. The vilification of disabled people and the drubbing of benefit claimants whilst managing to forget that most of the people on universal credit are working families. Forgetting that most pensioners have worked and saved all their lives, some still paying tax. And let’s not forget those lazy bastards who are putting on an act in order to get a ‘free’ car.
I predicted this was the way we were headed on mumsnet in 2010. Got called all sorts of names, but, at that point in time people were a lot more understanding of the issues encountered by the disenfranchised.
If you want to come on here and tell me you don’t want to pay extra for someone else to have kids you can’t afford, research it first, look at the (myriad) reasons for this, the figures, the number of women who had extra children during the period. Then think how it would be if you suddenly became disabled, or more severely disabled.
Im off with my carer in a bit. In my Citroen C3 that actually cost me a wee bit more because I had to pay for the wheelchair hoist as well as the (approx) 350 quid every four weeks to cover the lease, and the insurance.

OP posts:
Gilead · 26/11/2025 19:12

@crossedlines how do you decide who has a mental illness and who doesn’t? How do you know whether or not someone is capable of work or not?

OP posts:
Gilead · 26/11/2025 19:10

@KilkennyCats I’ve been around these parts since 2006. Every word is true.

OP posts:
crossedlines · 26/11/2025 19:09

bullshit.
People don’t begrudge support going to those in need. What people are sick to the back teeth of is working hard and paying shed loads of tax (and this includes plenty of people who have anxiety, depression and other mental health issues) to support other people who feel that their mental health entitled them to do sod all.

KilkennyCats · 26/11/2025 19:00

LaterRon · 26/11/2025 18:30

You’re absolutely right. I feel that at the moment unless you’re a white working class man you’re pretty much fair game. The exact white working class men that were on the marches. Women are targeted for being single mothers, women that aren’t married and are childless are mocked, ethnic minority women that have higher risks of death during pregnancy and childbirth and that’s now acceptable to laugh about. Disabled people. Any ethnic minority isn’t apparently British enough anymore, and now children who have absolutely no control on their lives. Any man who stands up for those people are also mocked. It’s absolutely disgusting what’s going on. I’m so angry that i realise this is a rant that makes probably very little sense.

None of that is true Confused

JHound · 26/11/2025 18:59

HoskinsChoice · 26/11/2025 18:01

I have never seen anyone vilifying people with disabilities or that claim benefits fairly. I have seen people vilifying those who are claiming benefits fraudulently and those who are using the system to maximise their benefits or avoiding tax. Surely you don't disagree with that? If we didn't have people committing fraud or rich people squirrelling away their money into pensions and trusts or offshore so they avoid tax, we would be much better positioned to properly provide for those who genuinely need it.

God forbid people put money into pensions to take care of themselves in old age.

JHound · 26/11/2025 18:57

It’s not selfish to want a decent standard living.

GentleOlive · 26/11/2025 18:55

The ‘disenfranchised’ are the best looked after in society. No one is being scapegoated. Questioning the balance between the paying public and the receiving public is not scapegoating. And the emotive language to suppress perfectly reasonable questions about the colossal waste and entitlement of people won’t work anymore.

Everyone knows people who are abusing the system. It’s certainly not a rarity.

LaterRon · 26/11/2025 18:30

You’re absolutely right. I feel that at the moment unless you’re a white working class man you’re pretty much fair game. The exact white working class men that were on the marches. Women are targeted for being single mothers, women that aren’t married and are childless are mocked, ethnic minority women that have higher risks of death during pregnancy and childbirth and that’s now acceptable to laugh about. Disabled people. Any ethnic minority isn’t apparently British enough anymore, and now children who have absolutely no control on their lives. Any man who stands up for those people are also mocked. It’s absolutely disgusting what’s going on. I’m so angry that i realise this is a rant that makes probably very little sense.

DuchessDandelion · 26/11/2025 18:19

HoskinsChoice · 26/11/2025 18:01

I have never seen anyone vilifying people with disabilities or that claim benefits fairly. I have seen people vilifying those who are claiming benefits fraudulently and those who are using the system to maximise their benefits or avoiding tax. Surely you don't disagree with that? If we didn't have people committing fraud or rich people squirrelling away their money into pensions and trusts or offshore so they avoid tax, we would be much better positioned to properly provide for those who genuinely need it.

Plenty of people here and elsewhere vilify those with disabilities claiming benefits because they:

Don't agree the person is disabled
Don't believe the person is disabled enough
The person is disabled but seemingly all the time
They've decided their neighbour/acquaintance/friend/family member /friend of a friend must be fraudulently claiming with no evidence to back it up, just prejudice
They believe the daily mail/telegraph/reform misinformation that people claim benefits for acne

I've seen it daily for weeks

Yanbu @Gilead I also predicted the shit show we've had back in 2010. You get many agreeing with you here because too many of swallowed the Reform propaganda

HoskinsChoice · 26/11/2025 18:01

I have never seen anyone vilifying people with disabilities or that claim benefits fairly. I have seen people vilifying those who are claiming benefits fraudulently and those who are using the system to maximise their benefits or avoiding tax. Surely you don't disagree with that? If we didn't have people committing fraud or rich people squirrelling away their money into pensions and trusts or offshore so they avoid tax, we would be much better positioned to properly provide for those who genuinely need it.

Celestialmoods · 26/11/2025 17:36

I don’t think people have become more selfish. It’s not selfish to want a decent standard of living for your own family before paying for others to have more. People can’t afford to be generous, unless they’re doing it with other people’s money. It’s very easy to claim that you are a selfless and generous person who would never begrudge others taking what you have earned when you are in the position of receiving free money from the state.