To not understand why rich people "fight tooth and nail to keep free prescriptions and tube travel"

[sandrabedminster]

Steve Allen on LBC said this recently. Just his wage from LBC as he's on 7 days a week will be 6 figures and he bought his house in London 30 years ago for a few grand.

He's got a disposable income that 99% of the population would love but he's demanding to still get the state to give these for free.

He has diabetes type two and will often go from talking about all the crap food he has gorged on to how everything for his diabetes (medicine, foot care, sliming jab) is all totally free.

I have no issue with people that can afford prescriptions or travel cards getting it for free. And it wouldn't be cheap to just give it to people that aren't higher rate taxpayers.

Most pensioners voted to leave the EU even though they were told this would mean an emergency budget to remove these.

Aibu to just think people like him are selfish?

This isn't a boomer bashing thread, my parents and most I know that are well would love to not have some of these benefits and public services invested into instead.

Slimming jab?

I need this. And I'll happily pay.

It's called Liraglutude, the slimming jab. Only available for type 2 diabetes on NHS so far.

Most people if given something free will take it rather than insist on paying for it, what makes you think a rich person would be any different?

I am by no means well off but neither poor. I have enjoyed maternity exemption from prescriptions/dentist but have no qualms about paying my prescription charges when that finishes - I know the cost of the mediation I get is much greater.
I do think more means-testing could be done. Dare I wonder whether a 'pay what you wish' approach could ever work - certain groups remain exempt but can choose to pay the charge if they feel able? It seems to work for other things...

Well the jab isn't working on steve he still looks 9 months. I think fixing the reason why someone overeats would be better than a jab.

Maggie I understand someone taking something for free, but fighting for something to remain free when your loaded and public services are suffering seems selfish to me.

If rich, powerful people don't fight for things to remain free for everybody, then it becomes much more likely that other rich, powerful people will want to start charging for them. Because they wouldn't notice paying for an operation (etc), so surely no-one else would mind either, right?

If you believe that the NHS should stay as it is, after all we now have an extra £350 million to plot into it, don't we?

Then those with Power/Position/Wealth should do all that they can to keep it that way.

People en masse can make a difference, but with the twisting of statistics and the bias in the Media, people who have access to publicity, should use it.

Best Zebbie's beaten me to it. Every time better off people stand up for things that the less well of need, those at the bottom of the pile stand a better chance of keeping them.

We need to keep this for the same reason we needed to have Child benefit being universal.

Once you start to means test you divide and rule people, those who don't get become very cross about it. It then creates tensions about "scroungers" and "strivers" and gives a whole lot of people a political narrative they shouldn't have.