To not understand how you can vote Tory after watching this

[Kimonolady]

Not trying to be goady. Not trying to start a fight.
This video truly shocked me to the core and I actually found it hard to finish.
If you're planning on voting Conservative - has this video given you pause for thought? Is there a way you can explain your choice in light of it? Genuinely curious.
Video is at the top of the page (article worth reading too.)
www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/may/30/disabled-readers-austerity-disability-cuts

I'm disabled. I'm unemployable because of it, but can manage to run a self employed small business.

The taxes and layer on layer of legislation and regulation that a labour govt will hose around would be a massive threat to my business. I don't want to stop working and just live on benefits, I don't want to be unable to afford to work. I worked in local govt under labour and saw the appalling waste and profligacy and over regulation going on. It was shocking. It was wholly unsustainable, boom to the inevitable bust. My LA is financially buggered because of it and will be for decades.

I'm bloody terrified of a Labour govt. I don't like any party, I'm a floating voter and always have been, but i see no sane solution but May.

Btw yes, very sad that some disabled people may not be able to remain in their homes if they choose to.... but who is going to fund the immense cost of providing the care in the style they would prefer, if it's unsustainable? There is a budget, it has a limit, there is a finite amount to cover an ever expanding number of people. It would be lovely to have the infinite resources but sanity has to come in here somewhere.

There is a lot to be admired in a politician willing to stand up and say what they think, and truly know that it won't be popular with everyone. But JC and NF supporters are blind to their weaknesses and would I almost feel, follow them off a cliff. A bit like Trump and Thatcher. It's scary.

I don't th

Oops

I don't think it's healthy to view politicians in this way.

Much better to view them with cynicism and scepticism and be prepared to accept criticism that they are not right on everything.

Are you watching question time MissHavishamsleftdaffodil as the question of small business has come up.

There would be support, Jc doesn't want you to fold at all.

I don't want to be unable to afford to work. I worked in local govt under labour and saw the appalling waste and profligacy and over regulation going on. It was shocking. It was wholly unsustainable, boom to the inevitable bust

This is something I also have personal experience of. I am self-employed and have been since 1993. Prior to that I was a senior local government officer and I worked for three councils, one Conservative, one Labour and one Independent (although predominately Plaid Cymru in a Welsh speaking constituency in Wales).

Without a doubt the best run, most economically sound Council was the Conservative one. No question and back then I was very left wing but I can't deny the reality.

Worst run was the Labour one - the wastage and profligacy was off the scale. There is just no comparison at all.

The Welsh one was mired in arguments about 'nationality' and producing expensive bi-lingual material and so on (and I say that as a Welsh speaker).

This is my experience, and indisputable. It's not the reason I'm voting Conservative, but it is a small part of why I am. Just another point stacking up in their favour based upon my life, circumstances and experience.

killdora I'm positive he doesn't want me to fold, and I'm positive there would be support. For some small businesses. In particular circumstances. Heavily regulated.

I'm equally positive I'd still be buggered.

Are you watching question time MissHavishamsleftdaffodil as the question of small business has come up.

Which according to DH he didn't really answer.

Nice intentions and reality just not the same thing.

We should be looking after the vulnerable in society.

We should be looking after the vulnerable in society.

and ....?

I have watched the videos. There is obviously genuine need and distress in all the examples but they have also been exaggerated for political ends.(I am assuming here it is the video with 3 different scenarios)
The first lady who was crawling around her flat, of course she needs a ground floor wheelchair accessible property but there are not many of them. When she came down the stairs on her crutches she was an accident waiting to happen but I would hazard a guess that she normally comes down on her bottom as she would not be at risk of falling. Her flat looked like if it was not so cluttered you probably could fit a wheelchair in it, although she would still have to get down the stairs to go out.
The second couple, I was not sure what the issue was.Were they taking away a motibility car or something. It seemed like quite a new smart car he was driving. Ours was recently valued at about £120 but is totally reliable, just old and a bit bashed up. I could not really work out what the issue was.
The third lady had been getting £13000 grant for access to work. That is a full time salary for many people. It is over £50 daily to fund her getting to work. It seemed as if, although she wanted to get out more, that much of her job could be done from home. She mentioned needing to get to meetings but seemed to do a lot on her laptop. That grant seems massive and yes.....imagine having had that and then losing it would be pretty tough. I think one of the problems with the benefits system is that when you are given the money it is your choice what to use it for, so you read of people having benefits cut who say they lost their home, but they had been putting benefit money toward mortgage payments. That is not really what they are intended for and makes life very difficult when they are then removed for whatever reason..She was talking about only being able to get off her sofa when her son was around but she lived alone so must manage when he is not there. She would also have been advised that sitting on a chair with 2 armrests rather than a sofa makes it easier to stand and she could also get a riser recliner chair which will assist you to stand and many charities will fund if you cannot afford it. As for lying on the floor for 5 hours when she falls, she should carry a phone always if at risk of falls or wear a pendant alarm, which again you can get help with funding if low income.
I am not saying these people did not have real issues but I would say that these videos have been made for full political effect. I would also say that there were lots of people in equally difficult situations under previous governments. I remember one poster a while back on a thread about the horrors of foodbank, remembering having no food under a labour government and not even having foodbanks to turn to.
I am a floating voter and still undecided, but it will certainly not be videos like that that change my mind.

Piglet your husband is right, he fudged an answer with vague promises of support.

Piglet your husband is right, he fudged an answer with vague promises of support

He said details were in the manifesto. Have you read it?

I didn't hear him say that, but as you have can you enlighten us?

From fb

"This is nothing new. Back in 1986 my then husband had been diagnosed with terminal cancer at the age of 34. He had been self employed and we had two young children . He applied for the then Income Support but because he could walk unaided for 20 yards he was declined. Three months later I buried him. Thatcher's government was no better. Anyone who votes Tory deserves the brow beaten society they will live in"

Assessments are nothing new The right wing media are gaslighting and rewriting history when they say they were brought in because people were just being "given" disability benefits.

DH had his first assessment for DLA in 1995. I have posted about this on other threads.

Why? Can't you read?

I've been bothered to read all the parties manifestos because I actually want to know what I'm voting for, why haven't you?

I've read none of the manifestos. Preferring to watch the debates. But don't hold it against me I have 3 kids under 5 and can't currently find the time to have a shit in peace.

Seen the video but to be honest if you read it properly you will see that 'stephen' may have had his mobility car removed, but he holds down a full time job in a warehouse, earning a £30,000 salary. A lot of able bodied people earn a lot less than that and manage to fund a car themselves. And tucked away in Alex's story is a reference to the fact that Alex has been offered an inaccessible property, but outside her preferred borough of Islington - people have to stop thinking they can pick and choose where they live if they are in social housing. They have to go where there are available properties; it really is that simple.

Two children, one disabled non sleeper. I'm disabled too.

If I can manage to read them so can you.

Frankly anyone thinking they are well informed enough to vote without even bothering to check exactly what policies they are voting for scare me.

I also need to switch energy supplier, find time to see a GP alone to talk about women's issues. Defrost the fridge in 18 months, find a job and childcare.

Anyone who believes a manifesto scared me. And anyone who judged someone on not reading a manifesto because it is 90% bollox is just sanctimonious.

But can't be arsed to actually find out the policies you are voting for.

So what are you doing? Relying on sound bites from the debates, the news, the papers?

Just not what the parties have actually told you about how they will run the bloody country when they get in.

For all you know they could be pledging to sign your first born to satan but you wouldn't know. Or are you relying on people who actually care about politics and read to find that out for you?

I will take my chances.

Fabulous.

Sadly I doubt you are in the minority people.

Livelove DLA/PIP are for the EXTRA expenses incurred by a disability.