Benefit hatred is out of control.

[carernotasaint]

www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/owen-jones-hatred-of-those-on-benefits-is-dangerously-out-of-control-7763793.html

[Olympia2012]

Malone strikes again!

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

Malone's specific sentiments aside, somebody hated this family enough to pour petrol through the letterbox and light it and no-one's yet come up with a concrete motive. On the face of it they were probably very much like their neighbours in terms of finances/benefits, seem to have been well-liked locally judging by the reaction to the tragedy and the solitary thing to distinguish them from everyone else, apart from the size of the family, was that they had popped up on various TV shows and been featured in newspapers. Fame can be enough to trigger resentment.

[porcamiseria]

This whole story has upset me, the lack of compassion from so many after 6 babies died so horrifically.

That said, we cant be blind to the fact that we DO have an issue in this country. But it needs to handled with more intelligence, more foresight than presently.

I have seen a massive correlation between conservative power and a ctulure that "allows" us to dislike people on benefits.

I even noticed myself making some comments and I thought fuck me, whats going on cutlurally that its suddenly "OK" to come out with this??


I am not sure what the answer is, but frankly my priority is that the parents are treated with kindness and compassion

[Sprogged]

It's the shifting culture of blame for the present economic climate. Place attention on those unable to find work, although it's their fault there are too few jobs and the minimum wage is half what it should be, and so remove attention from the core problems, such as fraudulent government/big business activity and tax avoidance. Fry the little fish for the big fish to gobble. It's not like they can stick up for themselves with access to legal help and education being steadily eroded, is it?

[Sprogged]

although - should read 'as if'

[Ryoko]

I'm sorry but what a load of rubbish, they don't know why the fire was started, you can't go hijacking an on going murder case to add an air of relevance to your outdated article.

And as someone who was long term unemployed, the hatred of those on benefits has reduced significantly since the recession, the only people bumbling on about benefits cheats and lazy scroungers are the politicians and we have long since stopped taking any notice of their hypocritical smoke screen tactics. The reality of Britain today is that all most everyone knows someone on benefits or struggling after losing their job, the middle classes have finally woken up and become aware of the NMW dodging schemes run by the government such as the apprentices getting £2.50 an hour and Workfare etc, Politicians and a few Daily Mail readers are not representative of the country at large, we are not that stupid and ignorent.

[Nancy66]

It's total speculation that the fire at Mr Philpott's home was started by a someone who despised the family for being on benefits.

Mr Philpott and his wife led a very colourful and chaotic life and if I had to guess I would say the perpetrators are more likley to be closer to home than some outraged vigilante

[EdithWeston]

I think it is immensely distasteful to link the deaths of 6 children to any political bandwagon when the motivation of the attackers is completely unknown.

[klaxon]

I agree with Ryoko - the Indie is clutching to it's remaining four readers with increasingly sensationalist editorials and opinion pieces like this. I don't think anyone knows at this point exactly why such a tragedy happened and I think speculating is a little bit distasteful.

I'd write to complain to the paper but they'd only spell my name wrong.

[Northernlurker]

Ryokp - the parts of the article which deal with the erosion of the position of those on disability related benefits are highly topical not outdated at all.
Owen Jones is commeting on Malone's assertion that the families benefits claiming and other behaviour was reason enough to kill. He isn't saying that IS why the attack was made. He's pointing out what a deeply flawed society we live in when you can even begin to think that might be the reason let alone say so on national television.

[Voidka]

IDS hates people on benefits, and people on disability benefits especially so. While he gets to push his hatred in the popular media for all its gullible readers to lap up its not going to change.

Look at the benefits board on the MSE forums if you want to see it in action. Not too long ago I saw a poster get lambasted because she admitted to spending her DLA on swimming lessons for her disabled child, because they were not 'essential' or 'life or death'

[Voidka]

I also agree that disability bashing is current - only last week IDS was telling us that all disabled people sit around drinking coffee.

[amothersplaceisinthewrong]

IDS is supposed to be a good upstanding Catholic. Where the hell is his compassion.

[poppyknot]

And in the original Telegraph interview he used the term "fester" on disability benefit although this strangely disappeared from the web srticle later. Now if that is not offenife.....

The bit of the OJ article on disability benefit as northern and voidka say is only too relevant.

Article no more sensationalist than those that appear in Mail, Telegraph etc.......

[poppyknot]

A bit of mistyping there. Wrong glasses!

[Nancy66]

Voidka - really? he said that did he - 'all disabled people sit around drinking coffee'

[olgaga]

Owen Jones makes a very good point, that Malone's labelling of this disaster as "an accident waiting to happen" is so wrong. How can anyone describe pre-meditated murder in such a casual way? On that basis, the Holocaust was an "accident waiting to happen". It's so absurd and extreme it would be laughable if there weren't so many people who evidently agree with such sentiments - otherwise how does Malone get away with it?

It was heartbreaking seeing the parents at the press conference - especially the mum, who has lost all her children, and looked so frail and bereft. I can't imagine what it would be like to lose one child, let alone your entire family. I'm sure everyone does feel for them in that respect.

I can also understand that sympathy is muted because people tend to disapprove of extreme lifestyle choices they wouldn't make for themselves. However, to dismiss such a terrible murder in such a cavalier manner is breathtaking, even by Malone's standards.

[klaxon]

But if it's not about benefits then it is just a bloody tragedy (and yes a multiple murder if it was deliberate).

And in terms of benefit bashing, I see it in some papers, but I've also seen a lot of coverage of DLA changes (particularly I have to say on TV rather than printed media which of courses gets more views) which supports claimants.

I dunno. In a recession everyone blames everyone else which is wrong. But I don't think this is what has happened here.

[Pekka]

I can't believe she called it "accident". From what the police have said, it was premeditated.

[donnie]

I will never understand why people rant and rave about so called benefit scroungers but don't rant and rave about million pound bank bonuses and the billions lost in tax dodges and loopholes every year.

THOSE people are the true parasites and scroungers IMO.

[klaxon]

No, I think BOTH people who falsify benefit claims and people who falsify tax forms are equally dishonest.

I don't care if someone gets a million pound bonus if they have delivered many times that into the economy in terms of business frankly. Des on the dole is not doing much for the country to rival that. Sorry.

[Want2bSupermum]

I think the whole system is rotten. We have MPs who lie and cheap on their expenses and it was brushed under the carpet. We have many who don't think twice about tax avoidence schemes which are so close to the line legally that anyone with half a braincell knows it isn't the right thing to do. We have those who care for their disabled family members not being fully supported. We have young girls who go out and get pregnant at 16 as the alternative of having to work.

I feel sorry for those on benefits. My hatred is firmly directed at MPs over their expenses and not making changes to improve society.

[WasabiTillyMinto]

I don't care if someone gets a million pound bonus if they have delivered many times that into the economy in terms of business frankly. Des on the dole is not doing much for the country to rival that. Sorry.

Yes.

[bialystockandbloom]

I don't care if someone gets a million pound bonus if they have delivered many times that into the economy in terms of business frankly. Des on the dole is not doing much for the country to rival that.

klaxon Old people, people in care, people who are disabled, children, people with dementia, etc - these people don't really contribute much either do they. Do you think they're scroungers?

What about if something affected someone in your family (accident, illness, redundancy, unemployment, dementia, etc)?

And do you really think that one individual is worth £millions while another individual "Des on the dole" is not worth £71 per week?

[WasabiTillyMinto]

And do you really think that one individual is worth £millions

if you create jobs for thousands of people, yes.