What are Frothers?
The term "Frothers" came about one dank and dismal November day in 2011. A frustrated user of the parenting forum Mumsnet started a thread about her dismay at the cuts that the Conservative/Liberal Democrat government was inflicting on the British public.
She stated that she was not "quite a frothing berserker but I am getting rather cross with our government messing with the good stuff".
The good stuff - policies, benefits, institutions that had taken years to achieve were being cut for no good reason, often leaving gaping holes in the fabric of British society.
The NHS, with which we Brits have a love-hate relationship, but like a favourite sibling, we wish to protect from harm.
Sure Start, a successful scheme that supported parents who were struggling and offered children from deprived backgrounds a better start in life.
Universal Child Benefit was cut for those families who had one earner bringing in more than £44k a year. If both parents each earn less than £44k, they keep their UCB payments. This obviously hit single parents and families with a single earner hardest.
Disability Living Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance - which enabled those with disabilities to live a decent life, without feeling that they were begging for assistance or were a burden to the taxpayer.
Student Fees, the introduction of which, contrary to Lib Dem pre-election promises, means that a whole generation of young people will have to think carefully before applying to higher education.
These and many other cuts are being made in the name of austerity. We are "all in this together", but some of us are deeper in this than others.
We all understand that there are sacrifices to be made but why should these sacrifices be borne by those who already have so little?
The general public seems oblivious of the dangers being faced, they are unaware of the injustices being wrought on the already disadvantaged.
The government is winning the war of the headlines. They have blasted the recipients of DLA and ESA as scrounger and cheats so often that the general public believe it. They misinterpret data to "prove" their points. Teachers are painted as being irresponsible and greedy, while the bankers rake in the money.
The poster on Mumsnet was not alone for long. Within a few days, a group of over 30 posters had formed. They asked themselves, "What can we do?".
The idea of a blog was born. Three days later the blog had over thirty authors signed up, a Facebook page and a Twitter account.
The Aims:
- to open the general publics' eyes to the injustices being created by the governement
- to inform those who are facing cuts about their rights
- to link with other activists and charities, in order to put pressure on the government
Are you a Frother?
Come and join us.
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