Guest writer Ciáran Mulholland with a piece urging unity to overcome political, economic and social injustice.
We must unite to overcome this economic & political austerity of inequality & discrimination
We are told that we are experiencing times of economic hardship, a recession that is affecting all of us, and one in which everyone is feeling the pinch. The reality is that this is untrue and similar to any historical period of ‘economic gloom’ it is always the ordinary man and woman who feel the wrath and ruthlessness of the capitalists’ shortcomings.
If the truth is told, in recent years we witnessed a false economy, one based on unrealistic property evaluations and sales combined with the reckless credit culture which was exploited by unaccountable Bankers and Loan Companies. This was epitomised with the extortionate housing market in the ‘Banana Republic’ and the unsustainable ‘Call-Centre’ bonanza across the Northern Statelet.
There have been numerous reports published regarding social and economic deprivation, which makes some difficult reading, particularly given that we are furnished with the clear facts and figures of the flaws of the system we live in. These are the facts and figures we won’t hear our politicians talking about when it comes to election time and they are selling their inaccurate and fabricated manifesto.
One of the reasons I decided to announce my intention of running in the forthcoming local government elections was a result of the systematic failures I was witnessing in my local community on daily basis together with the insight I gained via my employment on housing, medical and welfare issues. I felt that the unfairness and injustices that were being appeased by the Political status quo needed aired. The people of West Belfast deserved better and deserved political representation, this is why I decided enough is enough let’s try and change this through action!
It is widely accepted that austerity measures are affecting our community disproportionately and creating a more unequal society. The grim reality is that many families face vicious cycles of debt and impossible choices between heating their homes or cooking a hot meal for their children. This is pathetic in this day in age and is widely known, but ironically little is being done. We are unnecessarily regressing as a society; we are facing the same hardship that our grandparents were facing. This should not be the case in this day in age.
We now live in a society where there are fewer opportunities, less and less employment rights, weakened Unions as result of them jumping into bed with the Political status quo, a diabolical health service with an ineffective and unsustainable A&E Wards not to mention inability to adequate cater for mental health patients, a flourishing loan-shark culture through PayDay Loan Companies and an ever failing and segregated education system.
Oxfam Ireland, in their most recent report ‘urged the British government and the North’s Executive to "row back" on deep-cutting economic policies stating that the North hasn’t experienced the equivalent in cuts since World War II’.
Oxfam are calling on governments “to champion a new economic and social model that invests in people and pursues fair taxation…" and stated that the “…governments could raise billions for public services, such as health and education, by increasing tax on the wealthiest, and also cracking down on tax loopholes and avoidance schemes." Essentially the charity are asking that the State demonstrates some form of humanity and compassion and act in the interest of fairness and justice for all, not exploitation in the interests of a few.
The Oxfam Ireland in summary has concluded that;
· 25% of working households are living in poverty.
· Continued increase in people who are going to food banks to get the bare essentials.
· 25% of those working in the North of Ireland do not make a sustainable living wage.
· The lowest earners have lost 38% of disposable income.
Other noted reports have also highlighted shocking figures of inequality and deprivation in our communities.
The ‘End Child Poverty’ Campaign in which charities such as Barnardo’s are involved found;
· 43% of children grow up in poverty in West Belfast.
· Enough wasn’t being done by Westminster & Stormont.
· Over 100,000 across the North of Ireland are living in poverty.
It was reported by ‘Save the Children’ Charity in their recent report that;
· Just over 60% of parents in poverty say they have cut back on food and 26% say they have skipped meals in the past year.
· Around 20% of parents in poverty say their children have to go without new shoes when they need them.
· One fifth of children in poverty say they are missing out on things that many other children take for granted, such as going on school trips and having a warm coat in winter.
There are those who will argued that “…at least things are better now than what they were before…”, but this is nonsense and unfounded – nothing more than a fabricated slogan the establishment echo in an attempt to fool us that constitutional-conformist politics is working. Of course there are, thankfully, fewer fatalities than before, but the standard of living and pursuit of happiness hasn’t progressed for the majority.
Professor Peter Shirlow at a lecture in Queen’s University several years ago made a statement which really struck a chord with me and one in which I could immediately identify. He stated that ‘the reality is not everyone benefited from the Good Friday Agreement, and in some working class areas within inner-city Belfast , like that of the Markets and Sandy Row, the only real difference they have witnessed is the increase number in swanky cars parking in their streets during the week’.
The ‘peace’ that we are living in today is clearly not one based on open transparency, truth, justice and equality. Anne Longfield from the charity ‘4Children’ stated that “…too many children and families are struggling here today with limited potential and life chances as a result…” The ‘4Children’ Chief Executive also urged that politicians must “..change the way they listen and respond to what families really want…” This was verified when new statistics from the ‘4Children’ reported on living standards in the North of Ireland, they confirming the following figures;
· 57% of people here feel family life is hander now than two decades ago.
· 1/3 of people here sadly think today’s children will have a worse life than they experienced.
· 50% of people said more services should be aimed at families.
· 96% of those asked felt our Job Centres were inadequate.
The facts don’t lie – they speak volumes and they indisputably conclude that the people of West Belfast, like the thousands of others through our City and Country, have been miserably failed and neglected for generations. These systematic failures are not improving but exasperating our everyday living. More and more of us have absolutely no quality of life.
Vote the same then expect the same – but if you want an alternative to the corrupt and toxic political parties that have molested our community and embroiled us in this State of inequality and discrimination – then vote differently.
Vote for change, vote for a better and fairer future – have your voice heard in 2014!
I would agree that for the very few things are indeed better than before as for the ever widening gap between poverty and the capacity to find and hold onto a decent job that would pay the bills with little left over things in that sense have become worse.
ReplyDeletePoliticians are always interested in addressing minor issues and wasting money on hosting talks that are predestined to failure not because solutions don’t exist but they prefer the solutions only enhance their own self-interest and the interest of their respective party.
London will continue to shave every penny it can from monies allotted to the north and our own politicians or either powerless or unwilling to fight for a better standard of living perhaps a combination of both.
The working class struggle to avoid becoming the unemployed class as once trapped there, there is an uphill struggle to find jobs that don’t exist or exist in ever decreasing number.
Subsisting on very meager benefits puts people on the fast road to surviving beneath the poverty line.
Once trapped beneath the poverty line there is little to no hope of escaping.
The other problem is the discrimination that at times is self-inflicted as some still believe Protestant poverty is different than Catholic poverty.
Our politicians deny playing the sectarian divisional politics but do so with a degree of comfort playing communities against each other.
The reality is that a Protestant family from the Shankill like their counterparts of a Catholic family on the Falls road should not be forced to choose between heating their home and feeding their families.
No one should be living beneath the poverty line and those unemployed should be receiving benefits that would ensure their families don’t go hungry or have to make sacrifices that ultimately affect the health and welfare of their children from physical illness to mental illness as poverty leaves one stripped of dignity and hope.
It is the same old story they blame the people on the dole for not finding jobs but are not so great at attracting investment and job creations so it is no wonder people end up on the dole for life.
The politicians will always cater to the middle/upper class and as always refuse to tax them accordingly.
A great problem we face is uniting the working class and the unemployed as that would mean putting aside our respective republican and unionist views and coming together to fight against poverty and unemployment.
One thing I know for sure is poverty is curable it doesn’t care what peoples personal views or beliefs are.
It is and always will be a plague on any society and under any capitalist consumer driven society the politicians will ensure that it is never eradicated and by that logic it is a small price to pay as the rich will grow richer and the poor will always suffer the endless cycle.
Anything that challenges the status quo is worthy challenging the status quo on poverty is extremely worthy.
Tain Bo,
ReplyDeleteSomething I genuinely don't understand is these back to work schemes.
One of my neighbours has been practically forced onto a return to work scheme, by forced, I mean she was literally told 'if you don't go onto the course your monies get stopped'
It's ridiculous because there aren't any jobs and even if there was she suffers from severe arthritis a condition which causes severe swelling to her hands and feet.
The reality of the situation is, these schemes and the money wasted in setting them up is counterproductive,
Yet the government would prefer this to giving sick people their money.
An excellent article!
ReplyDeleteTain Bo, I'm in total agreement this time :)
Nuala,
ReplyDeleteThe magic word is “scheme” and the other key word is “forced” in reality it is a way of cooking the books falsifying the unemployment numbers so the cold drab truth is shaded.
It looks good on paper but so do a lot of things back in the 80s they introduced the YTP Youth Training Programs which was if I remember less than a quid a day for a forty hour work week. Basically slave labour that the youngsters had no choice either work or no dole now is no different.
I am unsure of the criteria required or how they choose who will be forced into one of these mock schemes but your friend is not alone in that dilemma and the threat is very real.
If they force a thousand people into schemes then they count that as a thousand less people unemployed.
It is indiscriminate in practice as even people who cannot work for medical reasons are unfortunate to be picked they go through the mill trying to prove what the dole already knows.
Single parents face the added anguish of having to provide babysitters which means whatever meager pittance they earn on these schemes force them into more debt.
It would be a workable idea of training people if there was actual jobs waiting them but the lines on the dole would be far shorter if jobs existed.
And when their scheme ends it is back in the dole line.
The British government will keep on shaving monies out of social welfare and of course blame the people for being dependent on the state.
And why not we are too busy arguing over flags and parades and other useless issues and ignoring serious issues that should have people in an uproar work schemes are part of the problem and far removed from the solution people need actual living wage jobs.
The government can’t provide them as they are nonexistent but they will post the unemployment figures as falling and will get away with it.
Extortion is not a choice so those forced into schemes are being ripped off and definitely not willing participants.
I wonder when the people will wake up and demand more from government.
Michael,
ReplyDeleteI am glad we agree on this issue as the poverty issue and struggle for work is one that should unite people.
There are unfortunately many that wouldn’t agree and would do away with social programs altogether if they had their way.