Meanwhile, back in the real world, this "discrimination" you speak of is in fact a request for you to fill in a form to indicate whether your circumstances have changed. This "discrimination" extends to everyone claiming from the state. Get a grip. And reign in your imagination.
Ley Thompson - Well said!
There stands a man of conviction and courage who too will probably be vilified by some who have had a go at me today because his words will shake people's confidence in their cosy little isolated worlds.
Thank you Ley for understanding my article and style of writing. You are absolutely right to talk about the denigration of the disabled, unemployed and immigrants in the UK. The Government there is employing the "Dead Cat" method of distracting disatisfied voters in the UK. They throw a dead cat on the table and tear it appart for the audience (voters) and hope to win new votes from their actions. Currently it is the pensioners, disabled, immigrants, etc who take the form of the dead cat.
Have never heared of Niemoller but I wiull never forget what I have learned from your entry here!
Clive, I assumed your writing was slightly tongue in cheek and I'm surprised by the responses you have had showing a lamentable lack of humour. However you are totally correct in your conclusions about the present government. Just look at how they are denigrating the disabled, the unemployed, the immigrants. They make sweeping statements about how they are 'using' the system, taking money away from the so called 'hard-working families' etc etc. None of what they say bears any resemblance to the real statistics. And that's not an opinion, it's fact.
Beware you doubters, as Niemoller said:
First they came for the , Communists
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Communist.
Then they came for the Socialists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to speak for me.
By the way, we all know about the Second World War and how the Jews were treated and we should never forget, although you only need to look at how the Israelis are treating the people of Israel/Palestine today to understand the brevity of some people's memories.
As for me, well not only do I not get my heating allowance,I also can have no treatment using an S1 as they have stopped issuing them too. So I will have to return to the yUK for my heat and my health after 43 years of taxpaying (Been in France permanently for only 9 months). Problem is I have nowhere to live in the UK and no family able to accommodate me. So you see, I feel abandoned by my government (which I would like to say that I NEVER voted for either). To me that is becoming alarmingly close to fascism. Who's next?
Richard - please tell me which region you reside in and I will make every effort to avoid it.
To Vic Evans:
I recently published an open letter from an old soldier, Harry Shindler with his consent and who fought for all our freedoms. His letter (of complain) was to the Daily Mail which published a wholly inaccurate article and deeply insulting cartoon which was designed to breed hatred for pensioners in general and expat pensioners in particular. That is the "one section of the population" to which I refer.
Heyup Martin,
I have been in touch with Sir Walter Raleigh and asked him to send you a boat load of the stuff!
Dear Fay,
Since I used to have a buddy called John Franklin and you could just be his better half, I appologise for suggesting that you were either a Tory supporter or a Daily Mail reader. When I succeed in selling up in Spain and move to France I will buy you a drink - if you will allow it.
For the record, I am not nor have I ever been (unlike you) a supporter of the Tory party in any way shape or form. Or, for that matter, a Daily Wail reader.
Looks like all the Tory supporters are out of bed early today. Have you read your Daily Mail yet? To Fay I say "You are lucky to be allowed to use the word Nazi" I had to take it out of my blog but the removal of this particular word lost some poignancy to the point I was making. The forced wearing of the Star of David with the word "Jude" in the centre was just the beginning of the undescribable attrocities that generations of the people suffered and not the end of it. It showed how a demonic government ruled by Herr Hitler decided to root out these people from society, point them out to all and ridicule them and that was just the start. And for what? Their religious beliefs!
There was no intention to belittle or directly compare 'our' position with the unspeakable suffering that these people were subjected to. It was however mean't to forewarn people of how these things get started. "From little acorns come great Oak trees" and from discriminatory actions and speaches by the current UK government, supported by news-rags like the Daily Mail aimed at one section of the population, the rot is already setting in. The amount of "hate mail" beinig pumped in to the internet targeting not just expat pensioners but epats in general is considerable. Hate campaigns nearly always end in brutality.
To Lib Clerk I ask why you or your friends have no pension, since You have "worked all your lives" ? Why is that so? Have you investigated it fully. If you worked all your life and paid into the system like I and others have then you are entitled to a pension.
One theme that did run comonly through the critisism of half a dozen bloggers is a contradiction in terms. One one hand, most are quick to say that I have a right to express my opinions - thank you. But in contrast you have attacked me for using "The badge of shame" as the N***s called it as a comparison with a modern day "so-called Democ¡ratic" government singling out a small section of the population to make them feel different in a less than good way. What part of "Discrimination" is not being understood here?
Clive, whatever your smoking chum I’ll take an ounce or two.
Just a tad overreaction and nothing more than should be expected in today’s economic climate.
I'm with Gerald Stubbs,Fay Franklin and Cate dal Molin. You piece is a massive over-reaction to being asked to simply fill in a form. And the comparison is very offensive. Your piece is also very offensive to those not fortunate enough to have a pension, despite also working their whole lives, and merely adds to the resentment surrounding the issue of pensions.
I am afraid that you have over-egged the pudding with your rather excessive and if I may say so, stupid statements.
I am appalled that you would even think to compare your situation with that of the Jews under the Nazi regime.