Compassion, not condemnation, for people on benefits
THE milk of human kindness in Guernsey seems to be getting a bit thin in the 21st century if the callousness shown by some of your regular contributors is anything to go by.
Their letters usually begin with the same well known cry of ‘I paid my stamp all my life, so now I am old I am entitled, and people who do nothing get everything’.
While it is true that they paid their taxes all their working lives, and raised children and contributed to society, the taxes they have paid have been used to educate their children, pay school teachers, repair the roads they drive the family car on, light the streets, collect the rubbish from the gate and help the old and the sick.
The callousness usually consists of the ‘judge a book by it’s cover’ viewpoint. They are not normally trained doctors or nurses, and they have no idea what issues people have that are unseen, but they feel that condemnation is fine.
After working for over 40 years I find myself within two and a half years of 65, being unable to work due to physical issues, and am claiming invalid benefit, and am grateful for every penny of it that I receive.
Perhaps we should take a lesson from the good Samaritan and show a little kindness.
JON RUTHVEN,
Flat 11,
Les Gravees Court,
St Peter Port,
GY1 1RL.