Budget fury
Well, it isn't surprising that the latest Irish budget is harsh and unfair, but it still makes my blood boil. I loathe cuts in social welfare, and the cynicism and arrogance of politicians who make them, taking advantage of the traditionally weak voice that recipients have in society.
I'm in a well-paid job now, and don't mind paying the taxes that come with that (which, incidentally are higher than what I'd be paying in Ireland) because I can afford it.
But I've also been unemployed, and know what it is like to try and get by on social welfare. I wasn't unemployed for that long (one year), but it was enough to basically mark me for life - working habits, spending patterns, long-term planning, all of those are impacted if not dictated by my horror of ever being in that situation again.
Because it's shit. If you haven't been there, you can't understand it - and I bet most FF haven't been there and don't even want to understand it.
The money is so small that you have to live pretty much hand to mouth. If you have no nice clothes for a job interview, that's just too bad. If you get an interview on the other side of the country, you can't afford to get to it. You can't get a chocolate bar because you're peckish. You can't even afford to nip in somewhere and get a cup of tea, just because you need to use their loo. Some of these sound like trivial things, but they are still examples of things that I get to do now, and that I am still grateful for because I remember not being able to.
You quickly realise that the only way you can get by is by staying at home. All those things you had planned to do if you had the time are right out because you can't buy the parts / get there / pay the lunch fee. And now you're supposed to do it on 8€ less a week.
I'm in a well-paid job now, and don't mind paying the taxes that come with that (which, incidentally are higher than what I'd be paying in Ireland) because I can afford it.
But I've also been unemployed, and know what it is like to try and get by on social welfare. I wasn't unemployed for that long (one year), but it was enough to basically mark me for life - working habits, spending patterns, long-term planning, all of those are impacted if not dictated by my horror of ever being in that situation again.
Because it's shit. If you haven't been there, you can't understand it - and I bet most FF haven't been there and don't even want to understand it.
The money is so small that you have to live pretty much hand to mouth. If you have no nice clothes for a job interview, that's just too bad. If you get an interview on the other side of the country, you can't afford to get to it. You can't get a chocolate bar because you're peckish. You can't even afford to nip in somewhere and get a cup of tea, just because you need to use their loo. Some of these sound like trivial things, but they are still examples of things that I get to do now, and that I am still grateful for because I remember not being able to.
You quickly realise that the only way you can get by is by staying at home. All those things you had planned to do if you had the time are right out because you can't buy the parts / get there / pay the lunch fee. And now you're supposed to do it on 8€ less a week.