The issue of the day in media-land,that anguished and tortured kingdom so different from the Real World,as above (countryside between Lydney and Chepstow),the issue is THE WINTER FUEL PAYMENT. Our current political administration have announced that henceforth it will only be issued to state pensioners who are registered as on Pension Credit. Howls of anguish go up.This once a year,one off payment was brought in about 20 years ago as a “bonus” to help people over the legal state pension age pay the winter fuel bill as we all use more power in winter to keep warm. It went to EVERYONE in completely indiscriminate fashion. Everyone over 65 that is. When the Tory administration suggested it be means tested and only for the poorest old folk with no property,assets or additional income,the objections from Labour were vociferous and forceful. Now,it is Labour who wants to cut it back. On the radio - the voices,the voices - callers in are split. Some are saying,well I never needed it anyway I always donated it to my local food bank. Others are saying “how will I manage without it”. Now to me this is the thing. People stopped seeing it as a one off bonus,gift or extra and viewed it as regular and normal and assured part of their income. Further the people this affects are mainly in my generation. We grew up in the Welfare state. We grew up in a world where the presumption was that professionals first duty above and beyond being paid money,was to care for us,to care about us. The school teachers,doctors,nurses,in fact all the functionaries needed to keep a 20th century society viable had to care about the people in their charge. And they mostly did.
I'm glad I NOTICED what most of these bewildered and confused callers in still haven't comprehended. They don't care any more. It's above their pay grade. You're on your own. If you've got a friend group all to the good. I'm not declaring that all doctors,councillors,etc don't care at all. Some do here and there,to some extent but no ones trying to be Dr Kildare or Dr Finlay,always wrapping up complex emotional issues in 30 minutes.