UK households turn to TV subscriptions as they cut back on nights out | UK cost of living crisis | The Guardian

Consumers reduce spending on groceries, clothes and eating out as they seek to balance budgets

============================================

But why should you have to pay twice to do so, for in the UK there are 2 subscriptions, one you are forced to pay and one where it is your choice.

Surely choice should be paramount for no one should be forced to pay for a license just to watch TV.

For to watch TV you are forced to subscribe to the TV Licence fee, which is there to fund the BBC, whether you watch or listen to the BBC and then decide which other subscription service to pay for or just the TV license fee and so watch TV on Freeview.

Of course, no one is forcing you to watch TV for that is your choice, but if you do you are legally required to pay the TV Licence fee, otherwise you could be criminally charged, really be criminalised just for watching TV, how ridiculous this is.

Real choice needs to be there for those who wish to support the BBC, so they then pay them a fee either directly or via the subscription to the TV provider of their choice.

STOP the criminalisation of watching TV and leave it to the choice of TV viewers.

 

Source: UK households turn to TV subscriptions as they cut back on nights out | UK cost of living crisis | The Guardian

Do we need political parties? In theory, they’re the sort of organization that could bring Americans together in larger purpose

Americans are not the first to fret over the potential harm that parties can inflict. But parties can also promote the common interest.

============================================

For a democracy there needs to be more than one source of a political agenda for there needs to be an element of choice otherwise it is not democratic. However, for a true democracy it depends on the element and freedom of choice.

For in Russia, while in theory there is more than one political party, but effectively there is only one, as there are strict limitations placed on any others and certainly on members of these others.

In America we are all aware of Democrats and Republicans, the two main parties but there are some minor parties being Libertarian, Green, Constitution, and Alliance parties, but their share of the vote is insignificant compared to that of the Democratic and Republican parties.

While in the UK there is Labour and Conservatives who tend govern mostly, but there is also the Liberal Democrats, with the Scottish Nationalist in Scotland, Plaid Cymru in Wales, and in Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin, Democratic Unionist Party, (DUP), Alliance Party of Northern Ireland, Ulster Unionist Party, Social Democratic and Labour Party, and others. Any who win seats in General Elections or Bi-Elections are entitled to sit in the UK House of Commons in London, but in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland they also have their own Devolved Assemblies, although the Northern Ireland Assembly is not currently sitting due to a dispute with the DUP.

Now the definition of a democracy is: the belief in freedom and equality between people, or a system of government based on this belief, in which power is either held by elected representatives or directly by the people themselves. (Cambridge Dictionary)

But, I believe that a true democracy is not only persons governing by being elected by the population on political party agendas, but then govern not only for those who elected them, but for everyone of the population, which may not be the same. So, in the UK during 1918-2022 the share of the vote for the elected ruling party has been less than 50%, so not for the majority of the population. Even those persons voting for whichever party they did, it can’t be said that they agreed with everything that Party was standing for. In the UK both the name of the candidate and the party they are with are both mentioned on the ballot paper in each said Constituency  so, it can’t be assumed that everyone who voted was for the party or the candidate. The winning Candidate who then becomes a Member of Parliament, (MP) is supposed to represent all of the persons in the in the said, Constituency, not just those who voted for them, but in many instances they could be voting on Party lines, just as can be seen in the applauses in Bidens American Address.

It is my belief that when voted in Party politics should be put on one side and the ruling assembly be run on what is best for the whole country and not what is best for some selection of the country, that would be a true democracy and where it is seen not to be there should be immediate accountability and not waiting for the next election.

Source: Do we need political parties? In theory, they’re the sort of organization that could bring Americans together in larger purpose

Coronavirus UK: Care homes ‘ordered not to resuscitate’ residents | Metro News

Care homes were told by the NHS to order the forms without discussions with staff, residents or their families.

Source: Coronavirus UK: Care homes ‘ordered not to resuscitate’ residents | Metro News

 

 

 

Hft | About us | “A sector out of options” – Hft publishes latest research

Newly published research by Hft reveals that the number of social care providers who have been forced to cut support has doubled in the last 12 months.

Source: Hft | About us | “A sector out of options” – Hft publishes latest research

The Scandal of UK’s £15.1 Billion+ Elderly Cash Cows. ‘The hottest investment sector of the decade’.

This is but one of many scandals within the Caring Industry, so called.

Not only are residents not always cared for sufficiently, but in some respects neither are the care staff, with many, if not all on the National Living Wage or just slightly more.

With such low pay are we encouraging people to work in the care industry or is it the reverse.

There is a national shortage of Care Workers, especially within the Home Care sector of the industry. With the responsibilities that care workers should undertake they should be paid much more, which in turn could lead to the industry become much more fully staffed. In which case some providers would not just employ all who apply, but be selective to ensure only good quality carers are employed.

Then the Service Providers could be scrutinised fully to ensure all providers are providing a good quality service. This would not. well not initially, have any impact on the Safeguarding legislation, but may mean that we more good quality staff the home care part of the industry could be more equipped to provide more good quality care within a persons own home.

It is with this in mind that there is a petition – Pay all employed carers the Living Wage. By providing an increase hourly rate this may be a start to improve many aspects of the care industry.

So would you consider supporting the petition.

For more information please see below.

You may be aware that there is a crisis within Social Care, an even greater crisis than that within health. This is because a crisis in Social Care will have a great impact on health making the health crisis even greater.

Please could you consider supporting the Petition – Pay all employed carers the Living Wage. Petition link https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/236151

I am involved in this Petition project based on the Care Workers within the Care Industry.

This industry is in crisis, as is the Health Service, but within Social Care this crisis is even greater. This in turn will create even more pressure on all aspects of the Health Service. Therefore, action is needed to minimise the Social Care crisis and pay paid carers a reasonable wage is one of these actions, so there is now a petition.

Please, therefore, could you support the Petition – Pay all employed carers the Living Wage, created by Flash, (Families Lobbying & Advising Sheffield), a group of family carers of relatives with Learning Disabilities and/or Autism in Sheffield who are concerned at the state of Social Care, not only in Sheffield, but throughout the UK.

We all know that there is a major crisis in Social Care not just in Sheffield, but all over the UK. This is in a large part due to the lack of persons willing to come into the Care Industry, of which the low pay is a prime factor.

Parliament are aware and have formed a Cross Party Committee to look at funding, recruitment and pay for Care Workers in the Care Industry.

The Government currently have a recruitment campaign for the Care Industry ‘Every Day is Different’ https://carervoice.wordpress.com/2019/02/22/new-campaign-to-recruit-thousands-more-adult-social-care-staff-gov-uk/comment-page-1/#comment-57 .

However, there is no mention of pay.

Please therefore, could you consider the following #pay #employed #wage#funding #government #serviceproviders #living

Could you look at promoting the Petition – ‘Pay all employed carers the Living Wage, created by FLASh (Families Lobbying & Advising Sheffield).

Petition link https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/236151
Please sign this Petition, however, until you then click the signature verification link in the resulting email your signature will not be valid and will therefore not count re supporting the Petition cause.

More information https://1drv.ms/w/s!Aq2MsYduiazglWxA60JAY_2cpvN8

We need this Tory Government to end Austerity Cuts to Local Authorities and then increase the Grants to these Authorities so they can fund Care Service Providers to be able to pay their care workers at least the Living Wage.

Please also see the HFT report ‘Sector Pulse Check’, https://1drv.ms/w/s!Aq2MsYduiazglXuM7Duz6HOYXvsv

The care sector needs to recruit 128,000 new workers each year to replace those who retire or leave, new research has found.

The study (http://careassociationalliance.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Care-Association-Alliance-Social-care-Workforce-Analysis-2018.pdf) by the Care Association Alliance and law firm Royds Withy King found that one in three workers leave the sector every year – the highest turnover rate of all job sectors in the UK.

The King’s Fund has also conducted a study, Closing the Gap: Key Areas for action on the health and care workforce, https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/publications/closing-gap-health-care-workforce?utm_source=The%20King%27s%20Fund%20newsletters%20%28main%20account%29&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=10393870_NEWSL_The%20Weekly%20Update%202019-03-21&utm_content=Closing_the_gap_button&dm_i=21A8,66RYM,JBZ5CO,OCYQ7,1

If the Petition attains 10,000 signatures, the Government will respond and if 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

Please support and share with your work colleagues, family & friends, Social Media, MP and Local Councillors.

For any further information Chris can be contacted on carervoice@gmail.com

Thank you

Chris Sterry
Vice-chair of FLASh

finolamoss

Some months ago I’d seen a sign go up on a slightly dilapidated Victorian house – Alzheimer Nursing Home

And driven past its silence most days, wondering about the lives inside.

I saw a large dinning table and chairs through its windows but never a person.

Short plump ladies in blue overalls went in and out .

Once a white aproned man stood smoking outside and a black suited lady alighted a 4 by 4..

But no residents.

Then last week a tall older lady sprinting along the road caught my eye.

Without bag, or key .dressed in a spotlessly white cardigan and patterned, belted polyester dress, her neat dyed auburn curls freed in the breeze.

Her face ecstatic.

Appearing to embrace  the air, the sun and trees and the euphoria of freedom.

Rarely had I seen such a look of joy and expectation.

Later it struck me she was…

View original post 546 more words

An American woman wearing a Chinese dress is not cultural appropriation | Anna Chen | Opinion | The Guardian

When is a dress just a dress? Remember those photos of the little cocktail number that looked blue with black lace to some and white with gold lace to others when they were in fact the same frock? American teenager Keziah Daum now possesses a prom dress with similar magical properties, and it’s landed her in hot water with culture pedants.

The attraction of the qipao (“cheongsam” in Cantonese) is obvious: a sexy, figure-hugging sheath of silk with a high mandarin collar balancing a va-va-voom flash of leg via a thigh-high slash. Its beauty, however, turned into a curse when photos posted on social media of her wearing her beloved vintage find made her a target for tens of thousand of tweets accusing her of cultural appropriation. That’s one heck of a fashion crime.

 

Source: An American woman wearing a Chinese dress is not cultural appropriation | Anna Chen | Opinion | The Guardian

Government takes small step over risk of NHS care home discrimination

It should be an individuals right to be able to live where they chose to and not where an authority states they should. Care is personal to the individual and should never be reduced in quality or quantity.

Long term care should not be metered by cost, but by individual need in accordance with their choice. Why should having a disability or a life long condition mean their choice cannot be respected.

Chris Why-Lie Part iii

I voted leave, not because of the promise of £350 million for the NHS, not about immigration, not about non-UK people taking jobs, but because I do not trust the EU.

Remainers say why leave when all is great, but is all great for if it is now, which is debatable, can we trust the EU not to change what already is there and Remain are saying ‘why lose this’.

It is my view that if we believe Remain and stop Brexit what we have already we will lose.

For eventually there will be no individual countries within the EU for it will be Federal States of Europe.

The only form of power and Government will be from Brussels, there will be one tax system, one army, navy and airforce, one currency and many more.

If you want to lose the £, have no say in how the UK is run, would the NHS be safe, have one taxation, etc. There then could be VAT on Food, childrens clothes and much more.

The current individual country Governments could be reduced to Local Council status and where would that then leave the current local councils.

The Bureaucrats in Brussel have one agenda and that is only power with them.

So Brexit to the End and beyond, for only then will we have choice on how we proceed into the future.

ukgovernmentwatch

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/943015/Brexit-News-Whistleblower-referendum-Cambridge-Analytica-Vote-Leave

Gellert
When a rat is cornered their next move is always predictable.

If someone claims they supported Leave but then spouts that his side only won because “they cheated” then that person has to be called out for what they are – a bare-faced liar. These people will stop at NOTHING to overturn Brexit. This is a MIRROR IMAGE of what’s currently happening across the pond with the absolute hysteria swirling around Trump’s Presidency.

Rather than have a referendum re-run “for clarity”, what this stooge REALLY means is that he and his “handlers” need the opportunity to have a second crack of the whip,when they’ll leave nothing to chance the second time round. They’ll ensure fail-safe systems are in place to skew the vote to such an extent that Remain win by a huge margin to “prove” the first result was a fix and to consign…

View original post 71 more words

As A Disabled Woman I Had To Battle To Get Married

People may have some form of disability, but why should this be a barrier in life, for is life not just what you make it to be.

People talk about ‘normal’ but what is ‘normal’ is this just a perception for what could be ‘normal’ for one may not be ‘normal’ for another.

Being with another, be it marriage or not, is creating a relationship to which both parties belong and relate to.

The two persons are the important factors in the relationship and others or Society should not be imposing any barriers to that relationship, provided both are consenting partners, they are of legal age and have the capacity to consent.

Same Difference

Sometimes he’d even forget that I only had one arm. He was an able-bodied person, a complete man – he could get any girl.

But he was with me. It had been a year since we started living together under one roof without getting married.

The decision to stay together while unmarried was not an easy one.

It started after I created my profile on a matrimonial site to alleviate my mother’s concern about my marriage.

I had turned 26 and my mother thought it was time.

My left arm had got cut off in an accident when I was a child, so I understood her anxiety about my marriage.

One day, I got a request on the matrimonial site. The man was an engineer by profession. He was Bengali too, just like me, though from a different city.

But I was unable to decide anything. So I wrote back…

View original post 592 more words

Anger over Royal Society’s ‘love fest for euthanasia’ conference | DisabledGo News and Blog

Disabled activists have attacked the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) for hosting a conference on “choice at the end of life” that was little more than a “love fest for euthanasia”.

RSM said before the event that the conference would “question whether or not assisted dying is complementary or contradictory to the notion of person-centred care”.

But speakers in favour of legalising assisted suicide far outnumbered those who opposed a change in the law.

One of those behind the conference, Professor Roger Kirby, who chairs RSM’s academic board, told the audience that the idea for organising it came to him after reading an article written by the husband of a terminally-ill woman who travelled to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland to take her own life.

The other senior medical figure who helped organise the event, he said, was Professor Gillian Leng, deputy chief executive of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), whose terminally-ill husband, Professor Paul Cosford, told the conference that he was in favour of a change in the law.

Professor Cosford, who has incurable cancer, and is patient and medical director for Public Health England, suggested that having choice at the end of life should include the option of an assisted suicide.

He told the conference: “I cannot predict how I will die but I can focus on living well now if I know that I would have some kind of control at the time if I need it.”

He added: “To enable choice at the end of life, taking account of individual care needs, may well need a change in approach.

“I do think that might include [the option of] assisted dying.”

He was followed by two further speakers who were in favour of legalisation: Tony Wicks, whose wife ended her life at Dignitas; and Julie Smith, whose husband had been prevented from travelling to Switzerland to end his life at the clinic.

The first three speakers were all supportive of legalising assisted suicide, while the fourth, an assistant coroner, expressed no opinion.

The next speaker was Dr Catherine Sonquist Forest, a strong advocate of legalisation, who takes part in the practice of assisted suicide in California – where it is called “medical aid-in-dying” – where it was legalised in June 2016.

The conference did not hear from an opponent of legalisation until the sixth speaker, Juliet Marlow, from Not Dead Yet UK (NDY UK), who had only been added to the list of speakers after NDY UK raised concerns at not being invited to speak at the event.

 

Source: Anger over Royal Society’s ‘love fest for euthanasia’ conference | DisabledGo News and Blog