IAN HART Clarification is needed
ALL feedback on this column, whether negative or positive, is good, so my thanks go to Mr Bill Geddes of Lansdowne Road for taking the time and trouble to write to the Herald with some observations on the content of this column.
However, there are a number of points brought up in his letter that require both a reply and some clarification.
Mr Geddes accusing me of having a go at immigrants, describing them as “strangers in the town”. Given the fact that in 1801 Worthing had a population of 2,151 and now has in excess of 100,000 people living here, most of our forefathers were once newcomers to the town.
As a proud Worthing resident, I, like everyone else, welcome new people to the town of all races, colours and creeds. My point which perhaps Mr Geddes only partly alludes to is the fact that recent social housing projects in the town have not taken existing Worthing residents off the housing list but have instead seen other boroughs, primarily from London, sending their existing tenants, predominantly while, I hasten to add, to occupy the new properties. My point was, should we not reduce our own housing list first, rather than importing other tenants from other councils?
Mr Geddes describes the “appalling government’s strategy” over the benefit system. If he thinks that capping a single households benefits at £26,000 net (£35,000 gross) is wrong then we clearly will have to agree to differ.
How many pensioners in Worthing, who have worked hard and paid into the system all of their lives, get an income from the state on this level?
Paying out that kind of money for basically doing nothing almost destroys the basic work ethic for future generations. Thankfully, I know of a lot of people with families who would rather work all week for an income less than the proposed benefit cap, because: a) they want to work. b) they want to give their children the aforementioned work ethic.
Mr Geddes goes on about my view of denying people the right of having a television or something to sit on, which is again a little wide of the mark. My actual point was that when ITV Daybreak went to a long-time claimant’s house who said they would struggle on £26,000 a year, they had the plasma screen TV and the nice sofa from one of the high street shops, which does make you wonder about the whole concept of the benefits system. What message does that ultimately send out to the people who do work?
He talks about an increase in beggars, which is certainly something I would not want to see; in fact, I support the Worthing Churches Homeless Projects, who do a superb job eradicating a very serious problem.
Mr Geddes finishes by saying I would have us believe the underclass will eventually bleed this country dry.
If you have a number of people who do nothing, yet draw money from the system, and they are followed by another generation with the same ethic, with so many taking out rather than putting in, the coffers will run dry, regardless of how much the rest of us put in.
Mr Geddes is entitled to his opinion, as am I, but clearly on this occasion our views are poles apart.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Worthing
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
Comments
There are 5 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Lord Larry
Monday, February 27, 2012 at 10:40 PMIan Hart made a good defense and I think he is spot on with his response. Nothing wrong with Cheese Toastie pointing out some irregularities of Franleys thought over various postings but don't do the hypocrite hypocrite childish chant, that just discredited your point totally.
motormouth
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 08:17 PMWell done Cheese Toastie. You have quickly discovered one or two truisms about those who inhabit this site. Keep it up, your sort are needed.
frankly
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 06:04 PM@2 Calm down dear,calm down Patrick,oops I mean Cheese Toastie. Of course your entitled to your opinion of me.However I know both these people,and am well aware of many of their activities around Worthing, both involved in supporting this or that ,Both of course entitled to express their views via this medium. I see nothing Hypocritical in coming down heavily in support of Ian`s "Clarification in this case,mostly common sense, and in my opinion Bill Gedes is clearly wrong. Again however there is every opportunity here for all join in this debate. I for one have long held the view that there are consequences to this mass social housing, perpetrated by other authorities with apparent approval by our own councils to the detriment of our own local housing requirements. I thought Harty spot on here,and have said so. Lets get this out in the open.
CheeseToastie
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 01:56 PM@1 - Wow! When someone on this website advises Hart to keep his opinions to himself you said: "That sounds like censorship Patrick?. Not to be recommended especially on a forum such as this." A day later out comes:"The advice I would give to you is face the fact your view is wrong,your (sic) in a hole,so stop digging before you make a complete fool of yourself." Seems to me you're happy to silence those whose opinions don't match yours but are outraged if someone wants to silence an opinion you support. Hypocrit. Hypocrit. Hypocrit. Hypocrit.
frankly
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 12:05 PMSorry Bill,but Ian wins this argument hands down in my book. The advice I would give to you is face the fact your view is wrong,your in a hole,so stop digging before you make a complete fool of yourself.
Page 1 of 1
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.