A SIGN OF THE TIMES

I was appalled to hear on the morning news that a certain large supermarket is cashing in on the dreadful poverty in which many people,through no fault of their own find themselves in these trying times.

Later at the store, shoppers ears were being bombarded with pleas to buy extra food and leave it at a collection point  as they left, as a donation to a food bank  The store would then,we were informed  donate 30% of the cost of each item to charity  .Some might think this a laudable project,I most definitely do not.

Supermarkets in general and this one in particular are not renown for their philanthropic gestures to harassed shoppers, let alone those who cannot afford their prices. One only has to look closely at the so called bigger pack,better value scams which appear all over the store. Supermarkets are in the business of making money and that is the not so pure and simple truth.

This then begs the question,why are they doing this?The answer is simple,it will make them money.

At a time when all of us are attempting to buy less each week this is a cynical ploy to encourage us to spend extra by appealing to our consciences,our consciences, what about theirs?

With the mark up on each and every product sky high, they will still make money even if they do give 30% of each items value to the needy The shear bare face cheek beggars belief!

There even seems to be a limit upon what products can be donated,this suggests that,according to this weeks gifting advice they have an over plus of pasta sauce in stock,maybe now it is I who am being cynical? I really think not!

In my home town thousands are having to survive on food bank hand outs ,now don't mistake me I think these institutions are wonderful and quite possibly life saving. The shear organisation which goes in to these places and make it work is phenomenal and those who run them give of their time freely.

I have nothing to say against these remarkable centres of welfare. What I deplore is the need for such places in this day and age. How long will it be before the workhouse, the poor law and the treadmill are brought back to life. Already our political parties,yes all of them talk about the poor and the unemployed in terms which suggest that they believe these people choose to draw benefit and live in squalor,not so!

My grandmother worked herself to death to keep her five children from the workhouse when her husband was to ill to work. My maternal Grandfather ,who like many was out of work in the recession played cards for money all over the Midlands in the big hotels to keep food on the families table. He had photographic recall and usually won. My Great grand mother performed the duty of midwife,undertaker and sometimes even abortionist to her community,she too was left with five children when her young husband died. She did what she needed to do, and was a good and caring woman I am told,and well respected.

The people in my home town were proud of their heritage, they were Potters,Steel men, Miners and Railway engineers. They cut the canals, they were hard working people and proud of their independence.

All the industries I named have gone,so where are the men and women to work? The simple truth is that there is no work,so these people are obliged to draw benefit. They are vilified by all the political parties and are being turned in to scapegoats for what is wrong with the economy.

Don't let them fool you,for however middle or even upper middle-class you may think you are ,what you are in fact is just one pay packet away from the poverty these people have suffered for years, no shame to them. Shame instead to the politicians who closed the factories,who allowed our industries to wither away through lack of investment.

Shame to the bankers, who first encourage people to take on large debts which cannot then be serviced by someone who suddenly loses his employment.

I seem to have come a long way from my opening comments, but in reality I have not moved at all.

The people who rely on these food banks are in need of compassion from every one of us,and I do not mean buying and extra bottle of pasta sauce at the supermarket.

The next time you hear some well fed cabinet minister sounding off about the villainies and the fecklessness of the unemployed,for Gods sake,see it for what it is,their attempt to deflect the blame for our ravaged economy from themselves.

At the next elections be they local or national,remember that Politicians are the servants, not the masters of the public, and act accordingly.