WHO ARE THE SCROUNGERS?
Mr. Anthony Barber, Minister of Social Security, at the recent tory conterence made a scaring attack on what ne called a minority or scroungers sponcine on the Welfare State'". He did this to create a smokescreen to doscure the Governments orooosee massive cuts in social spending.
Mr. Barber carefully omitted to give figures to prove his case. An observer must assume he means the six million Old Age Pensioners, who have worked all their lives producing wealth to be consumed by the real ponces, the capitalist class, which Mr. Barber so ably represents He might even mean the 600,000 unemployed through no tault of their own, albeit to strengthen the sagging British capitalıst economy Ineir argument Tol unemployment, not mine.
The man euphemistically called Minister tor Social Security" certainly knows the identity and whereabouts of the real scroungers. They are in the airectors seats of the major stipping companies, in the boardrooms of ICI, in plush hotels digesting lunches which cost more than any striking worker is asking in increased pay.
They are occupying luxurious yants, they are nunting toxes, above all tney nold important OTTIce among the elite of parasites, the Tory Cabinet.
THE ANNUAL MASS MURDER A sunday express report, 4/10//U, snows great con cern that should the miners' national strike take place, mere might be an increase in tne ouruvu elderry people who die due to the cold each year. That newspaper, ake al or te bosses rress , only seems to notice people's suffering whenever a strike is pending. Should the strike not take place, will this prevent the 60,000 aged workers dying due to cold?
The miners have not engaged in a major strike for over 40 years, yet last year 60,000 neglected aged workers were murdered by society's maldistribution of wealth. It has been said by philosophers and sociolo gists that the level of civilisation in a given society can young.
Our present property-ortentated system murders its old, and through the so-called education process, perverts and distorts all sense of social values in the SLAVE LABOUR The "Flog 'em and Hang 'em Brigade" has also forwarded some progressive ideas for prison reform. One sadistic Tory imbecile proposes to relieve overcrowding in prisons, capital punishment should be restored!
Another enlightened true-blue proposes minor ojjenders snoula be empioyea on puonc service ! hospitals, and be afforded the professional status of "slave labour It is almost impossible to improve wages and conditions of hospital workers at present; the seriousty suggested introduction of a plentiful flow of free labour would jeopardise the municipal workers struggle!
For let us make no mistake, the Tories will make every effort in the cause of antediluvian progress. No trade union should engage in any provision of this kind. Prisoners employed in any public service must be entitled to wages and conditions enjoyed by any other worker in this category.
THE AFFLUENT SOCIETY Members of the Government, the press and television have been describing the wage demands of the striking municipal workers as "outrageous", "exorbitant", "too costly".
Many public service workers arter tax and insurance deductions take home the fabulous sum of £11.18.0. a week. The highest-paid among them are seldom able to reach the dizzy heiahts of £24.0.0. a week. Are these wages exorbitant? The average worker in addition to unimoortant uxuries ake eatme ano crinkino nas to pay between 65 and f7 a week rent, at least 60% of which goes in interest to private money-lenders who reap the misbegotten harvest of the housing shortage Local council politicians, Tory and Labour alike, are quite prepared to condone pollution of the country's water supplies-rather than grant their workers a decent basic wage of £18 a week These parochial Napoleons in their present role of quardians of ine public converiences are dopearine te most people as ludicrous latter-day Dickensian bumoles Whenever have they been concerned about wastetul cost? No municiba autorities nave been or record in opposing the vast profits private contractors achieve at the rate payers' expense.
Nor have they been over-zealous in pursuing the problems of the public who are homeless.
If public authorities are sincere about public cost let them end the practice of employing private con tractors on public works. This would cut their cost by 60% at the expense of the profit margins, not of the workers who do an obnoxious job well. The Red Mole 16th-31st Oct. 1970 Page 3