 |
 |
Well, that's a fair comment from you: yes we do have to achieve a balanced view of things. And there are obviously other things such as tax evasion by companies that should occupy us much more. However, all I would urge everyone to consider is that when we talk about fairness and rights, these are reciprocal concepts. They speak to the mutual obligations we have for each other in society, not just to the obligations some people think society has to them! On 8 Nov 2011, at 16:17, grahame whitfield wrote: > Axel > > I have to say I found your blog extraordinary. > > I watched Humphrey's appalling programme carefully. No-one was "was clear > that they have a right to be unemployed" and neither some of the views put > across in the programme or the argument criticising its one-dimensionality > represents a "topsy-turvy view of personal responsibilities". And rather > than it being the case that "What is often less commented on is the damage > to their own lives they cause by remaining on benefits", it is actually the > case that what is almost never commented on in the mainstream media is the > wealth of evidence about how whole sections of our society have become not > only disconnected and disenfranchised but also stigmatised and blamed for > their circumstances on the basis of a handful of carefully configured > stereotypes which fly in the face of reality. Policy making has not > addressed the entrenched exclusion, poverty and discrimination that blights > the lives of many people in the UK and the current concerted attempt at > moving debate even further to the position that it is the fault of > individuals is both lamentable and seriously worrying. As such, I have to > say that I found your phrase "We may have to save them from themselves" one > of the most misguided, ill-informed and prejudicial comments I've read in a > long time and one removed from both the statistical reality and the lived > reality of many of the poorest and most excluded in the UK. > > I agree with you that it is not 'right wing' to ask legitimate questions. It > is not a matter of left v right. But it is poor journalism and poor > research practice to make a programme, conduct a survey or use statistics > within such a loaded and biased context as seems to be increasingly the case > - as was done in the Panorama programme (again). Humphrey's programme being > celebrated amongst a very narrow niche identifies its political attraction > and to me it isn't a progressive one based around any concept of fairness, > social justice or equality. > > Grahame > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: The Disability-Research Discussion List > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Axel Kaehne > Sent: 08 November 2011 15:40 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: Lies, damn lies and statistics > > I dont think there is anything 'right wing' in asking some legitimate > questions about benefit reforms as John Humphreys has done. > > http://www.axel-kaehne.net/2011/11/couple-of-weeks-ago-john-humphreys.html > > As I argued before, it is important that we factor in the damage > unemployment and idleness do to the people themselves. > > Best wishes > > Axel > > > > > On 8 Nov 2011, at 12:12, Jenny Morris wrote: > >> There have been many examples recently of the misuse of statistics in the > public debate over welfare reform but few as blatant as that exposed in this > blog > http://inequalitiesblog.wordpress.com/2011/11/08/fraud-dishonesty-exaggerati > on/#more-1621 >> >> ________________End of message________________ >> >> This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for > Disability Studies at the University of Leeds > (www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies). >> >> Enquiries about list administration should be sent to > [log in to unmask] >> >> Archives and tools are located at: > www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html >> >> You can VIEW, POST, JOIN and LEAVE the list by logging in to this web > page. > > Dr Axel Kaehne > Welsh Centre for Learning Disabilities > School of Medicine > Heath Park > Cardiff > CF14 4XN > Phone 029 20 687 212 > Fax 029 20 687 100 > [log in to unmask] > > http://medicine.cf.ac.uk/en/person/mr-axel-kaehne/ > > Read my blog at > www.axel-kaehne.net > > ________________End of message________________ > > This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for > Disability Studies at the University of Leeds > (www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies). > > Enquiries about list administration should be sent to > [log in to unmask] > > Archives and tools are located at: > www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html > > You can VIEW, POST, JOIN and LEAVE the list by logging in to this web page. > Dr Axel Kaehne Welsh Centre for Learning Disabilities School of Medicine Heath Park Cardiff CF14 4XN Phone 029 20 687 212 Fax 029 20 687 100 [log in to unmask] http://medicine.cf.ac.uk/en/person/mr-axel-kaehne/ Read my blog at www.axel-kaehne.net ________________End of message________________ This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds (www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies). Enquiries about list administration should be sent to [log in to unmask] Archives and tools are located at: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html You can VIEW, POST, JOIN and LEAVE the list by logging in to this web page.