Hi Misstuffy, In the U.K., the corrupt and brainless bankers, such as the Royal Bank of Scotland were bailed out to the tune of eighty billion pounds. Where do you think all that money came from? The Welfare Budget. The Department for Work and Pensions, D.W.P. is responsible for over 590 suicides because of their draconian decisions. For some reason, they do not keep such statistics... I have written to Amber Rudd: who is the Secretary of State responsible for this benighted agency. My letter isn't for my benefit but for those who do not have a voice. I didn't pull my punches. She won't like the points which I made; but I don't give a damn, to be honest. She has just bought her daughter a flat costing £3,000,000, complete with a wine cellar. Most of the people on benefits cannot afford a single bottle of cheap plonk. What does she know about poverty? Absolutely nothing. I did write to my M.P. about eight topics. He commented on seven. The only one he completely ignored was what I wrote about the benefits system. This is not "fit for purpose" and the new system called, "Universal Credit," U.C. isn't implemented immediately one's previous benefit ends. Thus, there is a gap when claimants receive no money. They may apply for loans but these have to be repaid when their U.C. starts. If one doesn't apply for sufficient jobs, and have proof of this, then one is sanctioned. This means that one's benefit is stopped. The sanctions increase in severity every time one transgresses the D.W.P.'s rules. These are rigorously enforced by the "sharks" in the benefit offices. Their aim is to meet targets for sanctioning and so receive their bonuses. These targets are averaged out over all the D.W.P offices. The only aim of the D.W.P is to reduce the benefit budget by any, and every means, at their disposal. For instance, if one is late for an appointment. Excuses are not acceptable however genuine they are. The system is viciously cruel and heartless. The film, "I, Daniel Blake" which was directed by Ken Loach is a pretty good analysis of the how the D.W.P. puts sick claimants under intolerable stress.

@jamesthered We really should follow Icelands example. I love what they did. They sent those responsible for the crash to prison, the bankers, instead of bailing them out. I wish America would follow their example.