Aotearoa is still recoiling from the heartbreaking news two Work & Income front line staff were tragically murdered in Asburton today. Our hearts and sincere condolences go out to their families, every worker should go home safe. To all those who say we are not allowed to politicise and deliberately silence discussion of the broader context of damning, violent and dehumanising welfare and housing policy these workers unfortunately have to implement: shame on you. The man who murdered Work & Income staff today was homeless, destitute, chronically ill and repeatedly shunned by our politicians and our scarcely remaining safety net. Thousands just like him will not murder. They will be quietly loathed, demonised and their collective hardship denied. Rather, thousands who bear the violence and contempt of our Govt squeezing and beating people within an inch of their lives with punitive policy, will walk away with nothing: not even hope. Some will commit suicide. Others will die on the streets. Others will carry on crushed by the weight of unjustifiable hardship and social and economic exclusion. A few months ago, I was working with a chronically ill beneficiary whod just been released from prison been punished by the state since hed become an orphan at 4 years old. Hed stayed out of trouble since being released but was still sleeping under a bridge while the rain poured and was without income due to benefit sanctions. It took some pretty rigorous advocacy to get him to get him back on the Supported Living Payment (Invalids). Before wed gone in hed told me hed almost rather go back to prison and get three meals a day, and a roof, than live the misery of the streets in winter. I told him one of my fave James Baldwin quotes, The most dangerous creation of any society is the man who has nothing to lose. He looked at me sideways and goes yeah, id have to agree with that ae, its true The question Paula Bennett & Key must ask themselves now is: do we want to keep creating people who have nothing to lose? Do we want citizens who are left with no hope and nothing to live for, out on the margins? Do we want to create and punish a desperate poor, or do we want to create and sustain jobs, homes, opportunities, futures, safety and a decent standard of living for all NZers- working or not? Its actually our duty to politicise, and weve got to do it to prevent the inevitable future harm of both workers & beneficiaries if things carry on this rotten way. If we want workers to be safe, we must demand a compassionate treatment of people in their most fragile and vulnerable times of their lives. This will not only increase the safety of the workers, but the well-being of all. - AAAP
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 10:12:24 +0000
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