The human cost of targeting the sick

Next month the Abbott gov gets some crazy report handed to it which will (I assume) demonise those of us unfortunate enough to find ourselves having to survive on a Disability Support Pension (DSP). The gov will say how much we're all costing the country, even though many of us have worked for as long as we could before finally succumbing to illness. In my case nearly 30 years of full time work - hard physical work in the printing trade. 

Now we're told that the few crumbs we get off the gov is too much and "unsustainable" ...... *cough* That we're bludgers taking advantage of the welfare system. That we're hypochondriacs who visit the doctor too much. There will be the innuendo, that unsaid line that's in the back of the Coalitions ideological minds; that it's our fault we're poor and needy as we're too lazy to work.

I said not so long ago on this blog that treating those on the DSP like this will have detrimental effects on their health. Illness often goes hand in hand with anxiety and depression at the best of times. Having our only means of survival in this world put "under review" by the Abbott gov will only exacerbate that anxiety and depression.

This proves it. I was saddened to read this as I'd only recently discovered her blog. It meticulously rips to pieces the Abbott gov's lies even before they got going in office. Alas she has succumbed to her illness as has to stop writing for a while, citing Abbott gov politics as the last straw.

Subscribers to this blog have probably noticed by now that it’s been a long, long time between posts. I’d like to apologise for that, because goodness knows there’s no shortage of issues that deserve close attention – the Abbott government’s attacks on asylum seekers, action on climate change, welfare recipients, Medicare, the national curriculum, you name it. That’s without even beginning to dig into the rampant cronyism.

Thing is, folks, I’ve been trying to write, but without success. Some of you may be aware I suffer from a bipolar spectrum disorder, which was steadily worsening over the last four months. Between the anxiety, depression and mania, it’s been difficult to string the words together. In particular, the sheer amount of distress I feel at what the Abbott government is doing – or attempting to do – to Australians whose only crime is not to be rich has exacerbated my symptoms to the point where there are days I can’t even attempt to get near this blog. It probably sounds like a cop-out, but my mental health is already under strain, thanks to the illness and personal circumstances; it seems that the state of politics has proved to be the last straw. more

What a despicable gov this is. Where Abbott looks after his rich mates and attacks the most vulnerable in society. No wonder the Catholic Church is in crisis with assholes like Abbott being in it.

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