A prominent journalist working for a major publication has realised that dementia sufferers struggle to get benefits. She wishes there was something she could do to help. Neither she, a major influencer, nor her government minister husband, has any idea what to do.
Is it true? asks Sarah Vine (for it is she). Well, yes. It’s one of the principles of a free-market neoliberal doctrine that you don’t get something for nothing. Are you disabled? Need some extra support? Well tough. It’s not our problem.
How is this not a national scandal? she continues. If only you knew somebody influential in the print media who could bring this to the attention of the nation! But Sarah Vine, star columnist at the Daily Mail, doesn’t know anyone who fits the bill.
Perhaps have a word with your MP? Wouldn’t it be fortunate if Sarah Vine were married to a prominent government minister, like Michael Gove? Then she could use her fortunate position to benefit the nation. But poor old Sarah is helpless.
Instead, she writes about inconsequential crap, like the ‘Gove once took cocaine’ story, amusing though it may be. You can just imagine their drug-addled existence, which presumably explains how Michael Gove ever managed to get laid.
Sarah could possibly write about disability benefits, but her piece would get spiked. The Daily Mail would advocate rounding up and shooting all disabled people in the neighbourhood. This would have two benefits. Fewer scroungers bleeding the country dry, and no undesirables in the vicinity who might affect property prices.
And what about Gove’s backstabbing buddies in Westminster? Not a chance they would change things, even if they wanted to. After all, austerity is designed to cut funding for social purposes, while borrowing heavily to fund tax breaks. Not even a cabinet minister could manage to change the way we run our country.
Oh well. Back to slagging off migrants it is.