|
I get inundated daily with emails and press releases. It's part of the job. Most of them are mildly interesting, some are actually useful and a great many more many just get recycled before they're even opened.
Last week's data morsel came courtesy of a survey by Yetis who have been looking at what Brits Begrudge paying for the most.
Yes, the usual suspects are all up there: tax, council tax, petrol etc figure quite highly. Then came the female angle – 82% of women resent paying for feminine hygiene products. The survey went on. Apparently as 61% female respondents think these are a healthcare essential they believe they should be free of charge.
Hmmm. I wonder, did they ask men about whether razors need to be free or whether deodorant is now considered a healthcare essential? What about toothpaste? Or Soap? Or Food?
The survey then went on ... "For similar reasons, 23% of the people asked felt nappies should be free to parents."
It then expanded on this train of thought with a quote, courtesy of Mark Pearson, Director of Groupola.
"I agree with the respondents that certain items deemed as 'necessities' should be provided by the Government, or at least made more affordable for consumers. A lot of parents begrudge paying for items like nappies and formula milk, which is quite understandable."
Hang on a minute, let me get this right. We are currently facing a public sector deficit of gargantuan proportions, such that every government sector except for those that have been ring fenced will face a 25% cut across the board and this survey is siding with parents who think necessities should be provided by the government.
Has it really come to this in our society that while Britons are perfectly content to have children they begrudge paying for the essentials required to raise them?
The government already gives parents sufficient money to pay for nappies and milk. It's called Child Benefit and, while the Chancellor announced in his latest Budget that it would be frozen at its current levels for the next three years, Child Benefit will still provide enough money to feed a child and clad its bottom in nappies.
Of course kids cost money. That's the whole point. They are emotionally and financially draining and they age you. However, they are this country's future and must therefore be worth a little sacrifice. If we, as a nation, are unable to willingly provide for our children that's a pretty damning indictment.
|
