Throughout the tenure of this Government a series of political commentators have attempted to highlight the disparity between our austerity cutbacks and the amount we give to foreign aid. I wonder how those commentators are feeling today?
As we witness in real time the tens of thousands in the Philippines who have lost absolutely everything, it is surely immoral to question the amount we give to foreign aid. I repeat, these people have lost everything. Not X boxes, satellite dishes, computers and televisions but food, water, a roof over their heads and clothing. That is their reality. We talk openly about austerity in the UK as if we knew what it meant. If we went to the Philippines today, I'm sure the people there would give us a rather better defintion than our more rose tinted version.
It is sobering to reflect that Remembrance Day this year seemed alsmost to get in the way of the great debate concerning which retailer has the best TV advertisement for Christmas. Putting aside the obvious cynicism and immorality of the sabotage of Christmas, I can't believe that anybody can have Christmas on their minds in November. Heaven forbid anybody remembers why we have Christmas! It is a religious festival which has been hijacked and fleeced by the marketing men. The biggest culprits though as those who buy in to this nonsense. While I don't condone the cynicism of the retailers, I take more issue with those gullible enough to fall for it. Frankly, I couldn't care a fig whose advert is the best and hopefully won't have to be subjected to their hollow, materialist drivel.
I pray for the people in the Philippines and I'm glad our Government is showing the moral responsibility by sending aid. I'm pleased that the public is giving to the aid appeal and urge people to reconsider their priorities. Charity does not begin at home because it is the duty of all of us to consider our fellow man. This is just plain humanity and I would like to think that the plight of those poor people in the Philippines is even more important than the John Lewis Christmas advert given that we are still in the first half of November...
On a final note, I do hope the Fire Fighters have a great four hour strike today over their pension grievance. Fancy asking a fireman to work until he or she is aged 60! Obviously at age 55 they are all robust and physically fit enough to do their jobs. 60 though is just taking things too far. It's good to know that our income in retirement continues to occupy our thoughts.
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