It’s 2013 and the term poverty is still the norm and a central part of newspeak. Many unfulfilled promises by consecutive governments have come and gone. The latest figures for child poverty nationally are extremely worrying with some areas with as many as 2 in 5 children experiencing it. So what of Dorset? The following is a breakdown of each area by constituency in order of the worst affected:
No of children %
| Bournemouth West | 3601 | 22 |
| Bournemouth East | 3411 | 18 |
| South Dorset | 2978 | 17 |
| Poole | 3000 | 16 |
| West Dorset | 1989 | 11 |
| Mid Dorset & North Poole | 1612 | 10 |
| North Dorset | 1945 | 10 |
Source: Campaign to end Child Poverty
AND what will austerity bring for the children of 2013 and beyond?
Poverty means different things to different people. It can be ‘absolute’ in which the very resources for staying alive are denied us or it can be ‘relative’ in which a minority are denied what the majority take for granted. Yes we can argue that some people smoke and drink when they should be paying rent and buying nutritious food (although we don’t levy the same argument at those who are wealthy through inheritance or luck strangely enough) but what of children? How can a civilised society argue that it is acceptable that the number 1 priority is not ensuring that all children have a start in life that is not undermined by lack of the appropriate resources? Why do governments generally play lip service to children’s lives whilst we stand idly by with our excuses on their behalf?
Austerity is killing children and young people. Fact! Austerity is killing some of their parents/guardians. Fact! Many rich Etonians don’t care. If they did we would not have these scandalous policies and lies coming from this Coalition. What can we do?
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE AND THEN SOME MORE UNTIL ALL OF THE CHILDREN HAVE THE SAME CHANCES TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FUTURE. NO MORE EXCUSES!
Douglas James
