From
the Socialist Standard
‘The
popular lie, often put forward by champions of Britain’s welfare
state, that “no one starves to death here any more” has currently
been exposed as such by the recent high-lighting in the media of the
condition known as hypothermia.
But
hypothermia (or “low heat”) is nothing new. Old people have died
by the thousand from lack of food, fuel and clothing for years under
the welfare state. But only lately has there been significant
publicity about it. From the Sunday Express we learn, “Soaring fuel
costs which lead to thousands of old people economising on home
heating were blamed yesterday for a massive rise in the number of
elderly patients being taken to hospital suffering from effects of
cold... One theory being put forward for the higher than ever toll is
that pensioners, many living alone on small incomes, are frightened
of using heating and lighting appliances because of the cost. So they
sit at home without heating... Pensions, with the present price of
electricity and food, don’t go very far”
From
the Daily
Mirror :
“The tragedy spotlights the problem of hypothermia which claims an
average of 45,000 lives in Britain each year... Ninety thousand old
people have been given a twin death sentence—by the coldest weather
for four years and rocketing fuel prices... The Department of Health
and Social Security recommends a minimum temperature of 21C for
homes. Yet a survey shows that 89 per cent of pensioners’
living-room temperatures were below the Government standard. And that
was before the increased fuel prices.”
To
the Socialist the answer to the problem would seem obvious. Food,
fuel and clothing, like all other needs should be freely available
(not
only to the elderly)
to all human beings.
But
what are the capitalist solutions to the problem? Call in on elderly
neighbours to find out if anyone is actually dying. (Milkmen are
regarded as being useful here.)
Doctors
can obtain special wide range thermometers so that if they find a
cold, collapsed old patient in a cold house, lacking food, fuel and
clothing they’ll be able to pinpoint the diagnosis.
And,
so public-spirited is the Daily
Mirror that
they devoted a front page to the problem. Indeed, the way they
launched their “campaign” one almost got the impression they were
offering to finance food, fuel and clothing themselves. But, in fact,
what they came up with was a free “cut-out” sos sign for those
dying of hypothermia to put in their windows for the milkman etc. to
see. And listen to the further contributions of these philanthropic
crusaders:- “If you know old people who live on their own, make
sure they have a copy of the warning poster” (and the Daily
Mirror supplied
it free remember.) "If you see the Daily
Mirror's SOS
sign in a window, see what help you can give. Knock on the door and
give all the help you can”.
But
the altruistic Mirror also
gives a good capitalistic reason for donating SOS signs to the dying.
It quotes Mr. Hugh Faulkner, director of Help the Aged who “welcomes
the Mirror's campaign.”
“The plight of the old is frightening this winter. The winter
weather has really hit us now. Food and fuel bills are higher than
ever before and pensions have just not kept pace with
inflation. Someone,
sometime will eventually realise it is cheaper for the nation to keep
old people warm and well fed in their own home than have them go to
hospital.”
(our italics). So please help “the nation” to do it cheaper,
chaps!
Still
the Mirror:-
“Everyone can help to alleviate the suffering and misery which is
piled on old people year by year”, (they don’t say by whom).
Then, in thick type:- “Today, the Daily
Mirror appeals
to everyone to help the old to survive winter. Be a busybody and you
could save a life.” Then a broad hint that the neighbours should
come up with the necessary funds: - “Check that the old man or
woman living down the road is all right. Make sure they are warm and
have enough food. If not, get in touch with the local welfare
services and run a few errands to stock up their food larder.”
Other advice the beneficent Mirror gives
free is:- “make sure there is an efficient heater. . . . and they
need at least one hot meal a day and frequent snacks and hot
drinks.”
Actually,
another newspaper takes the prize. The Stoke-on-Trent Evening
Sentinel comes
up with this:- “A cheap thermometer to alert old people to the
dangers of cold and hypothermia went on sale at Stafford today. The
thermometer at 20p, is being marketed by an Essex firm as a
non-profit making venture.”
Four
chemists in the Stafford area have agreed to sell the thermometers
which are blue and white. When the temperature falls to the blue
zone—below 15.5 Centigrade —it indicates danger to the old people
from cold. “This may not save lives but could alert people who may
not realise they are in danger”, said Mrs. Jane York, the firm’s
social representative. “The see-at-glance thermometer could also
warn social workers and visitors of old people at risk,” explains
Mrs. York.
What
useful gifts—stick one of these on their wall and the pensioner
dying of cold will be able to see exactly why.
It
makes one marvel at the bitter irony and cynicism which can
unconsciously be spewed out by people not wanting to face the
obvious. Were it not so tragic it would be hilarious.’
R. B. Gill
The above piece is from the Standard of March 1976. It was edited to disguise when it was published. Almost fifty years on its content is as relevant today as it was then. Arguably, many older people are even worse off given the cost increases in utility bills. The removal of the Winter Fuel Payments, upon which many relied, were removed by Labour as soon as they got into government. Parts of the legacy media are talking of the Labour Party taking us all back to the 1970’s at a rate of knots. Whilst they are demonstrating incompetence at running capitalism on its behalf we don’t want to see capitalism better run. We want to see it replaced. It is ridiculous to think that another fifty years should go by without capitalism being abolished and replaced with socialism.
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