There is a big stink going on at the moment caused by a politician's decision to release the welfare detAils of 2 women who criticised the govt.
I'm not happy at the thought if I decide to go public on an issue my file may wind up on the minister's desk and then splattered all over the media leaving me to be villified by talk back hosts and bloggers. Hey, some people are convinced that everyone who recieves disability is a malingerer.
When someone applies for public assistance to which they are legally entitled, they have to give a great deal of private information - one reason I'd love to get off welfare. Amounts to which people are entitled can easily be worked out if you know their circumstances, but also you have to inform the govt dept about details of child support, p/t jobs, financial assets, etc. Is a welfare recipient entitled to expect those details to be kept confidential? And what about medical conditions of people on disability? Are they to be discussed in the media?
So even though I have a bigger income now, I'm still determined to keep costs down and save as much as possible. Every dollar closer to financial independence makes me less dependent on the govt and the whims of some politicain. It seems a very long way off on what I have now - but I will make it happen, some day.
July 29th, 2009 at 08:50 pm 1248897000
July 30th, 2009 at 12:46 am 1248911164
If that was me I would sue the Government for loss of privacy.
If that happened in Britain, where politicians strive for integrity, that politician would be forced to resign immediately....