Tough Times for Everyone ???

Tough times are upon us all …….. Or are they ??

Airdrie is no different from any town in Scotland at present, shops are closing, loose change is non existent and morale is low through the community.

All the towns’ folk are working harder and paying more just to survive the endemic financial down turn.

Or are they?

Is everyone enduring the same daily toil just to make ends meet?

Following the success of the “Hit” TV series the Scheme we are continually subjected to the exploits of several of its cast members.

These so called celebrities would do well to dismiss the car crash journalism that seeks out their misfortune.

Some residents of this show, filmed in the village of Onthank , Kilmarnock, will be replicated in communities throughout Scotland , unfortunately including Airdrie.

The show highlighted loads of unpleasant and unsavoury aspects of Scottish life, reality can be hard to stomach but without it we can’t rectify or improve.

If the show did one good thing it was to highlight our flaws as a society. We should all do more to make sure every person has a chance in life.

The explosive topic of benefit entitlement has dogged the show.

Over the past few days the press have reported on the Motability scheme being used by one of the families.

This is where the benefits controversy rises, an imbalance with working hard families feeling the pinch and those in the community that currently survive contributing nothing for their keep appears with alarming ease.

There is no allegations that any cheating or law breaking has occurred, however the goings within the programme have encouraged numerous investigations and countless criticism of the benefits distribution programme.

Over the past few days it has been reported that “Star” of the Scheme Annie Cunningham has been bragging to her family and friends about the imminent delivery of her new car, posting on Facebook "Just been and picked my new car, a white Seat Leon. It's got built-in sat nav, black alloys and all the fancy stuff. Get it in seven to ten days!"

Nobody can be denied getting a new car, however if you can’t drive, "I'll have my L plates up and pass my test, as I've been driving for 18 years."  Or the reason for a new car is that your son stole and smashed your last Motability car, flipped over a Bentley causing £30,000 of damage, surely tax payer’s money could be used more wisely.

Like Millions of others the Cunningham family may have the unfortunate circumstances that require the use of the Motability service.

Benefits are required by the people within our communities that need them most, maybe the circumstances for the Cunningham family are different than portrayed by both the press and TV.

Maybe they genuinely need all the benefits they can get, how else could they afford a summer holiday to Benidorm?

Should these types of services be a priority when so many are struggling to heat their house or feed the family?

What do you think about situations like this?

Can we reverse the communities dependence on benefits?

As times get harder is there much benefit in working for a living?