The title of this post is a statement often used when left wingers complain about austerity, and it is obviously true that the poor did not directly cause the financial crisis.
It must be noted, however, that we were running one of the largest structural deficits of the developed world before the financial crisis. Had we not run a deficit we may have been able to get y without an austerity drive. The reason for the deficit was due to excessive Government spending, and where was all this spending targeted? Quite rightly at the poor and needy.
The last Government created many tax credits and systems which meant that more people and families became dependent on Government benefits. Unfortunately, this means that when there is a squeeze, because the country has run out of money, the benefits are going to have to be squeezed too as it has become a larger part of Government spending.
The present Government wants to take people out of benefits but tax them less, so that they keep more of their own money before depending on the state for handouts. The Universal credit will be a great way of making work pay too.
Just don't always take simple phrases at face value.
Squiffy.
