Just Deal With It

I have previously written about Jamie Oliver and how I feel that he is jumping on a 'recession' bandwagon. http://cuttingcooks.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/mr-olivers-recession-bandwagon.html 

Today as I tuned into Twitter I discover that he has said some really dubious things about eating culture in today's cash-strapped Britain.  
First of all he told the Radio Times that he was 'not judgemental' when it came to poor families.  OK so first of all he is trying to promote a book and series to just these types of households and second of all he is 'non-judgementally' attacking them in the same breath.  

I haven't written a blog with any new recipes for a while.  This is because my staples are all listed here and I haven't had the money to experiment or try anything new, so it has been difficult thinking of something to write.  Jamie, thank you for the inspiration. 

So as I sit here in front of my big telly, (which was a gift, so there) I contemplate the media culture of recession porn.  TV shows, guest spots and news stories gearing us to think 'It's OK to be struggling, this is how you get around it'.  Well maybe I would like to be paid more, maybe my partner would like a raise, maybe I would like our council tax to be lowered or stay static.  Thinking about Thames Waters' potential price rises are giving me a dicky tummy.  Another £30 a month, no problem.  Also TFL (Transport for London) hiking prices, again.
How these companies think that they can take another piece out of our non-rising wages is a joke.  These are the things that need to be fixed before we ask people to 'just deal with it'. 

The government has to be realistic.  If we are going to pay all these rising prices, shouldn't they be represented in our pay packets?  Look I am not an economist, I barely got away with Maths GCSE.  Barely.  All I know is that we are just going to get deeper and deeper into debt as the government tries to dig itself out.  We break our backs for them and what do we get?  Chips, Cheese and big TV's according to multi-millionaire Oliver. 

This is not a Jamie Oliver 'hate blog' but he is not doing himself any favours lately, his obvious snobbery does not sit well in my stomach.  He is not the only one at it.  Kirstie Allsopp is at it too.  You can buy things cheap second hand!?  Maybe even get it for free from local message boards, Gumtree etc!? My goodness, there was something I didn't know.  (Need sarcasm font obviously).

This 'just deal with it' attitude from the media has to stop.  How about you make programmes criticizing and investigating the governments role in the demonisation of the poor, the squeezing of a middle-class that is shrinking at a rate of knots.  People earning what my partner and I earn shouldn't have to squeeze as many pennies as we should.  While saying that it brings up another gripe.  Our letting agents sticking their oar in to the tune of £600 before we got into our flat.  Make a TV show about that. 

Just deal with it!? No I won't Messrs Oliver & Allsopp et al.  I'm going to fight until we get what we deserve.  A life without constant struggle.