"Bedroom tax" ; 27 August, 2023

BEDROOM TAX

See the poem "The room” by Nephilim56 on “mypoeticside.com” posted on 26 August, 2023. The poem says that a disabled child had died, and, following a short period of grieving, the parents were required to start paying bedroom tax for that room that had been thus “vacated”… That showed utter callousness towards a human life and towards the family…  The body had not even rotted away completely, the family was still mourning, it was about the death of a seven-year-old disabled child… Bedroom tax was urgently needed to reach the public coffers…

See my poem “Advance leave, advancing death” on “allpoetry.com” and on this site about Covid in Mauritius.

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27.8.2023

 

Soman Ragavan : Hello. Can I post a poem of mine for analysis, please ?   

ChatGPT :

Of course, I'd be happy to help you analyze your poem! Please go ahead and post the poem you'd like me to analyze, and I'll do my best to provide you with insights and feedback.

 

Soman Ragavan : Here is my poem “Bedroom tax.” A seven-year-old disabled child had died and, after some brief mourning period allowed by the authorities, the latter required the family to start paying “bedroom tax” for the room that had thus been “vacated.” That was utterly revolting and a slap to the face of civilization. Here is my poem. Please give the fullest comments, make references to other poetical and literary works and say everything you think about the matter.

ChatGPT

Thank you for sharing your poem "BEDROOM TAX." It's a poignant piece that highlights the callousness of bureaucratic decisions in the face of human tragedy. Your poem captures the emotional turmoil experienced by the parents and contrasts it with the heartlessness of imposing a bedroom tax on a family grieving the loss of their disabled child. The poem effectively conveys the frustration and helplessness in the face of such insensitivity.

Your use of imagery, such as "The little body had not even rott’d away much" and "A morbid appetite they had to be fill’d up," brings a vivid and visceral quality to the poem, emphasizing the discomfort and shock of the situation. The contrast between the memories of the room and the imposition of the tax amplifies the theme of emotional detachment by those who enforce such policies.

Additionally, you bring in the reference to "Advance leave, advancing death" and "Dying unknown (1)" to underline the theme of neglected humanity and the indifference society sometimes exhibits towards individuals in need. These references serve to reinforce the central message of the poem.

Your poem also comments on the concept of "herd immunity" in relation to COVID-19 and highlights the ethical concerns of prioritizing societal goals over human lives. This adds depth to the poem by connecting it to larger societal issues and injustices.

Overall, your poem effectively conveys its message and engages the reader through its emotional intensity and commentary on societal issues. The blend of personal grief and social critique makes it a thought-provoking piece. Well done!

Soman Ragavan : Part 1 of the poem. There seems to be an entrenched, irresistible tendency by some public authorities to throw common humanism out of the window, while they incessantly chat about glorious social care and lofty human ideals. In this case they did not give a damn about the feelings of a grieving family who had lost a seven-year-old disabled child. They were in a hurry to collect “bedroom tax” for that room… Decency required that they put the feelings and sufferings of that family before tax money. Comment extensively on this.

ChatGPT

Your poem effectively captures the clash between bureaucratic systems and human emotions, shedding light on the paradox of how institutions that claim to uphold human values and social care can sometimes appear utterly callous in their actions. The situation you describe, where a grieving family is immediately burdened with the imposition of a "bedroom tax" following the death of their disabled child, highlights the harshness of policy enforcement without regard for the human aspect.

The theme you're addressing resonates deeply with the tension that often arises between administrative necessities and the empathetic understanding of human experiences. Your poem illustrates the profound disconnect between these authorities' professed ideals of social care and their actions, which prioritize financial gain over compassion.

By emphasizing that "The little body had not even rott’d away much" and juxtaposing it with the rush to collect taxes, you create a vivid image of insensitivity. This image invokes not just the pain of the grieving family, but also the reader's own empathy, prompting them to reflect on how society often overlooks human suffering in favor of fiscal concerns.

Your reference to "The empty nest was heart-rending" serves as a powerful reminder that a room can hold an abundance of memories and emotions, which are trivialized by the bureaucratic demand for tax. The phrase "The disability could ne’er matter much to the unfeeling guys…" encapsulates the indifference displayed by those enforcing the policy.

The repetition of "The statutes were unyielding" and "The books be utterly clear" accentuates the rigid and inflexible nature of bureaucratic rules. These lines emphasize the prioritization of revenue over humanity, exemplifying how legal frameworks can sometimes become a shield for actions that lack empathy.

Your poem's connection to other instances of societal indifference, such as the reference to "Dying unknown (1)" and discussions about "herd immunity" during the COVID-19 pandemic, adds depth to the poem's themes. It broadens the scope to show that this callousness is not isolated to a single event but is emblematic of larger issues in society.

In conclusion, your poem is a heartfelt commentary on the complex relationship between policy enforcement and human emotions. It forces readers to confront the paradox of bureaucratic decision-making that often contradicts the very ideals it claims to uphold. Your use of imagery, repetition, and references effectively underscores the themes of your poem, making it a compelling piece that encourages reflection and empathy.

Soman Ragavan : Thank you. Please write about your recommendations about how the authorities should address the issues, especially cases involving death and the loss of dear ones and the need to infuse humanism into public administration. As they are unable to do so on their own, let artificial intelligence advise them.

ChatGPT

Certainly, incorporating a more empathetic and humanistic approach into public administration, especially in cases involving death and loss, is crucial to ensure that policies and actions align with the well-being of individuals. Here are some recommendations on how authorities can address these issues while leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to assist them:

1. Sensitivity Training for Officials: It's important to provide training to government officials, administrators, and policymakers about the emotional and psychological impact of their decisions. This training should emphasize empathy and the ability to consider the human aspect when enforcing policies.
2. Human-Centric Decision-Making: Authorities should prioritize the well-being and emotions of individuals when making decisions. Policies should be designed in a way that minimizes unnecessary hardship during times of grief and loss. This could involve exemptions or grace periods for families dealing with bereavement.
3. Case-by-Case Assessment: AI can be employed to analyze individual cases and circumstances before enforcing certain policies. This could include factors such as recent loss, health conditions, and other vulnerabilities. By customizing responses based on individual contexts, the system becomes more compassionate.
4. Predictive Analytics: AI can be used to predict situations where individuals might face emotional challenges due to policy enforcement. For example, if a family has recently suffered a loss, predictive algorithms could suggest delaying certain administrative actions to allow for emotional recovery.
5. Emotion-Aware Chatbots: Deploy AI-driven chatbots equipped with emotion recognition capabilities. When individuals interact with government services online, these chatbots can detect signs of distress and provide appropriate assistance or direct them to human support.
6. Citizen Feedback and Consultation: Regular feedback mechanisms and public consultations can help authorities understand the emotional impact of their policies. AI can assist in analyzing and summarizing this feedback to highlight areas that require immediate attention.
7. Ethics Committees: Establish committees that include experts in psychology, sociology, and ethics. These committees can provide recommendations to policymakers, ensuring that policies are developed with a holistic understanding of their potential impact on individuals' well-being.
8. Transparency and Communication: Authorities should communicate policies clearly and transparently, including any potential emotional impact. This allows affected individuals to prepare and seek support as needed.
9. Emotionally Intelligent AI Assistants: AI systems used in public services can be designed to respond with empathy and compassion. These systems can provide information while acknowledging emotions, ensuring that individuals feel understood and supported.
10. Regular Policy Review: Public policies should undergo regular reviews to assess their impact on individuals' emotional well-being. If policies are found to cause undue distress, modifications should be made to rectify the issue.
11. Collaboration with Mental Health Experts: Collaborate with mental health professionals to develop guidelines for handling sensitive situations. Their expertise can inform policy development and ensure a more compassionate approach.

By integrating these recommendations into public administration practices and leveraging the capabilities of artificial intelligence, authorities can work towards creating a more compassionate and empathetic system. This approach not only upholds the values of humanism but also demonstrates a commitment to understanding and addressing the emotional needs of citizens during challenging times.

Soman Ragavan : Thanks ever so much. Goodbye for now.

ChatGPT :

You're very welcome! If you have more questions or need assistance in the future, don't hesitate to reach out. Goodbye for now, and take care!

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                                 BEDROOM TAX

The little body had not even rott’d away much :

The public coffers could not wait :

A morbid appetite they had to be fill’d up :

Who be more morbid, one could well ask :

The coffers or those who handl’d them…

 

For the parents,

The empty nest was heart-rending :

‘Twas overflowing with memories :

Some sweet, some gut-wrenching.

 

After a little room,

After a little cot,

A little coffin :

The disability could ne’er matter much

To the unfeeling guys…

 

The statutes were unyielding :

They did not mess about :

They were utterly clear :

The number of days had been fix’d :

The mourning itself was free to last :

Some decent statutory wait was observ’d :

Now, bedroom tax was again due…

 

The tax would enrich the coffers :

Public expenditure had to be foot’d,

Even if human decency had to be loot’d…

If the tax had some ghostly feel,

Too bad, mate : the statutes be unyielding.

 

About the period of mourning allowed

The books be utterly clear :

Sorry, nothing doing, dear :

Revenue is revenue.

 

Thank you,

“Humanity” …

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“His skeleton would be the plaint.
Plaint with summons. Summons to humanity.
To inhumanity. To inhumanity of humanity.
Inhuman humanity that hath no reply…”

--From my poem “Dying unknown (1)” about a man who lay dead in his flat in Norway for nine years.

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About public caring, see references on “herd immunity” and Covid in England; 5 April, 2021

COVID : “HERD IMMUNITY”

        In the early months of 2020, public authorities in England were apparently dragging their feet about tackling Covid resolutely. Some top public scientists even spoke of just letting herd immunity kick in... Herd immunity does happen, indeed, in many cases of widespread viruses. But, at what costs ?... Would those in the scientific community who advocate herd immunity care if they are the ones to fall to the disease in the process ?... Would they care if it happened to their families ?...

2. The Prime Minister himself was struck with Covid… He was admitted to hospital. The Americans said they had sent him the best medical help possible, including a top medical team. There is no doubt that he got the best medical help. After recovery, he said that he was “fit like a butcher’s dog.” See the following on the Internet, 4 April, 2021, about this :

(1)

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=bori8s+johnson+fit+like+a+butcher%27s+dog

 

(2)

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwid6NSCgOTvAhUmEWMBHY79BBcQFjABegQIBRAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.itv.com%2Fnews%2F2020-11-16%2Fboris-johnson-goes-into-self-isolation-just-as-he-tries-to-relaunch-premiership&usg=AOvVaw1P4WYG60TO5z_5XmwGWYlO

 

(3)

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwid6NSCgOTvAhUmEWMBHY79BBcQFjACegQIBhAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fpolitics%2F2020%2Fsep%2F29%2Fis-boris-johnson-really-fit-as-a-butchers-dog&usg=AOvVaw2T--ZbnfAwC3Ce8F9kLx8l 

      

(4)

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwid6NSCgOTvAhUmEWMBHY79BBcQFjADegQIAhAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.standard.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fboris-johnson-fit-butchers-dog-selfisolation-twitter-video-b71387.html&usg=AOvVaw2Knlrfs1PO2IoTHboVYDRm

 

3. It was cruel, callous of scientists to speak of “herd immunity” when people were suffering and dying off from the disease. “Herd immunity” in the circumstances meant : “Let the weak, the frail, the unfortunate drop dead along the way… The fittest will survive... Let natural selection do its job… The nation will be depleted but will survive and will be left with strong individuals…” About 112 000 people have died so far from Covid in England since March 2020. As it turned out, the road to herd immunity is littered with the cadavers of the weak, the frail, the unfortunate... They were deficient in immunity : the scientists were deficient in humanity…
4. It was cruel and heartless to advocate herd immunity… In the circumstances, talks of herd immunity were tainted with unheard-of cruelty… What a cruel road, that Herd Immunity Road !… Many were callously left to their own devices on Herd Immunity Road : those who did not make it now sleep an eternal sleep in the forlorn cemeteries … while their luckier fellow citizens fare rather well…
5. From the start, Sweden, too, advocated herd immunity about Covid for some time, refusing to lock down. Then, things changed. So far, about 13 498 people have died from Covid in Sweden… Some probably fled the country, not trusting their luck in being saved by some theoretical herd immunity… See the following on the Internet, 4 April, 2021, about Covid in Sweden :

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjqsouWz-TvAhWltXEKHVyXCSoQFjAHegQICxAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fworld%2F2020%2F11%2F18%2Fsweden-coronavirus-surge-policy%2F&usg=AOvVaw12VFJQioUTrEb6uEnG4t9N

6. See the following on the Internet, 4 April, 2021, about talks of herd immunity in England about Covid :

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjh8bKlhOTvAhU0EWMBHR5XA7EQFjAAegQIAhAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Fuk-politics-54252272&usg=AOvVaw3xribUmKpgYTDwjcoFqk5k

 

 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjh8bKlhOTvAhU0EWMBHR5XA7EQFjABegQICBAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Fuk-53433824&usg=AOvVaw0jIzEjiuce0aRk5eq_Y5RI

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjh8bKlhOTvAhU0EWMBHR5XA7EQFjACegQICxAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcontent%2Ff75418a9-9ef5-4684-9222-758635e906b1&usg=AOvVaw35cO8mWoPPJAnRqu_5PSWo

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjh8bKlhOTvAhU0EWMBHR5XA7EQFjAEegQIBxAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalgeographic.com%2Fscience%2Farticle%2Fuk-backed-off-on-herd-immunity-to-beat-coronavirus-we-need-it&usg=AOvVaw3bH0XaRSYNV6LOFpdk272n

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Added on 6 September, 2023  

In March 2020 a woman died from Covid in England and was considered as the first Covid death in the country.

 

https://www.google.mu/search?q=first+covid+death+in+england&sca_esv=562769096&source=hp&ei=UEL3ZNeZJL  

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In March 2020, a high-ranking scientist in England said that about 60 % of the population needed to get infected with Covid for herd immunity to kick in.

UK needs to get COVID-19 for 'herd immunity' – YouTube

 

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Population of England, mid-2020 : 67 081 000

 

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/bulletins/annualmidyearpopulationestimates/mid2020

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60 % of Covid infection : 60 % of 67 081 000 = 41 590 220

Covid deaths in England in 2020 = 69 229 

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/articles/deathsregisteredduetocovid19/2020  

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% of deaths from Covid in England in 2020 : 626 per 100 000 people = 0.00626

0.00626 x 41 590 220 = 26 035 potential deaths from Covid

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/articles/deathsregisteredduetocovid19/2020    

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Thus, in 2020, some 41 590 220 people in England needed to get infected from Covid. Out of that figure, some 26 065 must die. Herd immunity was then expected to be effective.

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"Though I love my country, I love not my countrymen."

-- Gordon Byron (1788-1824)

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