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Created in 2008, Phoenix Rising is the largest and oldest forum dedicated to furthering the understanding of, and finding treatments for, complex chronic illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia, long COVID, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), and allied diseases.
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Love your 'Nietsche" quote Natasha... It's so relevant to ME isn't it?
I agree completely Alex, the "We are watching you" aspect is more important.I don't know enough about UK law to decide if this petition has any valid point in law. That is not important though. Politically, its about sending a message. "We are looking at ways to come after you within the law.". I wish I could sign it, but I think its UK only. If not, could someone please clarify how someone outside the UK can sign.
There's overwhleming irony in this petition, in that it achieves exactly what the Government wanted from an external contract - complete deflection of blame. ATOS may be a vile, money grabbing corporation (or simply a well focussed business, depending on your perspective) but ALL the responsibility for the how the Welfare System operates lays with the Department of Work and Pensions and the relevant Ministerial oversight. Everything that ATOS has done has either been prescribed by Government or permitted by Government - having Offices up flights of stairs with no lift so people couldn't get to medical exams and were then penalised by removal of benefit - the Government permitted ATOS to have those offices, and it was DWP operatives that implemented the penalties.
ATOS has never made decisions about awards of benefits, the resposonsibility for those is with the appointed DWP decision makers, - they of course are happy to blame ATOS for 'the wrong kind of reports' - but the ATOS reports are exactly what the Government contracted for. The Law is quite clear it is for the decision maker to weigh all the facts and to decide what material is necessary to consider. Should the DWP be investigated for harm brought to numerous vulnerable people ? I'd say yes, but that harm is an inevitable effect of Government policy. Putting ATOS in the frame is emotionally appealing, but it's a deflection from where the real blame lies and that's with Government, and ultimatly with that part of the population that supports 'welfare reform' (a big percentage of UK voters). Blaming ATOS will leave many people's conciences clear - and free to vote to hammer the poor some more come the next election.
and governments of UK and USA have increasingly been using private contractors not only for outright corruption (bet your arse you'll find links to the politicians and/or political parties who set up the contracts!)
but also for "deniability"
where as Freedom of Information means government has to disclose more now, they can just say "commercial confidentiality!" and pfft! that's it, kept secret, and corporations have lots of $1,000/hour lawyers.
The beauty of a legal case against ATOS is that courts are not subject to confidentiality clauses and judges are entitled to examine 'secret' documents although they cannot disclose state secrets (sadly).Maybe if ATOS are threatened with legal action they will blame the government in their defence, which could be interesting. About to sign now.
I have two postcodes legally. One is mine, one is Michael's. I have used Michael's. Could I "lend" @taniaaust1 my other one?