RANDOM THOUGHTS ON SATURDAY

I'm stuck in the house with a throat infection, feeling rotten, and for the want of anything else to do, I'm passing the time looking at Twitter and Facebook.

And how depressing is that today?

Here's just a small selection of the stories that are coming up on my feeds.

A million elderly Brits are malnourished as councils reduce the meals on wheels service. The welfare state is being dismantled on a daily basis. And there is often nothing left to take its place. There are, of course, families and volunteers to fall back on. But that's not really like it was before when millions of people, often middle and upper class women, had time on their hands for good works. Everyone has to work so hard now just to get by, that there is not the same amount of free time for helping others. Cameron doesn't seem to see this.

There has been a 600% increase in the last four years on people with mental health problems being sanctioned by the DWP. It seems Iain Duncan Smith has hit upon the idea that folk with mental health issues are less likely to kick off about being sanctioned... and it's a neat way to make money.

Then there was this beauty. Someone needs to tell the DWP that a man who has suffered 4 heart attacks, and has a variety of other illnesses, including fluid on his lungs, and all at the age of 61, is truly unlikely to be able to find a job, and should be left in peace. How many people need to die for IDS to save enough money for DWP management bonuses. 

And there is this story about a guy who, on hearing a threat that his money was to be stopped, had a heart attack and died. More money saved, Iain. Maybe some fresh underwear on expenses? Or another £40 breakfast?

Some of the comments on Paris have been sad. Johann Lamont joined Humza Yousaf to respect the dead in Paris. It's something you would have thought might have promoted a bit of harmony between Labour and SNP... but no. Some of the comments made dreadful, sickening and disheartening reading.

Then I saw this story. It seems that if you live in England you must be careful not to upset Mr Cameron. This lady was protesting at cuts which were causing people to die, and shouted out to Cameron that he had "blood on his hands". She was charged (and allegedly beaten) by the police. 

The judge said that her comments "must have hugely upset" the prime minister, and what she said could "hardly have been more insulting to anyone, whether a politician or not".

For the judges information (and from the safety of Scotland) I'd liek teh judge to know that I can think of thousands of things that I could say to Cameron which would be far more insulting. Never mind that her particular comments were true. He is responsible for his government and his government is responsible for death and misery across the four nations of the UK. He has got blood on his hands both in the home countries and in Libya where he took part in a campaign that completely wrecked a reasonably stable if unpleasant regime. And one which had excellent public services, unlike the ones he oversees.

Worrying that it is now a punishable offence in England to upset the Brit PM as if he were one of his Gulf royal mates or his Chinese buddy. The company he keeps has been rubbing off on him.