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Open thread: Why do you keep your blinds down?



George Osborne has commented on the unfairness of those on benefits keeping their 'blinds down' while others head out to work. Can you suggest other reasons why your curtains may be closed? Join our open thread
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Guardian readers
guardian.co.uk, Monday 8 October 2012 11.13 BST
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Do you keep your blinds down? Photograph: Frank Baron/Guardian

On Monday morning the chancellor George Osborne said it was unfair those on benefits keep their "blinds down" while the working man starts his day.

Speaking in an interview on the Today programme, Osborne said: "The rich will be asked to pay a greater share. But it is a "delusion" to think that taxes on the rich will solve the problem. It is unfair that people listening to this programme going out to work see the neighbour next door with the blinds down because they are on benefits."

The welfare community on guardian.co.uk and on Twitter have responded in full. Posting their various reasons for keeping the 'blinds down' which refute Osborne's theory.

Opimian writes:


Another reason someone's curtains may still be drawn is that they are elderly or poor and are staying in bed as long as possible because they can't afford to heat their house.
And the Winter Fuel Allowance for the over-80s has been cut by £100, although Cameron was again yesterday telling the big lie that 'I've kept my promise on the Winter Fuel Allowance'.

I also remember from the last time this came up that someone pointed out that in some areas people leave their curtains drawn when they go to work so that burglars can't look through their windows and see the plasma TV and other tempting goodies.

Not that these bastards would ever let facts get in the way of an opportunity to set one group in society against another and thus facilitate the destruction of the welfare state.

Kerfuffling adds:


You have to commute a greater distance than someone with a local job so get up earlier. You are asleep as you work nights. You may be an oil rig worker, merchant seaman on leave, a contractor who has completed a contract somewhere. You may be a factory worker who starts earlier than office workers. Or a nurse or a police officer, the list goes on. Not mention, as has been highlighted already, a sick, disabled or infirm person waiting for their carer or home help.

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