"Why do I bother at all?" Presumably the ignorant and prejudiced writer of the letter in last week's paper ('Name supplied', Citizen 21/11) works so he or she can enjoy a reasonable standard of living. Benefits today hardly cover existence. I have been employed and I have also paid thousands of pounds in taxes and National Insurance.

Being unemployed is not an easy life and those suffering from the lack of a job need every assistance they can get. I don't know what products were being advertised but if it was for one of the necessities of life, then the advertiser offering discounts for the unemployed should be congratulated.

If the product can be classed as a luxury then it is unlikely someone on benefits could afford it anyway.

People do not readily chose to be unemployed often it is the result of unfortunate circumstances. The writer of the letter should get a grip on reality and see that young girls really don't get pregnant just so they can have a house for free.

Benefits only allow for a minimal of life. There is no real room for luxuries and the problems get worse as essentials wear out and need replacing.

No one should be forced to accept a job where they will be paid less than it is possible to live on. If employers offered a decent wage then the poverty trap would not exist.

The benefits culture was not created nor is it desired by the unemployed. I suggest that the reader should look beyond the so called facts promulgated by the tabloids and take a look at reality. It is not a pretty picture.

Andrew Harrison,

Bowness Road,

Lancaster.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.