"A universal welfare state is the essential bedrock of a civilised country. A civilised country ensures that no one goes without healthcare because they can’t afford it, no one is treated as if worthless because they cannot work, and that anyone who loses their job needn’t fear destitution for themselves or for their family if they don’t find another job instantly. A civilised country ensures that no one needs to work when they are too young or too old or too disabled or too ill. This is not a system that can be replaced by random acts of charity: to become civilised, we pay taxes and national insurance and we all benefit."

Taken from the introduction of:

http://edinburgheye.wordpress.com/2013/03/16/iain-duncan-smith-the-quiet-man-with-so-much-to-be-quiet-about/

When I come home at night, I have the urge to cook up a big plate of shrankhut und absetzen, and wash it down with a good oberhau. My wife prefers a glass of chilled schnitt, in the Alsatian style. Sometimes we just get the urge for some roast schnappen (seafood being a favorite), with a lot of steamed nachreisen. And a frothy mug of langenort to go with it, of course!
--Sean Hayes