Cameron - Cleggs “Big Society” ?

[olddutch]

http://www.mirror.co....cuts-115875-22423909/

))))))Big Spin & Sorcery. The use of the phrase "Big Society" is cute; it of course means "Small Government", but this is a less acceptable thing to say and would raise the obvious question - "what does Small Government mean to us?"...the answer appears to be that it means the removal of funding for everything but the kitchen sink, after all if you can scrap the rebuilding of clapped-out schools there isn't a lot left that will be sacred?

We're all aware of the financial drivers, but the idea that the third sector can pick-up the slack and that we will get a say in what gets cut and what stays is not cuckoo thinking, its simply disingenuous.

Those who really need Big Governement, the most vulnerable, will be left with nothing. Beware if you are elderly, ill, unemployed, or living in a crime ridden areas. This government will give you nothing.
Instead of this insane twitter to the already twittering classes they should be focusing on promoting steady and sustainable economic growth. What we really have is a development of the idea that there is no such thing as society, wrapped up in a glossy paper to make us feel empowered.

"Big Society" is just a political mythical idealistic spin/propaganda sales pitch which scrapes around the truth and reality and basically airbrushes out the evidential reality of regressive society.(((((

Above, a jaundiced one sided view perhaps - but does anybody think “Big Society” has any merit at all ?

[jake-the-peg]

Seems to be shorthand for getting stuff done by volunteers who probably have no or little experience.

Do you want to be defended in court by a volunteer?

Do you want to be operated on by a volunteer?

So why do you want a volunteer to ru your children's education? is it less important?

[Oneeyedvic]

Do you want kids to be kept of the streets by volunteers (eg scouts, guides etc)?

Do you want volunteers to help pick up litter

Do you want volunteers to help make the place better?

FACT is that people, when motivated, can make a huge difference.

Sad fact is, that most people can;t be arsed. Much easier to sit at home and complain that actually do anything about it.

And of course detractors like JTP will start making wild accusations that Solicitors and Surgeons will now be volunteers. Prat!

[olddutch]

true Jake

seems they want a lot of work done by volunteers and charity organisations - and when that falls short the private sector will step in to take up the slack on a profit making basis - amongst other things its creeping privatisation ?

[BertiWooster]

' Big Society ' ?

What a load of boll**cks
He didn't manage to convince people of it before the election , so he is having another go now .

Truth is now , it's just a smoke screen to cover the huge public services cuts , in the pipline

[jake-the-peg]

There's a difference between keeping kids off of the streets and their education.

I'm pretty sure anybody can see that.

The other problem I have with schools that opt out of local government control is that if you have a problem with the Head you've nowhere to go - most cases the board of governors and the head will be pretty chummy.

[olddutch]

Could it be that the "Big Society" is sinister policy to first fragment what are currently universally provided services, devolving the provision of services to the poor and vulnerable to a range of "social businesses", charities and wealthy individuals.

Stage 2 of the plan would then be to progressively remove government funding - leaving the provision of these services in the hands of businesses and wealthy philanthropists.

Is it time for Cameron - Clegg to acknowledge their "Big Society" is a rolling back of the universal welfare state, back to the ideology that led to the work house and the paupers prison in the 19th century ?

[123everton]

The more things change the more they stay the same, remember under Thatcher how we all used to sponsor resus units etc, welcome to the bad old days.
Only this time it's all for our own good, a collective pennance for the bankers excesses.

[olddutch]

yes everton the runes dont bode well