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Cameron's "Big Society" on the rocks?

 
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ColinB
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 1:36 pm    Post subject: Cameron's "Big Society" on the rocks? Reply with quote

There's much talk of how the current coalition is playing down reference to its so-called "Big Society" (ie: shifting many social tasks over to the voluntary sector - to be carried out by those who are being thrown onto the jobs scrap-heap and for whom free time is a rich commodity), with questions being asked in the media as to whether or not we're already seeing the end of The Big Society.

I wasn't aware that it had even got underway!

We're all in this together? Oh no we're not, mateys!!!

Rolling Eyes
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ruddlescat



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PostPosted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 1:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think it was rather silly of Cameron to ever to get involved with some fairly nebulous concept like the 'Big Society'

It's rather like when Blair was constantly talking about the 'Third Way'

These phrases sound good at the outset but the electorate soon sees through them and they can end up being a liability rather than an asset to the Party which comes up with them

I'm just not a fan of political spin whichever party is doing it Sad
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undiscovered



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PostPosted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 2:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

To be honest the idea of big society is fine but it can't be done without funding and a direction. Something the current administration have been found lacking
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Rachel
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 3:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The problem with the big society is that we don’t really have a big society, sure there are little pockets of community spirit in some areas where everyone pitches in but in the main we are a society of individuals – we pay taxes both local and national and we expect services to be provided by paid employees of the service provider, whoever that is. The idea that the big society will work anywhere other than in small villages, perhaps the odd town, is naïve. In the main, people are just too selfish to give up their spare time to help run the library or museum or whatever it is. We don’t live where we work, we don’t know our neighbours, we don’t socialise or shop in our own towns and villages- we are anonymous in our own dispirit communities, living on line and by mouse to house. Unless you fall ill, there is no need to see anyone other than hard-pressed stressed-out delivery drivers, trying to keep to their schedule. The big society is a good idea, a dream even, but that is all it will ever be.
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ColinB
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 5:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

ruddlescat wrote:
I'm just not a fan of political spin whichever party is doing it Sad


Me neither. It's funny, but back when I was a revolting student (in more ways than one!) in the early/mid 70s my dad - who came from a staunch socialist background in Devonport - said to me: "You're all young and idealistic now, but mark my words there will come a time when you'll be saying We've heard it all before!".

He was right, of course. Just don't tell him I said so........ Smile

PS: Everyone of a certain age used to say "mark my words..." didn't they!
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Lord Evan Elpuss



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PostPosted: Tue Feb 08, 2011 6:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

And what was Shameron in a previous life? A spin doctor!
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MadeinSurrey



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PostPosted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 9:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think the "Big Society" is destined to end up in the same bin as "Back to Basics" Rolling Eyes
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ColinB
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 10:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

MadeinSurrey wrote:
I think the "Big Society" is destined to end up in the same bin as "Back to Basics" Rolling Eyes


And the late Willie Whitelaw's "Short, Sharp, Shock". Fat lot of good that did! Smile
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Angela W



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PostPosted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 10:44 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lord Evan Elpuss wrote:
And what was Shameron in a previous life? A spin doctor!


Has he ever worked in the real world?
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ruddlescat



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PostPosted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 11:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Angela, the problem is the House of Commons is increasingly filled with professional politicians who have never had a real job or a life outside politics

We need more people there with some life experience

People used to complain that there were too many lawyers in Parliament but at least most had worked in the real world

There also used to be a fair number of teachers, doctors, workers from industry and even journalists but sadly it seems that now life experience takes second place to those with a politics degree who are prepared to suck up to (sorry, advise) existing government ministers in order to promote their own future careers

In the old days Parliament genuinely used to hold the Government to account but now they might just as well abolish it and replace it with a massive mechanical rubber stamp Sad
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Lord Evan Elpuss



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PostPosted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 7:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think that the Manic Street Preachers described it perfectly at their recent Blackwood Miners Institute concert when one of them described the government front benches as 'millionaire's Row'.
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ruddlescat



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PostPosted: Wed Feb 09, 2011 8:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, It was one Mr Nicholas Alan Wire who made that observation

A few minutes later he also made reference to the fact that on that particular day the Government had published proposals to sell off public forests and said that the next song was a very appropriate one in the circumstances and then the Manics launched themselves into the opening track from their debut album called 'Slash and Burn' which they hadn't played live for over ten years

I don't always agree with the Manics' political views (although I do about the issue of forests) but there's no question the boys haven't sold out just because of their incredible success and to me they are certainly the greatest rock band of the last twenty years Very Happy
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aviddiva



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PostPosted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 8:56 am    Post subject: Cameron's 'Big Society' on the rocks? Reply with quote

The term also has me thinking of 'Self-Preservation Society' from the original Italian Job movie!

Isn't it flaming marvellous that all the tabloids were hyping up the forthcoming Olympics while there were plans to cut library services? A move equally as brilliant as the celebrity messages about Amanda Holden's miscarriage when as far as I know, Myleene No Klass and her ilk never sent 'sympathetic' messages for Gary Moore's widow or Wendy Dio (widow of Ronnie James Dio). Evil or Very Mad
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undiscovered



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PostPosted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 11:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

ruddlescat wrote:
A few minutes later he also made reference to the fact that on that particular day the Government had published proposals to sell off public forests and said that the next song was a very appropriate one in the circumstances and then the Manics launched themselves into the opening track from their debut album called 'Slash and Burn' which they hadn't played live for over ten years


Call me perdantic but they played all their really early stuff at the Heavenly concert I saw them play a few years ago.
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ruddlescat



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PostPosted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 12:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Where did you see them dis?

I've been to see them on most of their tours over the last 18 years or so

They played quite a lot of old stuff up to about 2005 but obviously had to reduce it to make room for the newer material

They still include some stuff from the first album including Motorcycle Emptiness and You Love Us but rarely other tracks now

You might have been to a one off gig where they concentrated on only the old tracks a bit like Bowie did when he concentrated on playing stuff from the Ziggy Stardust album a few years ago
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Fog on the Tyne



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PostPosted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 1:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lord Evan Elpuss wrote:
I think that the Manic Street Preachers described it perfectly at their recent Blackwood Miners Institute concert when one of them described the government front benches as 'millionaire's Row'.


Well they would know all about that wouldn't they.

Can't abide rock stars pontificating when most seem to have very deep pockets and very short arms.
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ruddlescat



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PostPosted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 1:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh come on Foggy that's a bit harsh

I know what you're saying and often it is true but the Manics are a really down to earth bunch of lads who don't have any delusions of grandeur and I don't think success has changed them much at all

I know that may seem unusual but not every successful rock band is comprised of egotistical idiots with huge egos
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undiscovered



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PostPosted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 2:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have no problem so called pop/rock stars helping to bring causes to the public eye. What they do for a living is play music so why shouldn't they play to help raise money etc, they give up their time to help. Maybe they do give the money but don't make the noise about it. They wouldn't be able to win if they did tell all, they'd only be bragging about it.
The Manics have always been political so it's not much of a surprise, but I am glad they still do it,


Rudd,
My brother is a big Doves fan and my SiL had brought him tickets to a Doves gig that was being put on by their label Heavenly to celebrate the 1000 release or something like that. It was at the Royal Festival Halls up stairs line up was Cherry Ghost, Manics and the Doves.
The Manics signed to heavenly before they signed to Sony only their very early stuff, like Stay beautiful and Slash and Burn and their punk stuff was on the label before they left. It was a great gig by the Manics

Downstairs was a freebie with the likes of Ed Harcourt playing a good gig in all, Doves weren't bad either (and I didn't pay for the ticket)
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ruddlescat



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PostPosted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 2:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sounds great dis

To be honest I didn't know that Slash and Burn was ever on Heavenly because I've only ever come across it on Generation Terrorists but I knew the other stuff was on another label prior to Sony

Some of those very early tracks were just so superb and its great to hear them live now and again
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