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talkpoliticsSo, what is it and what can we expect of it?
"Call me Dave" seems to be saying that as the Government cuts back on spending, that the private sector will be doing more. That local groups like parents will be running schools, hospitals, public libraries and stuff like that.
Also that Private Enterprise will be allowed a bigger hand in things.
So, what might this mean , in terms of practical results?
Well, look at the RNLI, the tories say, here 's a volunteer oganisation that maintains safety along Britain's coasts and is universally respected by everyone who has had dealing with them. If volunteers can achieve this sort of reputation and deliver these sorts of results, why not let volunteers have a bigger role in lots of things?
Well, let's be clear - the RNLI is run entirely by volunteers. however, they are from a select background and are dealing with a select community. Anyone who gets into trouble at sea off the coast of Britain - be they a swimmer or surfer caught in a riptide, or a vessel adrift and on fire - is not going to come to the situation with attitudes and issues.
Nor are they going to be met by ' well meaning do gooders' - the people who man the lifeboats at the sharp end of a contact rescue mission are volunteers, but they are also fishermen, medics and mechanics who do this in their spare time. In other words, they are capable of driving a boat and rescuing somebody between them in their spare time. They also know their stretch of coast - they live along it to be near the lifeboat station.
Now, you contrast this with a bunch of middle class bods who think it might be a good idea to turn up in the nearest sink estate and go help the local kids stay off drugs. Unlike the crew of a striken vessel drifting in a force 8 gale, these kids did not put out an urgent call for assistance. They may not have a clear idea of what they need or want from society, may not even acknowledge that they have a problem they cannot handle themselves.
And what of our would be rescuers? The lifeboat crew, who are hand picked, and have vast amounts of training and experience, as well as knowledge of local sea conditions gained over the years working on this patch in their everyday jobs would be seen as useful from the start. But can we expect a bunch of middle class people who turn up on a sink estate with nothing more than a few years at Eton college and copy of the Daily Mail tucked in their back pockets or sticking out of their Armani tote bags to get to business with with locals who resent them even being there?
Ok, the proposals for taking young people out of adult courts is a different isue, and I will deal with it in a different OP, but volunteers taking over from Social Workers? I don't think so.
As to businesses doing more to provide employment, or businesses doing stuff like opening libraries or providing social housing, this may have unforeseen repercussions. If your boss owns your house as well as your job it gives him more leverage. If you want to leave, it makes it harder if you lose your home as well.
The 'Big Society' may give local interests the same powers as feudal barons - local vested interests with a lot more financial clout will gain more power over the community as a whole.
You could find a multinational chain like Mc Donalds or BP taking over your local school, a Big Pharma company running your local hospital, or local issues being decided in the interests of shareholders , not local residents.
In short, it is starting a free for all where the local family is going to have to go to the local supermarket for more than just it's groceries. And this is not a good idea.
"Call me Dave" seems to be saying that as the Government cuts back on spending, that the private sector will be doing more. That local groups like parents will be running schools, hospitals, public libraries and stuff like that.
Also that Private Enterprise will be allowed a bigger hand in things.
So, what might this mean , in terms of practical results?
Well, look at the RNLI, the tories say, here 's a volunteer oganisation that maintains safety along Britain's coasts and is universally respected by everyone who has had dealing with them. If volunteers can achieve this sort of reputation and deliver these sorts of results, why not let volunteers have a bigger role in lots of things?
Well, let's be clear - the RNLI is run entirely by volunteers. however, they are from a select background and are dealing with a select community. Anyone who gets into trouble at sea off the coast of Britain - be they a swimmer or surfer caught in a riptide, or a vessel adrift and on fire - is not going to come to the situation with attitudes and issues.
Nor are they going to be met by ' well meaning do gooders' - the people who man the lifeboats at the sharp end of a contact rescue mission are volunteers, but they are also fishermen, medics and mechanics who do this in their spare time. In other words, they are capable of driving a boat and rescuing somebody between them in their spare time. They also know their stretch of coast - they live along it to be near the lifeboat station.
Now, you contrast this with a bunch of middle class bods who think it might be a good idea to turn up in the nearest sink estate and go help the local kids stay off drugs. Unlike the crew of a striken vessel drifting in a force 8 gale, these kids did not put out an urgent call for assistance. They may not have a clear idea of what they need or want from society, may not even acknowledge that they have a problem they cannot handle themselves.
And what of our would be rescuers? The lifeboat crew, who are hand picked, and have vast amounts of training and experience, as well as knowledge of local sea conditions gained over the years working on this patch in their everyday jobs would be seen as useful from the start. But can we expect a bunch of middle class people who turn up on a sink estate with nothing more than a few years at Eton college and copy of the Daily Mail tucked in their back pockets or sticking out of their Armani tote bags to get to business with with locals who resent them even being there?
Ok, the proposals for taking young people out of adult courts is a different isue, and I will deal with it in a different OP, but volunteers taking over from Social Workers? I don't think so.
As to businesses doing more to provide employment, or businesses doing stuff like opening libraries or providing social housing, this may have unforeseen repercussions. If your boss owns your house as well as your job it gives him more leverage. If you want to leave, it makes it harder if you lose your home as well.
The 'Big Society' may give local interests the same powers as feudal barons - local vested interests with a lot more financial clout will gain more power over the community as a whole.
You could find a multinational chain like Mc Donalds or BP taking over your local school, a Big Pharma company running your local hospital, or local issues being decided in the interests of shareholders , not local residents.
In short, it is starting a free for all where the local family is going to have to go to the local supermarket for more than just it's groceries. And this is not a good idea.
(no subject)
Date: 23/7/10 13:01 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 23/7/10 14:42 (UTC)Is a dream world a rich teenager would imagine
(no subject)
Date: 23/7/10 18:37 (UTC)