EBME Forums Forums Free discussion Free discussion The Big Society

oh dear Geoff your not falling for Tory rhetoric are we

'The Big Society' is like saying to the voluntary sector get on your bikes and do it yourself, but then having David Cameron nick their bikes!

I like to think that I make up my own mind about things, Chris.

I'm not one to sit around waiting for Government to do everything either. I've never had a Nanny, and don't plan on needing one any time soon.

For many years (and I mean many) the idea of a co-operative has appealed to me. If anyone out there is interested in thinking about having a go at forming one, then fine. Otherwise, feel free to get on with what ever it is you're doing (or not, as the case may be).

well Geoff it's hardly a Big Society idea is it?

I mean now we've got the new ConDem nation, where's the lucrative arms deal you've negotiated or secret trade deal that you're charity works brought in? I mean this country don't give money away any more to a bunch of scroungers. What's in it for Mr Cameron?

Mr Cameron's idea of a Big Society is instead of sending that kit to overseas donate it to your local hospital or volunteer as a hospital cleaner. Then we can fleece you, sack the cleaner and transfer well needed money from where it's needed in the voluntary sector to pay for what you expect the government to foot the bill for. That's the Big Society!

Although I don't really want to digress from the topic I introduced here, I had better make a couple of points:-

1) We've only got what you call the "ConDem nation" because no single party won the General Election (or, put another way, donkeys don't know how to vote*).

2) Just before the Election, the Idiots in Charge of the Asylum were spending £ 4 for every £ 3 the economy was generating. Even I can see the flaw in that strategy.

3) How can a volunteer be fleeced? S/he's a volunteer! But if hospitals were cleaned by volunteers (that is, people who want to clean hospitals), then perhaps we would actually end up with clean hospitals!

4) Government doesn't foot any bills. That's what the tax-payer does.

5) This country has 1.5 million non-events who have never worked a single day in their life. Oh yes ... now that really is a Big Society!

However, Mrs.Thatcher famously said "there's no such thing as Society" ... and in Modern Britain at least, she is probably right. These days, it seems, we have "Communities" instead; each with their own selfish agenda, and most claiming special status for this or that, whilst being "offended" right, left and centre by just about everybody (and everything) else. Even the so-called Law of the Land is applied differently (or often not at all) to these "diverse" groups.

Personally, I am happy to stand aside from all that [censored], as I dropped out of "society", whether Big, Small or In-Between, many years go. Somehow I doubt that anything shall entice me back now. I don't see any attraction to it, especially at my stage of the game. And if you don't live your life on your own terms, what does that make you?

But if I must join in other folk's games, then I like to be part of a winning (rather than a whining) team. And that's one of the reasons that I like the idea of a co-operative:- that is, working together for the common good with like-minded people, those I can respect, and trust.

* And therein lies the basic problem with democracy (so-called).

Well we've got them now and it certainly seems their following Tory policy you do something for us and we'll give you aid.

Not the volunteer but the charity, this whole Big Society idea is that charities should provide some of the public services that the Government currently do. Adding to the fact the Government have currently cut the amount that goes to charities , to create the Big Society they will have to cut back on some of their current activities.

Thus to expect charities to provide public services without funding is certainly fleecing them!

Also sacking the hospital cleaners and replacing them with volunteers only increases unemployment, which results in lower charitable donations and higher demand for charity. Thus pushing charities to the wall!

It's been suggested that the whole Big Society is actually cuts wrapped up in pretty paper and sealed with a bow.

Chris, may I respectfully suggest that, if you want to keep on bitching and moaning about Government Policy, you start a new thread (so I can ignore* it).

For what it's worth, personally I regard politicians (that is, all politicians) as appalling people. In fact I can't really see why we need them at all. The "Honourable" this, and the "Right Honourable" that ... don't make me laugh! Once elected, they think they can do what they like for five years or so.

And (just to be clear) I feel much the same way about Blow-Hard Trades Union "bosses" (also grossly overpaid [censored], in my opinion). Traitors are still traitors, however you want to dress it up.

My allegiances (if any) are to the Common Men and Women of England, who (in time honoured tradition, going back to Magna Carta and beyond) continue to be shafted to the present day.

* Unless you want me to lay out my own Manifesto, which I would be quite happy to do.

Billy Connelly once said - "If someone desires to be a politician that should ban them from ever being one"

Darth Welder - Still not a Real Welder but trying!

I would be interested in helping. Do you yet know how it would be organized and what you would want volunteers to do?

Your interest is duly noted there, Mate ... and I thank you for expressing it.

Glancing back over this thread I realise that I may not have laid out the stall very clearly. But I am really talking about two aspects here:-

1) Volunteering to assist in tech support medical charities
2) Banding together* to share the spoils available (if any) in carrying out the same

In either case (and as I have mentioned before) the real problem is funding. In short, if money wasn't a problem, there would be no end to the Good Deeds we could engage in.

So, I guess what I am really asking of folk here is that they:-

1) Win the Lottery
2) Make a handsome donation (only a £ million or so) to the Cause!

In similar vein, I am also interested in the idea of a "not-for-profit" co-operative providing independent technical services (to any customer, not only charity groups). My interpretation of the meaning of "not-for-profit" being that we charge for services at lower rates than profit-generating companies, as we pay ourselves only the minimum we actually need, whilst ploughing everything else back into the venture. That is, no shareholders and the like getting rich at our expense. Again, with shared ownership (and shared responsibilities).

But I don't expect much of a response to that idea, as I have been looking for such like-minded souls (without success) for more years than I care to remember.

* A co-operative. No-one is "boss". Fair shares for all, with the lead taken as and when needed by the person most able to provide that leadership.

The way things are heading, Webbie, we may need to think about setting up a micro-credit scheme for independent biomeds (not only "out there" in the world at large, but here in Britain as well).

As we all know (by now, I hope) those whose purpose it is to lend money (that is, the banks*) are disinclined to do so. Even to those whose mantra is "make do and mend", and whose goal is dependable service, customer satisfaction and honest (if modest) profits (or, in some cases, zero profit at all).

I guess that bankers are only interested in people like themselves ... fat, greedy [censored], able to trick folk into delivering inflated returns. The very type who (IMHO) have dragged this country into the abyss.

I'm thinking of bunging a £ k or so into a fund. Anyone fancy chipping in?

Meanwhile, am I the only one who gets tired of hearing about interest rates being kept low due to the "fragility of the housing market"? How about sod the housing market? Surely all that "built upon a house of cards" BS is what contributed to our finanical woes in the first place. Why can't we "stimulate the economy" by cracking on and building a few million Council Houses (that way, perhaps there might even be a chance of me getting one)!

* But don't worry, we shall remember, and stash our surplus dosh elsewhere (if ever that rather unlikely need actually arises).