Cameron's "Big Society" is a shower of shite.

[Yootopia]

For starters, here's a bit from the Beeb :

Cameron and Clegg set out 'big society' policy ideas

David Cameron and Nick Clegg have given details of how the Conservatives' flagship idea of a "big society" will shape the coalition's policies.

The prime minister and his Lib Dem deputy said people should have more say over planning decisions and voluntary groups be able to run public services.

Rest of the story here

And here's why it's utter balls : Volunteers Are Not Suitable To Do The Work of a Modern Government. Charity is an extremely capricious way to sort out society's problems. People might volunteer to sort out local schools, and then stop when their child is better off. People might create local jobs for themselves, but stop after their nepotistic little enterprise is running under its own steam.

All this will do is lead to public sector job losses with no benefit for those incapable, for any reason, of mobilising thmselves to action.

[Gauthier]

Picture government run by Wal Mart or Tesco. That's what you get when you try to rely more on volunteers than paid, professional staff.

[Ifreann]

I don't think "Fuck off and do it yourself" is going to be a very popular policy.

[Ih8uwannakillu]

And here's why it's utter balls : Volunteers Are Not Suitable To Do The Work of a Modern Government. Charity is an extremely capricious way to sort out society's problems. People might volunteer to sort out local schools, and then stop when their child is better off. People might create local jobs for themselves, but stop after their nepotistic little enterprise is running under its own steam.

All this will do is lead to public sector job losses with no benefit for those incapable, for any reason, of mobilising thmselves to action.

You forget, this coalition has conservatives in it... ofcourse it'll lead to job loss and lack of benefit...

[Meridiani Planum]

Picture government run by Wal Mart or Tesco.

Wow, a government that works? Sign me up.

[Mikedor]

I'm currently looking at emigrating to New Zealand. I'm not staying and watching this country go down the drain thanks to callmedave

[Yootopia]

You forget, this coalition has conservatives in it... ofcourse it'll lead to job loss and lack of benefit...

No, I haven't forgotten it at all. In fact, it's caused some kind of Socialist Rage switch to be flipped in my brain. I was especially pissed off when he said it was ridiculous that some civil servants and NHS managers were paid 20 times the average salary (which I would agree with, actually), but didn't say how utterly vile it is that some people in the city earn thousands of times more than the average salary for bleeding entire countries dry. Eugh.

[Tokos]

I'm currently looking at emigrating to New Zealand. I'm not staying and watching this country go down the drain thanks to callmedave

It's been going down the drain thanks to Mr Cool Britannia for the last 11 years and you seem to have been happy to stay. I doubt Cameron can actually be worse. Equally bad, yeah.

[The Rich Port]

The way they pay government officials in my country, it may as well be charity.

But yeah, I agree with having paid professionals doing government work. It's not all fancy talk and wishful thinking: it's actual, grinding, difficult work.

[Treznor]

Ah, sounds like you've installed politicians who think that government is to blame for everything. Good luck. I sincerely hope it works out better for you than it has for us, because if history repeats itself you're in for a world of hurt.

[Farnhamia]

Ah, sounds like you've installed politicians who think that government is to blame for everything. Good luck. I sincerely hope it works out better for you than it has for us, because if history repeats itself you're in for a world of hurt.

And I wonder why anyone is surprised. This is what you get when you elect people who, like Trez said, think that the government is the problem, but are terribly eager to become a part of it.

[Jordaxia]

Ah, sounds like you've installed politicians who think that government is to blame for everything. Good luck. I sincerely hope it works out better for you than it has for us, because if history repeats itself you're in for a world of hurt.

They got 36% of the vote and installed themselves. The UK is to blame for not simply having them shot for gross hypocrisy. It's unfortunately not a crime yet.

[Ifreann]

Ah, sounds like you've installed politicians who think that government is to blame for everything. Good luck. I sincerely hope it works out better for you than it has for us, because if history repeats itself you're in for a world of hurt.

They got 36% of the vote and installed themselves.

Ain't FPTP fun?

[Eradium]

Pff, it's just a way for the government to blame the public when everything inevitably goes wrong. They'll go, "this was our manifesto, you agreed for this to happen. So it's your fault that you weren't able to pick up all these services and do them yourselves just as well as paid, professional employees. See, since it's your fault and not ours; can we have another term in power?"

[Charlotte Ryberg]

I don't know how I can make out the fact that MPs recently spent millions on second homes while insisting that we volunteer...

[Cabra West]

For starters, here's a bit from the Beeb :

Cameron and Clegg set out 'big society' policy ideas

David Cameron and Nick Clegg have given details of how the Conservatives' flagship idea of a "big society" will shape the coalition's policies.

The prime minister and his Lib Dem deputy said people should have more say over planning decisions and voluntary groups be able to run public services.

Rest of the story here

And here's why it's utter balls : Volunteers Are Not Suitable To Do The Work of a Modern Government. Charity is an extremely capricious way to sort out society's problems. People might volunteer to sort out local schools, and then stop when their child is better off. People might create local jobs for themselves, but stop after their nepotistic little enterprise is running under its own steam.

All this will do is lead to public sector job losses with no benefit for those incapable, for any reason, of mobilising thmselves to action.

After having seen attempts in Germany, I can add that volunteers aren't able to run a library.
I shudder at the thought of letting them run something more serious....

[Chumblywumbly]

Let me be the first in volunteering to slap Cleggoron across their face.

EDIT: What's worse is some the woolly sentiments that have been pumped out in a the last month or so - folks should get more involved in politics at a local and national level, more involved in their community, etc. - I highly agree with. But I never doubted the implementation, the actual reality of what the Tories where proposing, would be a nightmare.

[Demented Tigers]

It's a way to reduce government accountability for public services. Getting other people to run things lets the government absolve itself of responsibility for the standards of service.

I'm also concerned that it will turn out to be another name for privatisation. Could individuals take over and run services, or even buy them out?

[Charlotte Ryberg]

It's a way to reduce government accountability for public services. Getting other people to run things lets the government absolve itself of responsibility for the standards of service.

I'm also concerned that it will turn out to be another name for privatisation. Could individuals take over and run services, or even buy them out?

If it's for starting my own country, or at least to stop the spread of polyclinics to where GPs alone can do well without it, I might be interested.

[Chumblywumbly]

I'm also concerned that it will turn out to be another name for privatisation. Could individuals take over and run services, or even buy them out?

Everything has been far too vague to determine what all this talk will mean. There's no actual policy on the (public) table as of yet.

I suppose we'll learn what happens after the £6bn gets cut.

EDIT: Which in itself is worryingly vague. Cleggoron was quick to say the NHS would be "ringfenced", but one of the first cuts was to NHS manager bonuses. Irrespective of whether the NHS managers' bonuses were valid or not, it would imply that the fence around the NHS, and presumably other 'safe' public services, is pliable.

[Gauntleted Fist]

This...really does sound like a bad idea. If Britain's politicians keep it up, they'll catch up with ours in the "monumentally stupid ideas" department/day rate.

[Demented Tigers]

I'm also concerned that it will turn out to be another name for privatisation. Could individuals take over and run services, or even buy them out?

Everything has been far too vague to determine what all this talk will mean. There's no actual policy on the (public) table as of yet.

I suppose we'll learn what happens after the £6bn gets cut.

EDIT: Which in itself is worryingly vague. Cleggoron was quick to say the NHS would be "ringfenced", but one of the first cuts was to NHS manager bonuses. Irrespective of whether the NHS managers' bonuses were valid or not, it would imply that the fence around the NHS, and presumably other 'safe' public services, is pliable.

Exactly, it is terribly vague. It could go far-left or far-right. We could end up with soviets, or privatised public services; or both in different parts of the country!

[Georgism]

I'm also concerned that it will turn out to be another name for privatisation. Could individuals take over and run services, or even buy them out?

Everything has been far too vague to determine what all this talk will mean. There's no actual policy on the (public) table as of yet.

I suppose we'll learn what happens after the £6bn gets cut.

EDIT: Which in itself is worryingly vague. Cleggoron was quick to say the NHS would be "ringfenced", but one of the first cuts was to NHS manager bonuses. Irrespective of whether the NHS managers' bonuses were valid or not, it would imply that the fence around the NHS, and presumably other 'safe' public services, is pliable.

I thought it concerned the spending on NHS services which actually effect the ordinary person, like nurses pay and money for hospitals and such?

[Zoharland]

For starters, here's a bit from the Beeb :

Cameron and Clegg set out 'big society' policy ideas

David Cameron and Nick Clegg have given details of how the Conservatives' flagship idea of a "big society" will shape the coalition's policies.

The prime minister and his Lib Dem deputy said people should have more say over planning decisions and voluntary groups be able to run public services.

Rest of the story here

And here's why it's utter balls : Volunteers Are Not Suitable To Do The Work of a Modern Government. Charity is an extremely capricious way to sort out society's problems. People might volunteer to sort out local schools, and then stop when their child is better off. People might create local jobs for themselves, but stop after their nepotistic little enterprise is running under its own steam.

All this will do is lead to public sector job losses with no benefit for those incapable, for any reason, of mobilising thmselves to action.

God forbid the british people learn some personal responsibility and shrink the size of their bloated government. Oh the horror, asking people to actually look after themselves!

[Ifreann]

...Cleggoron....

Oh gods, are we doing this to politicians now too? Fucking hell.