The Big Society. Failure?
 

There has been a lot of talk recently about the Big Society failing. There isn't any one news story about that, it's been a more gradual set of stories. It started with the head of a leading charity claiming that it's intentions were being undermined by government cuts; that even those charities who tapped the voluntary sector long before the Tories got elected were cutting back their work.

David Cameron has now said the Tories will save the idea with extra cash:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisf...g-society-good

What do you think of it and what has been done so far? I have always thought it a stupid idea and the closest Labour got too a good message in the last campaign is when they said it was nothing but a pretense to cut drastically and expect 'society' to take over the roles.

Nothing wrong with that in theory but most jobs need professionals, working full time, who need to be paid. People with disabilities, social care, all being cut back and it cannot be replaced by the charitable sector. It's true there are a lot of charities in that space but a lot of them simply tender their services to government who then sign contracts with them to provide the service.

Re: The Big Society. Failure?
 

Well even though I'm dubious about this government and I was dubious about Cameron since he became the Tory leader I have to say it's a little early to judge.They haven't been in power for that long and I feel they need longer(rope) before we make a judgement either way.

I know it doesn't look good at the moment but they may get lucky.Circumstances may change in their favour.:shrug:

All I know is that we might need to learn new or old ways of saving money and accept that maybe it's cheaper to use a broom than to use a vacuum cleaner for a lot longer than we might have expected in previous recessions.;)

Re: The Big Society. Failure?
 

Most of the failures to gain the Welsh Bacc were down to kids not wanting to do the vounteer in the community bit AFAIK.

And most parents I know around here are working so many hours to pay the bills that volunteering for anything would be impossible.

All the reports I've heard on the radio over the past few days have been from charity bosses saying that "government cuts have reduced the number of volunteers".

Re: The Big Society. Failure?
 

it seems to me its a d.i.t offensive -- ie cancel the funding so you can do it thy
self ;)

Re: The Big Society. Failure?
 

Can't call it a failure before it's begun, we'll need to wait a little while first.

Odd all this impact from cuts that are still yet to properly bite though, we've had far more of the tax rises than the cuts.

Re: The Big Society. Failure?
 

And the Tax rises do cut very deeply mate for the average family.:mad::td:

Re: The Big Society. Failure?
 

I am not sure if I am talking about the right thing.

But in recent years (also was happening under new labour a bit) I have seen cuts to CAB and legal aid. Also a planning and action of gradual shift of offloading state work to charities and private companies that bid for the work, including things like welfare.

So cameron seems to be putting fancy words on to justify what is in effect cuts to areas that the most vulnerable rely on, and dress it up as making us all more independent.

Re: The Big Society. Failure?
 

Me neither. What exactly is the "Big Society" ?

Its certainly failed any attempt to be well known.

Re: The Big Society. Failure?
 

Really? Do you have anything to back that up?

Re: The Big Society. Failure?
 

Yes, the budget and the comprehensive spending review.

Cuts in funding have been announced, can't think of many that kick in until April, same can't be said for VAT and duty increases.

Re: The Big Society. Failure?
 

Is petrol really nearly £1.50 litre now?

http://www.petrolprices.com/

answered my own question.

so the fake inflation figures thing still goes on then, another essential that has shot up beyond wage levels.

Re: The Big Society. Failure?
 

Yeah but surely in cash terms the cuts are considerably larger than the VAT/duty rise? And while cuts may not actually kick in till later the effects are already felt as the public sector prepares for them.

Re: The Big Society. Failure?
 

Well the groups advocated / are delivering the following as deficit reduction measures:

Coalition 23% tax rises, 77% public spending cuts.
Conservatives pre-coalition 20% tax rises, 80% cuts.
Liberal Democrats 30% tax rises, 70% cuts.
Labour 33% tax rises, 67% cuts per Gordon Brown or 40% tax rises, 60% cuts per Alan Johnson or 50% tax rises, 50% cuts per Ed Milliband / Ed Balls
Greens 100% tax rises, 0% cuts



---------- Post added at 12:30 ---------- Previous post was at 12:28 ----------

Of course they are, they have to be, however they are happening over a much longer period than the front-loaded tax increases and as noted haven't kicked in yet.

Some effects are inevitably going to be felt already.

However that goes into the realms of supposition somewhat.

---------- Post added at 12:31 ---------- Previous post was at 12:30 ----------

Tax rises + messing with money supply = ouch.

Re: The Big Society. Failure?
 

Re: The Big Society. Failure?
 

I think it's the cool name for trying to get people to give a monkeys about people apart from themselves and not be total bumholes to each other.

I think - to me it sounds like the usual political buzzwords and nonsense.

Re: The Big Society. Failure?
 

I thought it meant cutting funding for all sorts of social work and expecting the local communities to step in and do the work themselves. For free...

Re: The Big Society. Failure?
 

Someone I know works people with learning disabilities. This is one of the things where the organisation is a charity that tenders to local councils and get's contracts. They have has massive redundancies as the councils are spending less on it. Much less. Mostly people are tiered and only the level top level, those with the most complex problems, are covered. I am not sure if that counts as an effect as it's not a government employee being laid off.

Re: The Big Society. Failure?
 

Here's a thought while discussing cuts.

Re: The Big Society. Failure?
 

"the bid society is a huge con"

Re: The Big Society. Failure?
 

Well, that informed and well-reasoned proposition has convinced me...

Re: The Big Society. Failure?
 

Re: The Big Society. Failure?
 

Nice propaganda and of course totally untrue. Maggie had far more testicular fortitude than that drip Cameron does.

Re: The Big Society. Failure?
 

Indeed...
the way I see it,the more charities,councils and other receivers of government funds (a.k.a our money) complain,the better! We,the people of this country,rely far too much on government as a whole.Always complaining about how useless and crap the state is,yet we cry for mummies t..ts as soon as something goes wrong!
We can't have it both ways! I guess there is a socialist streak in our blood,but at the same time we want to be free and pay low taxes... that doesn't work.

We need to be our own government,look out for our communities,for the people in our communities,give the odd quid here and there,get engaged in Civil matters and generally take good care of ourselves and our own lives!

The gov only cares for us when it wants something,our money!Otherwise we don't exist..

I say yes to big society! The more society,the less government,and vice versa,imho.

Take care!! :)

Re: The Big Society. Failure?
 

I still don't have a clue what "The Big Society" is or the point.

Re: The Big Society. Failure?
 

I always get very twitchy when (and it doesn't really matter whose party it is) when they seem unable to make a decision and then keep to it for more than a day or two before either backtracking completely or changing it.

It certainly doesn't inspire confidence in the face of the Government when they're being very dithery.

I was always taught in business 'make a decision, an informed decision, then stick with it' because nothing makes your colleages more uneasy than anything is a Manager who doesn't seem to know what they're doing.

Same thing applies to Government, the principles are much the same.