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.

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.

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.

[Taf]

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".

[papa smurf]

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

[Ignitionnet]

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.

[budwieser]

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

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.

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

[Chrysalis]

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.

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

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

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

Its certainly failed any attempt to be well known.

[danielf]

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

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.

Really? Do you have anything to back that up?

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by danielf

Really? Do you have anything to back that up?

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.

[Chrysalis]

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.

[danielf]

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

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.

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.

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by budwieser

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

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

The IFS estimates that the last big fiscal tightening undertaken by a Conservative government, which took place in the early 1990s, was split 50-50 between tax and spending measures. But an unpublished Treasury paper that drew on studies of more than 70 “fiscal consolidations� across 20 countries since 1974 concluded that successful deficit reductions normally relied on 80 per cent spending cuts and 20 per cent tax rises.

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

Originally Posted by danielf

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.

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 ----------

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

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.

Tax rises + messing with money supply = ouch.

[Anonymouse]

Originally Posted by Paul M

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

I've been wondering that myself. Certainly it means one thing to our alleged government, and...nothing whatsoever to me.

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by Anonymouse

I've been wondering that myself. Certainly it means one thing to our alleged government, and...nothing whatsoever to me.

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.