Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
Apathy.
I have started this thread in response to Rogers" why the apathy" in his #39 post on Ross's Big Local Thread.
Ross's thread should be left as a community thread with only positive posts and should not be spoiled by politics, in my view, which is why I have started another thread.
Apathy, does excist, is political and should be discussed.
A succession of governments since Thatcher, right up to today(All Parties) has treated our workers, elderly, disabled, vulnerable, despicably.
Many thousands of people do not want to rise to the upper echelons of life. They would be happy to leave school get a job, any job, earn a decent wage, save some money, start a family, buy or rent a house at a reasonable cost, have sky and go on holiday once a year, without even thinking about politics, about climbing the social ladder and without looking forward to the day when they can be rich enough to siphon off some cash into a far off bank account.
These are loving, caring, family people, who make up our communities and deserve to be treated better than they are now.
This apathy is coming from years of being crapped on.
Attacking the disabled has nothing to do with reducing the deficit.
Introducing this bedroom tax has nothing to do with reducing the deficit.
Stripping away workers' rights have nothing to do with reducing the deficit.
Yes, certain parts of the above need dealing with, anyone with a bit of common sense, has to see and agree with that.
But when Cameron introduces His "Bedroom Tax" for our elderly and disabled, leaving them fearing a knock on the door from the bailiffs, on the same day as giving "Tax Relief" to Millionaires, do you not think people are entitled to a bit of apathy?
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,707
Thanks Gary
My own take on this at a local level boils down to the fact that for the best part of 50 years the hopes and aspirations of Dovorians have been regularly shattered by performance of all 3 of our local authorities. It has now got to the point that people are so distrusting of local authority figures and institutions that it manifests itself as apathy. IT IS NOT. It is distrust and a tired acceptance that no matter what is promised it will 90%+ of the time never materialise. The challenge therefore for local government, local charities and community groups/projects is how to show that things are being delivered.
As for the national level, politicians have totally lost touch with ordinary people; this is true of all political parties. There is a short termism demonstrated that is based on the electoral term that ill serves the rest of us who think in much longer time periods. Also people distrust the political mantra and dogma about "taking responsibility" when politicians/political parties/governments blatantly take no responsibility for there past and present actions/decisions. These people have blatantly forgotten who serves who...
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Dover has the highest proportion of Apathy in the British Isles, because we deserve much better than what we are getting.
Don't expect anything other than Apathy under present circumstances!
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
GaryC, I agree that the Big Local should have/does have, nothing to do with politics and should not have politics brought into it.
I know (so does everyone on here) I am a Councillor, but I am unaware I have been political on the Big Local thread.
"Attacking the disabled has nothing to do with reducing the deficit". I couldn't agree more
"Introducing this bedroom tax has nothing to do with reducing the deficit". I know you know this Gary, but it isn't a tax, it is a reduction in benefit and we have the lowest reduction here. The unfair part (to my mind) is that even if someone is happy to move down to a home with less bedrooms, but there aren't any available, they'll still have their benefit reduced. This needs more thought by Ministers and Civil Servants.
"Stripping away workers' rights have nothing to do with reducing the deficit". I agree, but employment law is very complex and I'm sure we both know, there are good and bad workers as well as good and bad employers and Managers.
Ross: "As for the national level, politicians have totally lost touch with ordinary people; this is true of all political parties". This does indeed seem to be the case.
Dover people have become very distrusting and I can understand their cynicism - they were like this I'm sure,when Jean and I moved here 18 years ago, but good things will be announced soon.
Roger
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
On this thread, regarding national level, I have to say that I am truly worried that history will be repeated and good people will be forced into taking to the streets in protest and bad people will take the opportunity to wreak havoc & mayhem.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
" but good things will be announced soon"
That has made my day Roger.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
Roger.
It was my reply to your Apathy question that was going to be political, I was not saying you had been potitical.
I have always agreed benefits need looking at but greed needs looking at as well.
Tom.
Roger is right, good things are going to happen soon.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
are you referring to the betteshanger colliery announcement gary, i believe our m.p has been working wonders there?
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
there seems a lot of apathy here,unless its me missreading the posts.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
Just in time for the Election Roger? Because we are not getting any at the moment.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
Are these 'announcements' to be medium-rare or well done?
Gary, things are indeed going to get better, but please do not read this to be the announcement itself.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
Re-cycled
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
"All is well"!
Is this the forthcoming announcement?
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
Well now some interesting points,
unfortunatly politicians at both local and national level have lost touch with the electorate, this is a great shame
and not gd for democracy.
I think any good news would help people who are finding it hard to survive.
Gary has made the many points i have been making for some time.
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Keith, "unfortunatly politicians at both local and national level have lost touch with the electorate",
...politicians have lost touch with reality.
Local politicians are hopelessly bound to national party policies, and because central Government controls the revenue streams to local councils, Parliament can pull the strings, and local politicians will dance in tune, and they won't go one step out of place.
If Parliament says: jump, they'll jump, and if Parliament says: stand upside down, they'll do it.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Local Government needs to be economically more self sufficient, with a higher proportion of local tax going to Councils and less tax going to Central Gov.
Have been saying this for years, and eventually it will come about.
It's one important factor in getting the economy on a sound basis, and putting an end to Osborne's insane Austerity, and to any future austerity.
Currently our lives and our economy are dictated to by a Cabinet, including a failed Chancellor.
We can call it the Dictatorship of Austerity, where one failed politician has immense power over the economy, and compels us into an Ice Age of bankruptcy and sheer do-nothing-other-than-sit-around-and-and twiddle-your-thumbs, or:
run around in mad circles to pay your mortgage, rent, or payday loan, till you collapse on the heap and give up.
City bankers and the rich excluded, of-course.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
Alexander your last line we agree on!!!
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I disagree that local politicians have lost touch with the electorate, In think it's just that there are good and bad Councillors and some that don't do much for the area they are supposed to represent.
John (JHG), it has nothing to do with any (County) election in May, people are always asking to be told when things are happening and when we are going to let them know, we're told it's because an election is coming - things are happening all the time, not just every four years.
Roger
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Alexander - "Local Government needs to be economically more self sufficient, with a higher proportion of local tax going to Councils and less tax going to Central Gov."
Local Authorities are becoming less dependant on Government handouts; as from April this year, a percentage of business rates will be staying with Councils - I don't know if it is a fixed sum or a percentage of that collected, but it should help locally.
Roger
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
Any moves to get local councils more accountable and get more finance(if they use it wisely_)should be welcomed
I would partly agree with roger on his view on local politicians
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS