It would be expected that when you reach a certain age you start taking responsibility for your own actions and not blame the same person for everything that is worng. I am of course talking about the UK and every finger pointing squarely at downing street for the current problems we are going through. Where I am not defending the Labour Government my personal political views are not important I would however suggest that a good portion of the problem are the owners of those pointing fingers. If you take a few issues currently bubbling away in the UK an examine it you can find that a large cause is actually mr and mrs joe public.
ENERGY CONSUMPTION - heating, lighting and entertainment in households is responsible for 27% of the energy used in Britain, and that a sixth of this is accounted for by electronic gadgets. But with purchases of low-price TVs, DVDs, computers and other products rising sharply, in five years gadgets will be responsible for a third of household energy use. Much of this is when they are on standby. Figures contained in the review will show that gadgets left unnecessarily on standby or connected to chargers squander electricity worth £740m each year and are responsible for 4m tonnes of excess carbon dioxide emissions each year. This has inevitably resulted in higher demand for Gas and Electricity and when the core fuels are in such small demand prices go through the roof - Answer turn your electrical goods off!!!
NHS - The amount of people being admitted to hospitals with alcohol related illnesses is increasing by 10% each year affecting 800,000 people annually (source NHS)Latest calculations released put the cost of alcohol misuse to society at between £17.7bn to £25.1bn annually, at a cost of £2.7bn to the NHS - Answer drink responsibly!
Smoking costs the NHS between £1.4bn and £1.7bn a year, according to the most recent research. The estimate by the Centre for Health Economics, University of York, is considerably higher than previous calculations which put the cost of treating smoking related diseases at just £610m a year - why not give up
The rising levels of Obesity could bankrupt the NHS if unchecked, experts including government A&ETsar george Alberti and Glasgow University professor estimates that Obesity treatments accounts for 9% of the total NHS budget - answer go on a diet!
POLICE Alcohol related crimes takes up 35% of police resource 35% I mean come on people that is rediculus!
Petrol in 2001 the good people of the UK had a fantastic chance to take the fight to the big boys when a blockade of the refineries went a head. The protest crippled the fuel industry and the pumps ran dry after days of having to catch the bus the good people of the UK got bored and turned against the protestors just as progress was being made. The result completely unfiltered and unchecked fuel prices raising by over 70p in the last 10 years
Voting the leader of the country had a 60% turn out which means that 24,4000,000 couldn't be arsed getting of there backsides and it is only after the party is voted in you start complaining.. how does that work...
I could go on to include uncontrolled borrowing, child truency, underage pregnancy etc etc
Originally posted by steste: Ohh car owner ship, unemployment, support of local produce....... and the list goes on
In the real democracy that was in Greece, they didn't elect a bunch of stooges to blame for everything and take none of the responsibility themselves as our "democrazy" system.
Instead, individual citizens were picked at random to sit on the panels that ran each of the ministeries.
Because the government was literally "by the people" and not by "a bunch of stooges", it really wasn't possible for the people of Athens to "blame the government" because they were the government.
It really is the fault of the people who let the politicians get away with this con trick by undemocratic political elite.
Certainly it is true that Labour is an easy target just as the Tories were from 1993 onwards. It goes with the territory of an ageing government getting short on ideas and with a poor image.
It is also true that we do not accept personal responsibility and I would agree with your list which is definitely endless!
The conundrum though is the connection of the two. It is fair to say that individuals blame government unjustifiably but isn't it also fair to ask why and fair to ask what responsibility the government holds for that public attitude?
There has to be a connection I feel between the lack of individual responsibility and a welfare system that is less safety net and more rights oriented than ever. Another connection would be in the credit based economy that has encouraged a belief that the good life is endless. Perhaps another would be the rights and compensation culture that has followed since 1997 especially with the HRA. There is also the education system that will soon cater for children from 2 to 18 and encourage more parents to work.
The lack of investment in wealth creating industries must be down to Labour's policies, as must the lack of investment in eco-friendly industry. I've said before on here that it amazes me Labour has not splashed out to make the UK a world centre for eco-car plants.
None of these is singly responsible but together they represent a fair bit of the New Labour ethos. In that climate it is hard to condemn people for thinking that the state should do everything for now and forever and their only personal responsibility is to enjoy the present day.
All these "issues" were there in 2005 and Labour won the election.
They are an easy target now because they seem to have stopped running the country. As someone who would be more easily persuaded to vote Labour than Tory, they have given almost nothing for me to latch onto. Cameron is at least "out and about", doing a lot of stupid things, but at least he is "doing things".
Under Blair, Labour at least had programmes and objectives that mattered to people, but now we see Cherie Blair and Rio Ferdinand talking about knife crime whilst government ministers worry more about the number of fat kids.
They've even stopped spinning. Blair would have been on the news this week talking about how he is behind our olympic team, pleased that the lottery funding was helping our natural talent to come to the fore, modestly refusing to take any credit (), but happy to bask in reflected glory.
How on earth will Brown cope with an election campaign when he actually has to come face to face with voters?
Originally posted by Amos Parr: All these "issues" were there in 2005 and Labour won the election.
They are an easy target now because they seem to have stopped running the country. As someone who would be more easily persuaded to vote Labour than Tory, they have given almost nothing for me to latch onto. Cameron is at least "out and about", doing a lot of stupid things, but at least he is "doing things".
Under Blair, Labour at least had programmes and objectives that mattered to people, but now we see Cherie Blair and Rio Ferdinand talking about knife crime whilst government ministers worry more about the number of fat kids.
They've even stopped spinning. Blair would have been on the news this week talking about how he is behind our olympic team, pleased that the lottery funding was helping our natural talent to come to the fore, modestly refusing to take any credit (), but happy to bask in reflected glory.
How on earth will Brown cope with an election campaign when he actually has to come face to face with voters?
Thats quite correct which is why it confuses me even more when Tony Blair and this labour govenment gets blamed for it!
Originally posted by Anonimouse: Certainly it is true that Labour is an easy target just as the Tories were from 1993 onwards. It goes with the territory of an ageing government getting short on ideas and with a poor image.
It is also true that we do not accept personal responsibility and I would agree with your list which is definitely endless!
The conundrum though is the connection of the two. It is fair to say that individuals blame government unjustifiably but isn't it also fair to ask why and fair to ask what responsibility the government holds for that public attitude?
There has to be a connection I feel between the lack of individual responsibility and a welfare system that is less safety net and more rights oriented than ever. Another connection would be in the credit based economy that has encouraged a belief that the good life is endless. Perhaps another would be the rights and compensation culture that has followed since 1997 especially with the HRA. There is also the education system that will soon cater for children from 2 to 18 and encourage more parents to work.
The lack of investment in wealth creating industries must be down to Labour's policies, as must the lack of investment in eco-friendly industry. I've said before on here that it amazes me Labour has not splashed out to make the UK a world centre for eco-car plants.
None of these is singly responsible but together they represent a fair bit of the New Labour ethos. In that climate it is hard to condemn people for thinking that the state should do everything for now and forever and their only personal responsibility is to enjoy the present day.
But would you not agree that we should take on the responsibility to reduce these costs and help out the country. Why do we assume that by putting a slip of paper into a plastic container ever few years is the extent of our responsibility (and even then a large portion cannot be bothered doing that!!)
Originally posted by steste: Voting the leader of the country had a 60% turn out which means that 24,4000,000 couldn't be arsed getting of there backsides and it is only after the party is voted in you start complaining.. how does that work...
Many people don't vote because there is no party that represents their views. There is no national left wing party for example.
Originally posted by steste: Voting the leader of the country had a 60% turn out which means that 24,4000,000 couldn't be arsed getting of there backsides and it is only after the party is voted in you start complaining.. how does that work...
Many people don't vote because there is no party that represents their views. There is no national left wing party for example.
Then vote none of the above. There are examples now in the world where people would give their lives to be able to vote (or not as the majority chose to do) as freely as you but it is taken for granted.
Originally posted by steste: Voting the leader of the country had a 60% turn out which means that 24,4000,000 couldn't be arsed getting of there backsides and it is only after the party is voted in you start complaining.. how does that work...
Many people don't vote because there is no party that represents their views. There is no national left wing party for example.
Then vote none of the above. There are examples now in the world where people would give their lives to be able to vote (or not as the majority chose to do) as freely as you but it is taken for granted.
But as things stand they do not have that option. There is spoliing the ballot but...The fact is the message from the apathy is that our current crop of political parties do nto represent public opinion and should be allowed tio die so that new parties can come forward.
Originally posted by Anonimouse: Certainly it is true that Labour is an easy target just as the Tories were from 1993 onwards. It goes with the territory of an ageing government getting short on ideas and with a poor image.
It is also true that we do not accept personal responsibility and I would agree with your list which is definitely endless!
The conundrum though is the connection of the two. It is fair to say that individuals blame government unjustifiably but isn't it also fair to ask why and fair to ask what responsibility the government holds for that public attitude?
There has to be a connection I feel between the lack of individual responsibility and a welfare system that is less safety net and more rights oriented than ever. Another connection would be in the credit based economy that has encouraged a belief that the good life is endless. Perhaps another would be the rights and compensation culture that has followed since 1997 especially with the HRA. There is also the education system that will soon cater for children from 2 to 18 and encourage more parents to work.
The lack of investment in wealth creating industries must be down to Labour's policies, as must the lack of investment in eco-friendly industry. I've said before on here that it amazes me Labour has not splashed out to make the UK a world centre for eco-car plants.
None of these is singly responsible but together they represent a fair bit of the New Labour ethos. In that climate it is hard to condemn people for thinking that the state should do everything for now and forever and their only personal responsibility is to enjoy the present day.
But would you not agree that we should take on the responsibility to reduce these costs and help out the country. Why do we assume that by putting a slip of paper into a plastic container ever few years is the extent of our responsibility (and even then a large portion cannot be bothered doing that!!)
Of course. We cannot and should not abrogate those responsibilities. What I am saying is that there is a substantial percentage of the electorate who don't know how to do it or can't be bothered to do it. Some of the responsibility for that apathy must lie with the government itself. After all there's a whole generation now who have really only known a New Labour government.
Originally posted by steste: Voting the leader of the country had a 60% turn out which means that 24,4000,000 couldn't be arsed getting of there backsides and it is only after the party is voted in you start complaining.. how does that work...
Many people don't vote because there is no party that represents their views. There is no national left wing party for example.
Then vote none of the above. There are examples now in the world where people would give their lives to be able to vote (or not as the majority chose to do) as freely as you but it is taken for granted.
But as things stand they do not have that option. There is spoliing the ballot but...The fact is the message from the apathy is that our current crop of political parties do nto represent public opinion and should be allowed tio die so that new parties can come forward.
That is rubbish the current apathy is a reflection that people are simply too lazy because to actually show a true reflection of how the people felt you would spoil your vote which would form part of the over all statistic.
Originally posted by steste: That is rubbish the current apathy is a reflection that people are simply too lazy because to actually show a true reflection of how the people felt you would spoil your vote which would form part of the over all statistic.
I disagree. People are empassioned by politics..you can see it all around. it is the current crop of parties that has created this. Corrupt, incompetent and frequently criminal. Spoilt ballots are easy for politicians to write off as, "idiots".
Originally posted by Anonimouse: Certainly it is true that Labour is an easy target just as the Tories were from 1993 onwards. It goes with the territory of an ageing government getting short on ideas and with a poor image.
It is also true that we do not accept personal responsibility and I would agree with your list which is definitely endless!
The conundrum though is the connection of the two. It is fair to say that individuals blame government unjustifiably but isn't it also fair to ask why and fair to ask what responsibility the government holds for that public attitude?
There has to be a connection I feel between the lack of individual responsibility and a welfare system that is less safety net and more rights oriented than ever. Another connection would be in the credit based economy that has encouraged a belief that the good life is endless. Perhaps another would be the rights and compensation culture that has followed since 1997 especially with the HRA. There is also the education system that will soon cater for children from 2 to 18 and encourage more parents to work.
The lack of investment in wealth creating industries must be down to Labour's policies, as must the lack of investment in eco-friendly industry. I've said before on here that it amazes me Labour has not splashed out to make the UK a world centre for eco-car plants.
None of these is singly responsible but together they represent a fair bit of the New Labour ethos. In that climate it is hard to condemn people for thinking that the state should do everything for now and forever and their only personal responsibility is to enjoy the present day.
But would you not agree that we should take on the responsibility to reduce these costs and help out the country. Why do we assume that by putting a slip of paper into a plastic container ever few years is the extent of our responsibility (and even then a large portion cannot be bothered doing that!!)
Of course. We cannot and should not abrogate those responsibilities. What I am saying is that there is a substantial percentage of the electorate who don't know how to do it or can't be bothered to do it. Some of the responsibility for that apathy must lie with the government itself. After all there's a whole generation now who have really only known a New Labour government.
Not at all if the options are that bad why aren't there more people forcing changes and getting in to politics. You cannot tell me that out of 62 million people the current shower are the best this country can produce?? There is no radicals in British (is that the right word or is it English Politics or UK politics,.... one simply doesn't know!!) politics
Genrally, not just Labour, the situation is irredeemable, spoilt papers are no message, if most people stayed at home to protest they would gladly take office by default. Are they bothered about the brain drain and the unskilled labour coming in? It doesn't seem so, the economic downturn means less tax money is coming in, the politicians don't care as long as they get paid. If more people emigrated, would that scare them? Not in the least, they would probably welcome most people leaving, it's less work for them. It seems that the state of politics in this country has become a Hobson's choice with a choice of identical major parties and a plethora of the rest who are nothing more than a waste paper basket for votes.
Originally posted by Makodragon: Genrally, not just Labour, the situation is irredeemable, spoilt papers are no message, if most people stayed at home to protest they would gladly take office by default. Are they bothered about the brain drain and the unskilled labour coming in? It doesn't seem so, the economic downturn means less tax money is coming in, the politicians don't care as long as they get paid. If more people emigrated, would that scare them? Not in the least, they would probably welcome most people leaving, it's less work for them. It seems that the state of politics in this country has become a Hobson's choice with a choice of identical major parties and a plethora of the rest who are nothing more than a waste paper basket for votes.
I think that spoilt papers are a clear message that the current thread of politics is no longer acceptable and would clear up the parties blissful iognorance that it is apathy through lazyness and not as you suggested (though I am yet to be convinced). I would agree with you that immigration needs to be better controlled and the points system be operated sooner rather than later. Still immigration is a small factor of the overall problem caused by us not living responsibily.
Someone coming over from France and telling us all whats wrong with country and what we should do to put it right.
As if France was some paragon of virtue.
I'm surprised you're here at all. Most French poeople avoid Britain like the plague. Which is OK by me.
I have never said that france is anything like a paragon of virtue and please dont embarrass yourself I am 28 years old and won't be draged in to a pointless arguement.
Someone coming over from France and telling us all whats wrong with country and what we should do to put it right.
As if France was some paragon of virtue.
I'm surprised you're here at all. Most French poeople avoid Britain like the plague. Which is OK by me.
I have never said that france is anything like a paragon of virtue and please dont embarrass yourself I am 28 years old and won't be draged in to a pointless arguement.
I don't care whether you are 28 or 82, you have started all these threads complaining about Britain and the British. If that wasn't to start arguments what was the purpose of them?
Don't back out when someone asks you a few questions.
Someone coming over from France and telling us all whats wrong with country and what we should do to put it right.
As if France was some paragon of virtue.
I'm surprised you're here at all. Most French poeople avoid Britain like the plague. Which is OK by me.
I have never said that france is anything like a paragon of virtue and please dont embarrass yourself I am 28 years old and won't be draged in to a pointless arguement.
I don't care whether you are 28 or 82, you have started all these threads complaining about Britain and the British. If that wasn't to start arguments what was the purpose of them?
), but happy to bask in reflected glory.
