Stop your dogs messing our parks

Some would say I write a lot of crap on this blog. Some may be right.

However today, instead of writing crap I'd like to write about it, namely dog mess.

A while back I wrote about spitting in the street in comparison to allowing dogs to foul the pavement and since then I have started to pay a lot more attention to both in my daily life.

Usually I trundle along in my Apple sponsored bubble listening to loud 90s music or surfing the net trying to build the family tree yet some how manage to get home on autopilot. I'd only ever notice befoulment if I skidded in it and after cursing loudly go looking for a puddle or patch of grass.

It does seem to be fairly common on the streets of Medway, not as much as it was when I was a child but still too much.

This Sunday I went to Gillingham park with my family and was horrified when a little dog scurried past is and proceeded to relieve itself all of a metre from where we were having a picnic by the railings next to the play area!

I looked around for the owner who had conveniently turned their back having seen what was happening.

if I can't see it, it isn't happening

I looked around the park and just beyond the tea & ice-cream van was a red bin. So what was the excuse?

Anyone who has toddlers knows that no matter how much you watch them there will come a moment where you have to take your eye off them and in that split second they can move with exceptional speed. Usually into what they are not meant to!

I have no wish for Ollie or Sophie to play in crap and I'm sure you wouldn't want your children either. It is the most unsanitary thing and can cause blindness or worse.

The same is true for those parents who sit on the benches in the play area smoking, even though the sign asks you not to, and F-ing and blinding. I totally respect your freedom of speech but I don't want my two year old absorbing that language, also I want her little lungs to stay as clean as possible.

So, what are the solutions?

Well, unfortunately there are none. The only people to blame are those being inconsiderate and ask them to take responsibility for their actions. You could station a Community support officer at each park or every corner dictating the law but that is problematic.

We're all adults and part of a community. You wouldn't like it if I came and left a big pile of poo in your garden so why let your dog do it?

Nick Clegg's speech and Lib dem aims for Society

For a full text of the speech click here!

Today Nick Clegg gave a speech at Westminster Methodist Central hall to Demos and the Open Society Foundation and spoke on the need for Social change and the creation of an Open Society.

The main thrust of the speech is to look at Tony Blair's comparison of an Open and Closed society. Nick then puts it into context with today's society and how we, the Liberal Democrats want to (and are trying to) make this a much more open Society with fairness at its heart and that social mobility is possible and actively encouraged.

The Coalition is putting more money into funds to increase the young's chances;

That is why I have made clear that intergenerational social mobility is the principal objective of the Coalition’s social policy. And why I have been so determined to increase our investment in the vital early years, including, recently, by extending the new two-year old offer to an additional 130,000 toddlers in working families.

There is also a further £1bn going into the Youth Contract scheme, a large amount of Government funds especially in this day and age.

Nick pointed out certain disparities within other disciplines. Things that I'm sure the 99% find frustrating.
The example he uses is the legal profession;

More than two thirds of all high court judges and top barristers are privately-educated. Nine out ten QCs are men. Nineteen out of twenty are white.

This is indeed a shocking statistics and shows that someone low born has a very very low chance of making it to High court judge as well as the opportunity to learn at the same institutions. How is this fair?
Liberalism wants to level the playing field so that everyone has the right and opportunity to climb the social ladder which is something I truly believe in. I want Sophie to be all that she can be, go as far as she wants or is able to go and not be stopped by glass flaws.

The party also wants to move towards more personal budgets in health or Social care which gives us the power back. This again is great as I want to be able to chose my services rather than be held in the rigid frame work with no choice that have "always" existed or "Must" exist.

Then Nick moves on to Localism. This is a policy close to my heart. I truly believe in Localism and  its advantages to local people. If a Local Council or governing body has a way to improve things for its citizens that it can implement and it is happy that it has the support of local people then why not do it?
Why wait for National Government to implement an idea? You could be waiting forever!
Also for National Government its legislation will be across whole areas and what is good for Kent is not good or Merseyside so Medway Council would be better placed to bring in a procedure or reform for the people of Medway.

Then comes the big thing, one of our policies from a Century ago that still needs to be implemented. The reform of the house of Lords. This second house, an unelected body of 500 or so that is governing and altering laws put forward by an elected body needs reform. A second house is in itself a necessity to act as a brake but it should be elected to represent the needs of the masses rather.

Attacks on Banker's and executive's bonuses, greater power for shareholders to stop the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer by paying for their mistakes. The Call for a "Responsible Capitalism" rather than a continuation of this Victorianesq style. It may seem like a stretched metaphor but it is true. The poor are still living badly whilst the rich continue to be paid telephone number salaries and bonuses and live in the lap of luxuries.

There is also talk of freeing the press, something we as a party have been in support of a long time. Recently the Murdoch Empire has begun to crack, brought down by its own corruption. Before your chances of election or for the success of a policy depended on how Mr Murdoch felt. Indeed if the Murdoch press turned upon you it could indeed bring down a Government. This is NOT right!
Government policy, indeed Elections should be based on a fair appraisal from an independent press and let people make their own minds up.

Nick also argues that the Nation needs to drop its artificial divides of North, south, developing etc... We are one nation and we need to work together as one Society and we are all equal.

There is also... Well, I've spoken about it before ...

As a Party the Liberal Democrats are trying to redefine ourselves against our Coalition partners. This is not a dig at the Conservatives or indeed the Coalition really but is an attempt to remind the electorate that there are TWO parties in Coalition.

Nick makes a subtle jab at the Conservatives moves in Europe and at Euro scepticism and warns that this is a sign of a closed society;

History teaches that, at times of deep economic uncertainty, societies become more exposed to the forces of division – populism, insularity, separatism, an ‘us versus them’ mentality.

Rather than remaining open to the world and facing the future, societies can begin to turn inwards and lose confidence in progress.

The danger in the UK is that the forces of reaction and retreat overwhelm our instinct for openness and optimism. That we succumb to fear - the greatest enemy of openness - in these dark economic times.
Indeed this "Us vs. Them" mentality can be drawn to cover National politics. At the moment Labour and indeed aspects of the Coalition are drawing lines between
THEM; This is what they want to do isn't it wrong/immoral 
and
US; We don't want to do that or are opposed to that.

This isn't the way forward. Its not about party colours or lines when it comes to the making a better place for everyone. The nation doesn't need it. Where there is consensus there needs to be consensus not pointless opposition for the sake of it and political point scoring and where there is division there needs to be healthy debate.

Needless to say, having read the speech; I agree with Nick.
I honestly think that Society does need to change, to better itself and to put its faith in people, not institutions or the past, not to have blue prints but to adapt and mold itself as it progresses to what the people want or need. The 99% are tired of life being pre-ordained to a lesser or greater degree they want to have all the opportunities that they deserve and that life is not a battle.
Lets have this open Liberal society.

Christian values to save the nation?

In a speech at Oxford Christchurch to mark the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, Mr Cameron out lined that Britain, as a Christian nation should turn to the Bible to help combat Britain's moral collapse, he also went on to say;

We are a Christian country and we should not be afraid to say so.

Let me be clear: I am not in any way saying that to have another faith - or no faith - is somehow wrong.
I know and fully respect that many people in this country do not have a religion.
And I am also incredibly proud that Britain is home to many different faith communities, who do so much to make our country stronger.
But what I am saying is that the Bible has helped to give Britain a set of values and morals which make Britain what it is today.

There was quite a strong reaction on the Twittersphere about this and many people were angered by the Prime Minister's comments. After all we are a multi faith nation and why should the Bible be taken as THE source of moral law? What of atheists and the secularisation of society? Is it this that is causing the moral collapse?

To quote Mr Cameron again; Calm down dear.

At this point I should point out that I am not a Christian. I was very young when I lost my faith and nothing I have read since has given me reason to believe that there is a God. I've always been taught to follow reason, law and logic.

That said, I do agree with Mr Cameron.

Firstly, Britain is a Christian nation. According to the 2001 Census 72% of people are Christians of one denomination or another - that said many also signed it as Jedi.
The nation, like it or not, has been one of the leading lights of Protestantism in the Western world for centuries, we fought wars over it and defined ourselves as Protestant against Papal France and Spain.
Christianity has always been at the centre of society although saying that any religion's text will outline similar rules and guidelines on behaviour such as law abiding, good to your neighbours etc etc

It would be fair to say that modern society is broken. People are rude to others and impolite, murder and crime is on the rise and something is lacking from modern life. A return to GOOD Christian values seems to be a good step.

Just a couple of thoughts on that though.

Despite our rose tinted view of history, it would be fair to say that these problems have always existed. In the slums of Victorian England or in Tudor and Stuart times the levels of drunkenness and surliness already existed. The number of murders and sex crimes were high even then and have just continued through - and this was a time when Britain was deeply Christian.

Britain is moving towards a certain amount of secularisation, removing any one Religious group's control of the media, education etc. Despite Mr Cameron's assurances I'm sure there are groups of Muslims, Jews etc who are displeased with comments saying that the Bible holds the key, as well as many angry atheists who feel they are under attack for not being Christian and possibly the cause of this moral rot. Families collapsing is in some ways a good thing, for it is better to divorce than to stay in an unhappy home or with a potentially violent spouse out of a sense of duty especially if Children are involved. Yes some people get married and divorced far to easilly at the drop of a hat but that is their freedom to do so.

Also, behaviour and manners should come with good parenting and not from a fear of wrath from the all mighty. During the Middle-ages people lived in fear that sin would be met with fire and brimstone in the fires of Hell but now-a-days there is not that fear. I was brought up to be polite, courteous and respect the law but many don't seem to be. Just people watching in Gillingham high street or at Waterloo station will demonstrate that. Who should this fall back upon? On religion? The State? The schools?
The parents.
Yes, I'm sorry but you will have to start to teaching your children to be good and to respect others etc... I know it's a new dynamic twist but there it is.

In a nut shell, I can see what Mr Cameron was trying to say. Society needs more Moral fibre, more of a return to stronger ethics and in the context of his speech I can see why he said what he said but I don't think that the Bible is the way. Any social historian worth their salt will tell you that society has always had these problems.

The Big Society and New Politics; have they failed?

As London continues to burn and imagery reminiscent of the Luftwaffe raids on London are flashed across the media this morning. Many people are forced to ask if the aims of the  Coalition have been proved a failure and that Politicians are too far removed from the situation on the ground that such a reaction was inevitable.

It was a warning that Nick Clegg put forward last year ( http://t.co/XJBAFQL Thanks to Dr Keevil) that austerity measures would lead to this situation. People are angry at the cuts, angry at services being removed - they don't care about the national debt, or the collapse of the eurozone - they want to keep their services. For them Westminster is full of corrupt millionaires who are trying to line their own pockets. There has been no change in Politics in this parliament or in any since 1945.

As for the "Big Society." it could be argued that Society has collapsed if it ever existed in the first place. Local communities are torn down the middle as gangs of youths and criminals are more than happy to rampage through streets breaking and entering homes and setting fire to personal property of neighbours or family friends. Its not just big business  like MacDonald's or Sony that are being hit, in Croydon a furniture business that was 150 years old was completely destroyed. Society has failed these people and now they are striking back, they don't feel part of anything, they aren't confined by the law or fear the Police. What have they got to look forward to? Ordered around government that doesn't represent what they want, forced to work long hours for little pay and for what?

Communities have broken down. Big society relies on people working together as neighbours towards a common good and helping out those in need. How many can honestly say that they know their neighbours or name four people on their street these days? How many people stop to help someone who looks obviously lost or looks like they need assistance? Its probably a staggering minority. Most of us put on our Ipods and keep walking as there is always the worry that you will get stabbed or robbed or you just simply don't have time. In the wartime/post war societies that Big Society is trying to recreate this simply wouldn't be the case and community spirit was when  for helping each other. People also understood the needs and pressures on the government. Who could blame the cuts or government measures when the Germans were set to roll in and remove their rights?

Politics is changing, it takes time for such changes to come about and the Coalition has only been in power for a year. Certain MPs like David Lammey and Tracey Crouch have visited the disaster scenes and are reassuring the people what is going on. One of our Councillors, Vince Maple, tweeted that he was on the phone to Kent Police at 1am for a status update on his ward and riots in Chatham! Politicians are returning to our streets to help and work with the communities they represent.

As for Austerity, maybe the chancellor does need to look at the situation and see if salves can be applied to the cuts to calm the fraid tensions. People don't understand the need for the damages to their way of life when investment bankers are still unscathed.  They also don't understand, nor want to understand why these measures are being made. Its not a physical enemy like the Germans but a theoretical enemy of bankrupcy and all that flows with it, no one has ever seen Britain bankrupt. What is in the Public interest is rarely in the public interest. Things need to be explained more clearly.

Society is rallying around in the way "Big Society" wants. Groups are forming and on Twitter the #riotcleanup has begun and people are returning to damaged areas to help those in need. Already in Gillingham the Socialist party are organising a meeting Thursday night about the Riots and assisting a better future for young people to solve the crisis in the long run. On top of that charitable donations for those who have lost everything are being made. There is also the growing condemnation of those involved and anger at the damage done to this country's capital, major cities and Medway.

Big Society was always going to be difficult to enact, the way of life that David Cameron and Nick Clegg envisioned has slowly dissolved over the last half a century to the point that it is almost an implausible dream but still communities are working together through this hardship and I trust that people know the minority are in the wrong, maybe not in their beliefs about austerity or frustration but in their actions. We also have to look at the way Government works, there are good constituent focused MP's and councillors who are out there trying to help and making themselves accessible but the whole of Government needs to do it and take part. It is seriously time for one of David Cameron's "Stop, listen and think again" moments before a permanent schism occurs in society.

The Big Society

                                                                    The Big society



The "Big society", the grey almost corporate named policy that David Cameron bandies around and even Nick Clegg is talking in terms of this umbrella scheme. What is the Big society though?

From what I can garner and make out the Big Society appears to work as an ideal form of society in which we the people of the country take action to improve their local area and help society without government assistance. People would donate time to volunteer at charities and neighbours in need. Local people taking an active role in their area, taking a role in the running of their area be it city, borough or village. People actually doing something and not waiting for government to do it for us. Mr Cameron is encouraging us to take an active role in the running of our schools, calling the police to account and taking an active role in local councils.

To a degree I agree with the principle of the "Big Society". The British people have become lax and disinterested in politics and their local areas. People are too quick to complain about the government and the council not providing the services that they want but unwilling to take positive action to make these steps. People look to the state to solve all of their problems and provide answers. We have become so attached to the Nanny state that we can no longer rely on the state, its time that we are weaned and accept responsibility for our country. Through history the people have wanted more of a role in ruling their country, getting power and here it is. This is the ultimate expression of what I thought Localism is all about and it is something that deserves serious thought. After all who knows what the people of Medway want or need better than the people of Medway? It is common nature for people to complain about things and the actions and plans of government, local and national but very few people take an active role in it, which I think is negligent. People should take more of a role in an ideal world, we should be telling our local authorities what we think and what they should be spending our money on and how they administer our area.

So will it work? I would like to say that it would but I fear that society has become so addicted to the Nanny state and things have changed since 1940. Society seems to have become more and more insular and we close our front doors to keep out people, we view people with suspicion first. When my Grandfather grew up in the twenties and even when my father grew up in the fifties society was a lot more open, they knew their neighbours and shop keepers and could readily communicate. I can honestly say that I know only four people in my street by name and don’t even know the name of my next door neighbour. In my last house I didn’t even know that many! I’m sure, as well that the majority of people won’t want to change that. On top of that people travel a lot further to work now, more and more people commute and work long hours and do not have the time or inclination to give up their free time for projects. I know in my own life I work for approximately 45 hours a week with a further four hours a day travelling by train, my free time is taken up working on the house and more importantly spending time with my wife and daughter. I can’t even find time to take part in projects that I want to let alone other community based ones. Also I think that people have become addicted to the idea of the state providing everything they want. People want the state to have answers for them, we pay taxes for services and they don’t want to then run it. After all you don’t go into MacDonald’s, order a Cheeseburger and then go into the kitchen and help organise the making of it! Society has become complacent and insular with the creation for the welfare state and no longer want to work together.

Finally no discourse on government strategy can be complete without a brief mention of the cuts. Every policy is hurt by them and the scale of the money that needs to be saved. Now it is easy to throw easy dirt at Labour for contributing to getting us into this situation, as easy as for Ed Miliband to snipe at the Government cuts as well as his minions responding by saying:
"We would never do this…"
I always believe that it is difficult to say for definite what you would do if things were different. Anyway back to the point.
Yes local government have been pushed to the fore to save a money and this is affecting the local services and the councils are taking a lot of stick and protests for cutting services. I think this is right though. I believe that local government should, not only be more self sufficient but also accountable. We should be taking active roles in the councils and protesting, not just complaining after the fact and then blame the national government!

The Big society is an amazing idea and society could take this utopian vision and evolve into something that would set us apart from the rest of the world, a progressive society with people working for the benefit of not just itself but for the individuals as well. It just strikes me that the majority of the populous are not interested or have the time to take part properly and also the vast national debt and governmental cuts is not the best starting point for this move and easily attract sceptics.

But as a closing statement: Come on Britain. Prove me wrong, embrace the responsibility and make this a better country, one we can be proud of.