Brendan Barber

How did we actually end up with someone like Brendan Barber in a position of influence? From that TUC report on the Missing Billions again:

The Budget is a highlight of the political year because it is the point at which Parliament allows government to continue. Without money, there could be no state and no society.

My apologies but this is the sort of thing that makes me seriously angry. Society is entirely dependent upon the doling out of favours from the government? The distribution of tax monies?

Have you not heard Brendan that there is such a thing as society and no, it's not the same as the State? Is the RNLI not part of society because it refuses to take such tax money?

Or perhaps a tinier example will illustrate matters better. One blogger was a little down on his luck. Other bloggers chipped in a little bit here and there, the message went around the block a time or two and the result?

This has been one of the oddest fortnights I’ve had.

I finally received my new stick and crutches, thank you to everyone who donated, it’s nice to be able to walk down the street without all the clacking sounds I used to get with every step and the whistling of the wind through the adjuster holes. Having them also improves my posture, which helps with the pain.

There has also been another side effect of the generosity and of making that order, it has helped me take a huge step forward in coming to terms with everything surrounding my disability and depression. Instead of trying to ignore everything, and trying to keep on going in the same way as I did before the accident, I’m now, finally, looking for all the things that will make life easier for myself.

And a little bit more:

Right now I would like to say a huge thank you to the staff of The Royal British Legion based in Kendal, and to all the charities such as the Royal Artillery Charitable Fund and the Army Benevolent fund  who have helped them find the money to give me a new kitchen adapted to my needs.

That is society and no it's damn well not the same as the State and it's got bugger all to do with either Parliament or the government. Or you for that matter: and if we ever get to the point where we think that they are indeed the same thing then we'll be, at precisely that point, right royally screwed. As both a society and a State.