The return of the Big Society

Parlow

There is no such thing as society, there are free men and families.

Man With a Very Hot Bladder

A fraudulent idea from a fraudulent "conservative".

Mycroft

I'm not sure that voters 'hated it', they just didn't take it very seriously. Somehow a John Majorish sort of idea, worthy but somehow never likely to lead very far.

libertarian

This shows just how out of touch politicians and political parties are.

I guess no one told Dave we live in a long tail, tribing world.

Before messing about with this nonsense he needs to extricate us from the busted yet still growing Federal Euro State

John Bowman

Big Society = Little Stooges for Big Government. Local Party Committees to ensure the Politburo's wishes were carried out to the letter locally... or else.

A distraction to entice people to believe theya re running their own lives whereas it is an increasingly remote Government doing so.

An opportunity for the organised Left - which has deep pockets and experience in coercion, subterfuge and intimidation - to impose its cock-eyed views on the rest.

Brave New World of The Cleggameron.

Chris lancashire

A worthy idea which is completely unsaleable. Dead horses, flogging ....

mongoose

The idea is fine, but the name's a problem - all three words of it.
An indefinite article would be better; "big" gives the wrong idea and "society" has unfortunate connotations, especially in these parts.
We know what is meant (common weal ... self-organised communities ... small battalions ... do-it-yourselves ... civic pride ... general good ... public spirit ... ) and it shouldn't be beyond the wit of pr epertise to devise a means of selling it.

strapworld

I am afraid that people are too reliant on the state/local councils these days. They have been convinced by the Labour years that you can rely on the state for everything.

Then you have to consider that with police checks on everything nowadays to volunteer is intrusive. We have been battered into believeing all old people and men especially are after children for sexual purposes- so is it any wonder that volunteers have dwindled.

BUT Mr Blackburn, the armchair general, obviously has no idea whatsoever of local charities and organisations. There are thousands up and down our country run by excellent people with excellent support doing great works for people. They, like me, believe in 'community' I have been involved with five different charities and have gained a great deal from each by dealing with people I would not normally have met. By working alongside people who are selfless and give almost everything for their chosen charity/organisation.

Hospitals have Leagues of Friends/ Hospital radio's all run by volunteers. There are so many large and small organisations who always need help!

My suggestion is to ignore the likes of Blackburn, who obviously lives in a westminster coccoon, and get involved. You will get great enjoyment and also help your fellow man. THAT is community. THAT is what I cal a big society. Helping those that need help and enjoying yourself, increasing your circle of friends and contributing for a safer environment.

Sean Haffey

Somehow, while I support the idea, I feel very uncomfortable about raising people's "dormant" accounts to fund it. It feels too much like theft.

John Ionides

The "Big Society" idea is good (IMHO extremely good), but the sales pitch has been poor and the name doesn't help. In recent years, the conscience of society has increasingly become implemented by the state, and the state alone (not surprising really given that this is what many Labaour politicians believe is best). Knocking down many of the obstacles that prevent people contributing to society directly is a good step towards strengthening the bond between individuals and community.

And this should not be seen as just a middle class thing. Few have been affected as much (and told that their culture is wrong, and that their children must have different values) than the white working class.

Fergus Pickering

Ah, but Sean, property is theft, according to some long-headed froggy, so we're just thieving it back again (deuxieme fois as the frog woud say).

TrevorsDen

I find myself sympathising with Strapworld. And i find it offensive that Mr Blackburn professes no to know what 'social action groups ' are.

In a tiny way I have been a part of such groups and I am sure there are far more worthy ones, ones helping disaffected and probably drug affected juveniles for instance; groups of real people living in the real world offering real help to their real compatriots.

I cannot conceive why a publication like The Spectator should sneer in this way at attempts to short circuit the all pervading insidious influence of the state ogre.

Its surely better for confirmed dormant accounts to be used on some direct project than lost in the great maw of the treasury.

Ian Walker

Personally, I like and can "get" the concept of the Big Society. Sounds like a refreshing change from the "Me Me Me Society" that we've had, frankly, since Thatcher's time (not that that was a bad thing back then, it just feels right that we try and move back the other way now)

Being a miserable Keyboard Warrior sniping from the sidelines requires no effort, only an excess of bile. Get off your bum and try doing a few tiny little things to make a difference. And no, the irony of posting that in the Coffee House Comments is not lost...

Tim W

He says he wants a "bigger society." I know he's Prime Minister but surely he can't make people have more children. The only other way to make society bigger is to have a load more immigrants. I can't believe the incompetence of the communications team in the Conservative Party. For example, they are increasing NHS spending but are not making any political capital out of it because they have no clear message.

Snowman

am deeply suspicious of any idea that’s pushed on us, more in favour of our pull. The mushrooming of charity shops selling second-hand clothing and stuff didn’t emerge from the anointed, it came about naturally, from below. Whether the likes of Oxfam spend the cash on the communities that are raising the cash is another matter, but the formula of a community pull as the basis for better community cohesion appeals to me.

and like Sean Haffey @ 10.36 am also uncomfortable raiding the dormant accounts, and not only because it does feel like theft. The way we are going, there may come a time the money will be handy.

lastly, strapworld, my blogging friend, you too rough with David, his take on the idea of the Big Society ain’t that wrong, he isn’t rubbishing local charities and things, but a concept cooked up by as yet untested politician.

Osred

Can I volunteer for the Big Society Bank?

I've got a few schemes in mind and the rightful owners of Broon's 'dormant accounts' won't notice.

Realist

Tim W, what are you on about? The 'Big Society' has nothing to do with actually increasing population. Where the hell did you get that idea?

The name isn't brilliant, but it is meant to reflect the change from Labour's 'Big Government/Small Society' to a better 'Small Government/Big Society'.

Again, it has nothing to do with immigration. I'd stay off the drink and try to read the Daily Mail less if I were you.

Verity

Dave wants to be like his sleazy hero, Obama, and yearns to be a "community organiser".

Rhoda Klapp

OK. let's assume I'm thick. Not a stretch for some of you, I know. So what the hell does it mean. What exactly does he envisage happening?
Give me an example or six. Tell me who is going to do what, and who is going to pay. And if it ain't done right, who am I going to moan to? Anyone envisage me being billed for some hitherto council service by these volunteer busybodies? What's the accountability. At least I know now where it is supposed to lie, even if complaing is hopeless.

Yam Yam

The Big Society?

In a nutshell, the man walking home from work who notices that there is litter blowing about in his cul-de-sac. However, instead of tutting "Bloody useless council" (the Big State response) he bends over, picks it up and puts it in his own bin (the Big Society response).