The feeling that we are powerless to do many things that could improve the enjoyment of our lives.
The feeling that nobody really cares.
I guess the explanation is that the things that people see as important are those they have personal control over.
What happens in the wider world over the fence outside our territory is of very little importance to us. Is this because we have no control over this world and thus tend to ignore the possibilities of change because they pose too difficult a problem to even think about?
It's easiest not to even consider getting better facilities for our kids to play in as we can't imagine ever being able to influence a change .
It seems that we've allowed the bureaucrats to take over our freedom. We feel bound to wait until they get round to it and if they don't - we will meekly accept inaction - and wait..... and wait. Finally we'll turn away as waiting is too painful. Don't expect anything important to happen in ones life and then one isn't disappointed.
The feeling that nobody cares also comes from the fact that most people on blogs and forums seek to remain anonymous. This means that the important conversations between people who want to get together, thrash out the details and actually do something never do because they don't know who the others are!
Perhaps blogs and forums aren't the places to stimulate action. This is probably better done with people we stop and chat with in the street or in the pub. But then people have stopped going to the pub in many cases. So most of us don't make contact with others in a meaningful way.
We have wonderful technology in place but haven't the emotional strength to use it!
What the heck - open a can of beer, see what's on tele - oh it's Big Brother - that'll do. . . .
Sad!
2 comments:
It saddens me also Geoff.
I have been amused recently by your critique of local councillors and your comments regarding SLDC departmental managers. Forgive my use of "amused" for untill today I had no experience of them or their type. Today I attended the SLDC Planning Committee meeting at Kendal Town Hall to support some neighbours. Part of the planning committee were three local councillors Janette Jenkinson, Joss Curwen(Kirkby in Furness) and Jane Carson. The topic an unapproved build of a large extension (now built and applying for retrospective). The only comment from Jannete Jenkinson "its built, its history now, lets move on"! The only comment from Joss Curwen "Where is this?".
A comment from a faceless councillor "delegate it". Another faceless councillor "seconded".
The only councillor who tried to escalate and discuss the topic was Jane Carson who was completely ignored by her committee peers.
In my opinion this lady (and she is) acted as a duly elected public representative should. I hold her in the highest esteem.
The result, designated to planning officer.(i.e. apart from Jane Carson they were not interested)
The Chairman appeared to be a 13 year old school boy whom had spent the previous evening drinking his mummy's vodka and needed the vomit stains cleaning from the front of his trousers (It certainly looked like vomit)
Five minutes after the meeting opened the Principal Solicitor had lost the will to live.
The planning officers were unable to use the available e-technology -a laptop connected to a 1970's projector. The cables from laptops to projector snaking hazard like across public access routes bore sellotaped on scraps of paper saying "Cable" (hillarious - it must be some sort of joke?)
My analagy - The Muppet Show.
Great to hear your assessment of Jane Carson.
I trust that she will appreciate knowing of your views.
We clearly need more people like her.
Thanks for the feedback.
Another member of the public left the recent county council consultation over the future for the centre of Ulverston with the comment "What a farce".
This was after giving up three evenings to share his views as requested.
The councillors, to my annoyance, stand by and do/say nothing - which is why I label them as incompetent.
More of the same coming up in the future, I suspect, with Jayne Kendall's "consultation" with the people of South Ulverston over the future of land near Kennedy Street.
People are learning to stay away from these charades because they get so angry.
Politics is, they believe, something to be avoided for the sake of your mental health. This is carried through to its logical end by them refusing to vote. . . . even for someone they say they believe in. . .
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