Listening to BBC4 today I heard Gordon Brown discussing his new book. ‘the Future Starts With Us’. I have always been a fan of his and this book is addressing the subject very close to his heart- civics and community. He was saying how these days people seem very isolated and not willing to be a participating member of their community. This progresses upwards and that many who are responsible for how the country is run, at local up to parliamentary level where self is more important than the collective need. He used the phrase lack of civic responsibility.
I think I agree with him. I live in a village where there has always been much involvement in activities from parish affairs to recreational groups. In recent years it has been harder and harder to get people ready to spend a few hours a week helping in thee organisation of activities. Our youth club has close, tennis club too and Brownies and Scouts are desperate for helpers. The gardening club I and a friend started, struggle to get a committee from our 100 plus membership. The Parish Coincil has five vacant seats.
There is a plan to build additional housing to increase the population by an extra 3000 houses, treble the current number. Suddenly people have sprung out if the woodwork and set up action groups, found large amounts of money for a publicity campaign and are so active. It seems NIMBY attitude awakens community feeling where as helping the youth of the village gets little attention.
Advice on buying new TV please - what features Not to get.
