Years ago my granddad thought and used to tell me quite often, that every time there was some sort of scandal, or in the 60's lots of sex and drugs and rock and roll, that Britain was becoming like the collapse of the Roman Empire - increasingly rotten until eventually it would collapse. I listened but being naive, thought that there was too much good in the world for it ever come to that. Now although I'm still not as old as my granddad was then, I feel that he was right, as the very cornerstones of society are beginning or well on the way to collapse.
There's always been sex scandals - Christine Keeler, and money scandals - the Poulson affair that have rocked society, but nothing compares with this last two years. The wonderful Human Rights Act has removed all rights from decent people, as terrorists and law breakers exercise their rights to avoid the responsibilities of being decent human beings by using our money (Legal Aid) to get released from prison or terrorists kept in the country in case they are killed at home - can't wait for the news item for those killed on the underground or in flight by those who had to be protected from their own death. Meanwhile we virtually have to strip off to get on a plane.
It is said that you judge a society by the way we treat the weak. Who are weaker than the old? They paid into the Welfare State on the promise of support from Cradle to Grave, so that it was always there when they needed it. The phrase cradle to grave is now a career choice for all those idle and feckless who queue outside Greggs, with no reason ever to contribute to it. Its not yours by right - get to work you idle sods, and pay in.
I make no excuse for nicking this e-mail that someone sent to me.
'Let's put the pensioners in jail and the criminals in a nursing home. This way the pensioners would have access to showers, hobbies and walks. They'd receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental and medical treatment, wheelchairs etc. and they'd receive money instead of paying it out. They would have constant video monitoring, so they could be helped instantly, if they fell or needed assistance. Bedding would be washed twice a week, and all clothing ironed and returned to them. A guard would check on them every 20 minutes, and bring their meals and snacks to their cell. They would have family visits in a suite built for the purpose. They would have access to a library, weight room, spiritual counselling, pool and education. Simple clothing, shoes, PJs and legal aid would be free on request. Each one would have a PC, TV and radio, and daily phone calls.
The prisoners would get cold food, be left all alone and unsupervised. Lights of at 8pm, and showers once a week. Live in a tiny room, and pay £600 a week and have no hope of ever getting out'. It really is too close to the truth not to feel disillusioned about Justice and Judges favouring the bad over the decent. No more intellectual exercises - common sense please.
Politicians have had their snouts in the trough so far, with the expenses scandal being the tip of the iceberg that is now unwinding in front of us. Regardless of political views the career politician all have the ethics of 'I'm alright Jack - just keep taxing the hard working decent person, to fund pointless wars and the lazy, so that the rest of us have to work until the grave, just like they did in Victorian times' - what next our kids going back up chimneys?
All political leaders have kowtowed so much to Murdoch's papers in the hope that the Sun will back their party rather than the other,(started by Mr Blair or is that a mistype - B-Liar) that no one really wants to go for the jugular. Mr Broon - you were in power when all this crap started - you could have sorted it, but you chose to keep close to that harridan Brooks, so that the Sun would back you. Ethics is not east of London - its morality, which you, your party and the other two bunches of liars and crooks could have and should have dealt with, but you were all scared you might lose power, money or both. Murdoch runs the country - you should have had the balls to take him on to save decency and integrity for our society.
Then we find that the police are in on it as well. No wonder the streets aren't safe, they too are in the pockets of the Dirty Digger. Tapping the phones of the bereaved, especially those who are killed in Blair's pointless war in Afghanistan. No time to solve crime.
Who is left to trust? Not the bankers who played roulette with our pensions and savings. Not the business owners who find it easy to reduce staff rather than do the hard work of coming up with new products or orders. Not the Druid in charge of the church - you know the one that looks like Harold Shipman - this could have been your chance to give people something solid to trust in and believe in - prove that there is decency and integrity, without cost, talk about God, and how he can support us, instead of meddling in things of a secular nature.
And then I read this morning's paper ( a rugby one), and maybe, just maybe, there's hope. A tale of two rugby players. Andy Blyth was injured in a game at the bottom of a ruck, and was told that he would never walk again. He's fought for every step he's took since and recently got to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, with a group of other retired rugby players. Then there's Richard Parks, a Welsh player forced to retire with a shoulder injury. Being retired too young at the top of his profession, he needed a new challenge. So what has he done? Climbed the highest peak in every continent, walked to both Poles, and do it all by the end of July - less than 6 months. Both of them are worth 10 of Henson and Cipriani and their vain preening. They are worth a million of the people that run our lives. They show that with bravery and courage, anything is possible. Both should be knighted tomorrow - the highest one the Queen can bestow. Honours are not for Civil Servants who have played a political game to get power, they are not for people who have earned a fortune at being good at something (although someone will have to explain Bruce Forsyth to me).
Thank you Parks and Blyth - you've given me hope that there is still old fashioned values left in the world.
(I'm on the) Top of the World - The Carpenters - Parks and Blyth have felt it and allowed me to feel it.
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