not whether you agree or not ?

[anneasquith]

just what does david cameron mean by " the big society ". im not asking whether you agree or not with his views just what it means. TIA

[LeMarchand]

It means the proles work for nothing so that the rich can get richer.

[Zeuhl]

It's an abstract idea. Artfully vague.

Politicians like abstractions. They can give us a description but still leave enough vagueness for the audience to decide it means what they think it means.

If challenged later they can always find examples of how it was a success or repudiate criticism by claiming 'it wasn't really about that'.
.

[Old_Geezer]

It means the suckers who want to 'feel good' and who may already do their fair share like many of the rest of us, can opt to put others out of work doing tasks for nothing. Tasks that could be paid employment for those looking to make a fair contribution to society for a fair wage but who, as a result, are stuck on welfare.

[sandyRoe]

It means the need of the very poor, the homeless, mentally ill people, can be attended to by voluntary groups.

[Zeuhl]

<<It means the need of the very poor, the homeless, mentally ill people, can be attended to by voluntary groups>>

That's odd - because those things have been happening for donkeys years so that isn't new.

Much of that work is of course now under threat because of the government cuts.
.

[chelle7272]

it's an intiative that claims to give power back to the people, more powers at local authority rather than govt level, more volunteers to work within the commnity, supporting chrities and social enterprises etc, and having a more transparent government.

Basically do everything on the cheap and put the blame elsewhere.

[jake-the-peg]

I think he's got in mind some sort of cross between American-style philanthropy and a rose-tinted spectacled- between the wars village society.

A world where people know each other intimately and take care of each other without state invovement.

Tory philosophy has always been to have the state responsible for as little as possible and I think this is just another angle at shrinking the state.

Trying not to be too overtly critical but it screams problems.

Anyway it's a bit vague so even if I've interpreted it right it may change

[rov1100]

Basically it means volunteers doing a job for nothing which has been done previously by a paid employee.

[anotheoldgit]

/// just what does david cameron mean by " the big society " ///

Perhaps he is referring to the obese.

[jake-the-peg]

What? Like Ken Clarke?

[sandyRoe]

Is Sir Christopher Soames still an MP? Now, there was a bag of skin and bones.

[anneasquith]

thanks all for answering.i am still not totally sure what is means though !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[anotheoldgit]

jake-the-peg

/// What? Like Ken Clarke? ///

Or Diane Abbott perhaps?