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The obvious answer to this simple question is 'to earn money'.
We all want a roof over our heads, to be able to pay our bills, put food on the table, clothes on our backs, and hopefully to afford a little warmth during the winter months. If there's anything left over, maybe buy a car, an annual holiday, and a few pints at the weekend. Most of us don't ask for a lot more than that.
So, how are the government helping us with our aspirations! They promised 'CHANGE'.
They raise house taxes (plus the cost of buying that house). They put-up the prices of our everyday food purchases. They take away Winter fuel payments from the elderly. They close-down Pubs and High Street shops. They punish the hard-working. Cause panic amongst our Farmers. And possibly worst of all, they create mass UNEMPLOYMENT (as they always do). Yet people still vote for these clowns; probably including most of those who are now suffering as a result of their folly.
If possible, I want my taxes to be spent wisely. I would occasionally like to see a 'Bobby on the Beat'. I want my exorbitant local taxes to be used for street lighting, pot-hole-filling, and street cleaning. I would also like a bit to be left-over for my NHS health care (if I need it), so that I don't have to sit for several days in a cold and damp corridor, waiting for my in-growing-toenail to be looked-at.
I should add here that we have a lovely brand new replacement modern street-lamp outside our house. It was installed whilst we were away in Summer. Sadly, it has never had a lightbulb fitted, or been connected to the power supply. When I recently made enquiries I was told that we might have some actual light again before Christmas. The old one (next to it) has been chopped in half, but remains there in situ.
Pot holes are still everywhere, and if I do ever see a Street Cleaner, he's usually sitting down in a dark corner, lighting a spliff.
As for that Bobby.... no bloody chance!
p.s. On the political front, I see that both Labour and The Tories have been overtaken by The Green Party in the popularity polls. People are becoming DESPERATE.
I am afraid you squandered credibility of your argument when you mentioned street cleaners "lighting a spliff". Where do you live? Poor Brighton.
ReplyDeleteThat potholes are a continued menace in England goes without saying. I know because once upon a time I managed to step into a particularly deep one. Collapsed like a puppet on a string. Two broken arms. Let's forget the leg. On top of which - when it was too late - I was asked why I hadn't sued the Council for damages and lost earnings. Never thought of it. Am I American or something?
As to Bobbies on the beat: We have plenty. Maybe I can ask one of them to take a trip to Brighton and parade up and down in front of your house. If only to put your mind to rest and your blood pressure down.
U
There is a semi-hidden little corner behind our church where I often see road sweepers sitting and rolling a cig'. What's in the cig' I'm not 100% sure, but with the permanent smell of ganga in the air, I can only imagine!
DeleteMy wife did see a parked police car recently with a few Bobbies inside, but they soon moved-on.
When the community PC talked to us at WI a few years ago he said it's actually good that we don't see police in the village as it means it's a low crime area. They target police presence to places where crime is worse nowadays.
ReplyDeleteThe only place we see the police here is on the roads. Motoring fines are easy to collect, and they don't involve any 'police work'. Easy money!
DeleteWe don't have political parties here, but a government of independents .. who are all equally more than capable of wasting the taxpayers money.
ReplyDeleteDo they all get-on well together whilst wasting your money?
DeleteNot that you'd notice 😏
DeleteAll the money is used for weapons for Ukraine.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind us helping Ukraine; they deserve to be helped.
DeleteYou claim to be even-handed Roger but quite often this blog descends into Labour bashing. "The Daily Mail" are looking for another political "journalist". I use that term very loosely of course.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid that 'Labour bashing' is everywhere at the moment. And just wait until the upcoming budget! It is amazing to see (actually it isn't) that they are now below The Green Party in the polls. How much more unpopular can they become?
DeleteWhat can I say? Just that I'm grateful that I live in a backwater. Things happen, even if it is slowly. Our potholes were eventually filled in properly, street lights up the mountain were replaced and bulbs work. Today the council was putting up Xmas lights. We were surprised about that. Christmas here doesn't usually arrive till late in December.
ReplyDeleteWe have a new Mayor who is putting in the hours.
Good luck. Though you'll need more than that before everything is put right
I saw our first major store Christmas TV Advert yesterday, I think it was for Asda.
DeleteYou haven't seen bad roads until you've driven in South Carolina. It's a disgrace, Cro! Just awful. The sad thing is that if I hop on Interstate 95 heading north, I'll know when I've passed the North Carolina state line without a sign to tell me...the roads are that much smoother! Whatever taxes we're paying for highway upkeep certainly aren't going for that, I can tell you!
ReplyDeleteIt's really one of the things we need most when we're driving; not having to avoid potholes all the time. One of the big DIY stores here is now selling bags of asphalt, in the hope that we'll fill-in the holes ourselves; which probably isn't a bad idea.
DeleteAnd artists work, because they are driven to create, it is a part of your being.
ReplyDelete