Cutting It: 'Big Society' and the new austerity

Our panel ask: How can we ensure that the Big Society is not just big, but also sustainable and fair?
Speakers: Anna Coote, head of social policy, nef; Jonty Olliff-Cooper, director of policy and strategy, A4e and member of the steering group of the Big Society Network; Patrick Butler, editor of society, health and education policy, The Guardian. Chair: Mark Easton, BBC Home Editor

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• rsa
• the rsa
• royal society of arts
• nef
• new economics foundation
• anna coote
• jonty olliff-cooper
• patrick butler
• mark easton
• big society
• david cameron
• uk politics
• government
• public policy
• society
• community

[colourmegone]

The truth is that charity does nothing well. Charity is like a sticking plaster on a limb amputation, it hardly slows the bleeding. The welfare state came into being because it served needs that charity was unable or unwilling to cope with. Since most charity is linked closely to religion, which has its own agenda, the idea of "caring and sharing" through charity and volunteerism can have strings attached that make the problems of the welfare state look miniscule.

[pokeralho2008]

Big Society is just an euphemism for "the citizens must somehow sort out the problems that occur as collateral as a consequence of a small elite going about their business of creating the conditions in society to increase their wealth". Ex: the stockholders of Company X wish to increase their profits and can choose between investing in technological progress or press the society to decrease their taxes. If a "Big Society" is in place its so much easy to choose the 2nd option.

[TheRacistsMustDie]

@kepplescolumn So?

[kepplescolumn]

Big Society = COMMUNITARIANISM Go look it up.

Also known as 'The Third Way' in Tony Blair's days in office.

[decenthypocrite]

people seem to have a bizarre desire to make life harder for themselves and for others, when our abundant technnology should be making our lives easier, i dont get it at all.

[alanmillwall]

so many idiots got get paid for doing hardly any work public sector jobs under labour this big society thing is a good idea to cover the gaps left by the 1s getting the same money as the others that do no work ie the unemployed. the 1st speaker said about cherishing multiculturism. Well let me tell you that people that live in the middle of multiculturism hate it. The 2nd speaker was better of in his job as a vet on emmerdale farm.

[CameronsContrick]

I am sick of all these middle class toss-pots 'discussing' topics - such as The Big Society - as if they were running things.

I didn't elect ANY of you bunch of 'interlectuals', so f*** off and go and do some charity work.

[ukpropaganda]

Another bunch of UNELECTED middle class busybody do-gooders.

Never mind 'think-tanks', what about politicians asking the people who elected them, i.e. US?

You will also find that Big Society is connected to the 'Common Purpose' organisation.

[FakePlasticShrimp]

TL:DW

[mog89]

Credits to whoever wrote the second speech. Very compelling even though I don't agree with the ideas being promoted. I'm guessing the writer isn't unfamiliar with conversational hypnosis.