What is it reasonable to either blame or praise a Government for?
Historically getting the trains to run on time was a signifier of good governance!
The weather of course, its hardly their fault is it?
As Bill Clinton observed, the economy, that does rather bring the responsibility closer!
Homeless people on the streets?
More immigrants?
The sudden appearance of food banks to enable folk to feed themselves and their families?
Some years ago I was travelling North on the M6 and the indoor critic needed to use the loo, so we pulled into a service station to find all the disabled parking spaces full.
So we parked got the wheelchair out and headed to the loo.
Returning to the car we passed the disabled parking and spotted a large 4x4 not displaying a blue badge, inside was a youngish chap, eating a sandwich, I really couldn't stop myself and tapping on his window I asked the obvious question.
Fortunately my height and general appearance usually afford me some protection so the chap didn't respond aggressively, but equally was completely unabashed, he didn't especially defend himself, but his view, as he expressed it was he was here first so I could lump it.
His selfishness, and abuse of the disabled parking, was of course typical of the selfishness of the eighties.
And I did and still do hold the government responsible.
I didn't realise at the time, but when we sang along with George and the other two of what was left of the fab four when Let it be was released, we were not, as George intended, singing a transliteration from the Bhagavad Gita to the effect that true freedom comes to those who renounce selfish desires and break away from focusing entirely on I, me, mine.
We were in fact singing the theme song from the Thatcher years. Sung in the Champagne Bars of Canary Wharf by those celebrating their bonuses year after year, I, me, mine.
Compared with the story of the first Labour Government told by Ken Loach in his documentary, The Spirit of '45, which led to the creation of the welfare state and the public ownership of industries as a way of advancing the public good, the selfishness of the Thatcher years is exposed for what it is.
Governments may get the the trains to run on time and the economy working even if the weather defeats them (although recognising that human impact on the environment is in fact affecting the climate should be part of their stewardship).
But more significantly Government should set the tone for the societies they govern; generosity, mutual responsibility, openness are key to a happier and more fulfilling life.
Beveridge's welfare state was a secular version of what in his letter St James describes as 'care for orphans and widows and in their distress'. St James calls this true religion.
It might also be called good governance.
The legacy of the coalition will be determined in the future, but as the number of and necessity for food banks grows, as organisations supporting those with disabilities warn of dramatic reductions in benefits (a £28 Billion reduction according to today's newspapers), hardening attitudes to migrants and asylum seekers and as huge bonuses are still being awarded.
The culture commended by this Government looks increasingly like a spirit of selfishness and greed rather than one of generosity and care for others, and for that they will be both praised and blamed depending of course, on whether you are a winner or a loser.
Historically getting the trains to run on time was a signifier of good governance!
The weather of course, its hardly their fault is it?
As Bill Clinton observed, the economy, that does rather bring the responsibility closer!
Homeless people on the streets?
More immigrants?
The sudden appearance of food banks to enable folk to feed themselves and their families?
Some years ago I was travelling North on the M6 and the indoor critic needed to use the loo, so we pulled into a service station to find all the disabled parking spaces full.
So we parked got the wheelchair out and headed to the loo.
Returning to the car we passed the disabled parking and spotted a large 4x4 not displaying a blue badge, inside was a youngish chap, eating a sandwich, I really couldn't stop myself and tapping on his window I asked the obvious question.
Fortunately my height and general appearance usually afford me some protection so the chap didn't respond aggressively, but equally was completely unabashed, he didn't especially defend himself, but his view, as he expressed it was he was here first so I could lump it.
His selfishness, and abuse of the disabled parking, was of course typical of the selfishness of the eighties.
And I did and still do hold the government responsible.
I didn't realise at the time, but when we sang along with George and the other two of what was left of the fab four when Let it be was released, we were not, as George intended, singing a transliteration from the Bhagavad Gita to the effect that true freedom comes to those who renounce selfish desires and break away from focusing entirely on I, me, mine.
We were in fact singing the theme song from the Thatcher years. Sung in the Champagne Bars of Canary Wharf by those celebrating their bonuses year after year, I, me, mine.
Compared with the story of the first Labour Government told by Ken Loach in his documentary, The Spirit of '45, which led to the creation of the welfare state and the public ownership of industries as a way of advancing the public good, the selfishness of the Thatcher years is exposed for what it is.
Governments may get the the trains to run on time and the economy working even if the weather defeats them (although recognising that human impact on the environment is in fact affecting the climate should be part of their stewardship).
But more significantly Government should set the tone for the societies they govern; generosity, mutual responsibility, openness are key to a happier and more fulfilling life.
Beveridge's welfare state was a secular version of what in his letter St James describes as 'care for orphans and widows and in their distress'. St James calls this true religion.
It might also be called good governance.
The legacy of the coalition will be determined in the future, but as the number of and necessity for food banks grows, as organisations supporting those with disabilities warn of dramatic reductions in benefits (a £28 Billion reduction according to today's newspapers), hardening attitudes to migrants and asylum seekers and as huge bonuses are still being awarded.
The culture commended by this Government looks increasingly like a spirit of selfishness and greed rather than one of generosity and care for others, and for that they will be both praised and blamed depending of course, on whether you are a winner or a loser.
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