Social Network for RSA Fellows

Why I don't believe in the Big Society...

While the RSA has been trying to define what Big Society is and the media has all but lost interest on this topic, like most of the people of this country by the way, it doesn't cease to amaze me that this debate is still continuing in some sectors.

I am sure spin doctors are laughing all the way to the pub, since it is obvious that this concept was mere electioneering, devised in such an obfuscatory way to make it virtually impossible to define clearly, so that as much ink as possible would be expended, while getting distracted from the topics that really mattered (like education, the NHS, the economy and so on).

Had the Big Society project been real it would have been based on some fundamental premises that would have been easily understood by all and that would have encompassed paradigmatic shifts, along the lines, for example, of almost total government devolution from central to local communities.

As it is, government is more centralised than ever, and if Big Society was to have encouraged volunteering, well just ask the various social enterprises and charitable organisations that have seen their resources drastically cut either as a direct consequence of government cuts, or by people no longer being able to contribute due to the economic downturn.

I will say no more on the Big Society - ever - as it just deserves scorn.

Comment by Ian Lewis on February 21, 2012 at 19:26: First there were fairies who needed to be believed in, then there were banks and monetary systems which have shown both need to be believed in. So why not also believe in the Big Society? It strikes me that it has something more of true worth than fairies, banks (particularly the slightly shallow, one might say selfish - even humanitarianly and ecologically questionable leaders) and money (OK, we use the price of everything, value of nothing interpretation of worth).

And yet, half of our population celebrate at least one true volunteering role, and many others work in the charitable sector, for some financial return - still others operate in the public sector, arguably a paid charitable role for public benefit depending on one's economic model and view.

The fun thing about our media is its inability to sell the positive. It knows it cannot (apart from http://positivenews.org.uk/ - perhaps a Big Society turning point in itself). Nor does our would-be-seen-as courageous media know how to name (and not so much shame as bring to notice, even justice) those responsible, hiding behind who knows what veils of clubs, school ties, associations, would-be professional institutions, traditions, et seq (when transparency reigns, so does change!).

As a long-term leader of Big-Society endeavours in many UK locations and charitable sectors I remain utterly convinced the only electioneering related to Big Society is the anti-government lobby. The only two problems, firstly, the sad (ney criminal?) balance of payments overspend situation created by governments passim (local, national and European) and their timely clash with the fairyland cash created/imagined by bankers, except for that cash which really was ours.

With so many who make a real contribution to better lives locally, nationally and internationally, asking nothing in return, we would love to ensure those who make a contribution receive and those who do not endure their own chosen consequences. I am not religious, but there really is a usable message in Burkes Law "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - so let us both and all keep our sleeves rolled up and keep the already Great Big Society going. I would only wish for more publicity to the 2006 Compensation Bill, a spectacularly non-electioneering example of Big Society success.

Comment by Maurizio Fantato on February 21, 2012 at 19:32: Ahem, if I sounded against Big Society it had nothing to do with my own personal commitment to good causes and society in general. I could enumerate the various causes and non profit organisation I actively support, but this would be conceited and very boring too.

I concur that it would be great if the media decided at least once a week to give room to good news. In fact I was thinking about this only this morning, having attended an excellent RSA event in Reading where social enterprise are doing so much, all behind the scenes and with zero media attention.

But I'd rather believe in fairies than in an artificial concoction like the Big Society - at least fairies are harmless, unlike most politicians.