Big Society vs. Big Government

Posted 14 Feb 2011 by Walaa Idris

The Big Society

The Big Society is nothing new. In name maybe it is, but the concept has been a part of the British way of life and practised the world over for a life time. Simply put it’s communities coming together building, developing, enriching and empowering each other. It covers everything from digging a water canal to irrigate a piece of land to building a health centre, to running a school, a youth club or a even shopping mall. That’s why I find it astounding some, mainly on the left; say it’s an alien concept which they can’t understand it, its workings, benefits and motivations!

Specially, since as a nation we are the embodiment of The Big Society in every sense of the word. We donate our time and money regularly both nationally and internationally, everyday many Britons leave generous living legacies and gifts to charities and good causes. During any crises nationwide and globally we’re always amongst the first to help and lend our support.

Our sense of duty, care and compassion for others’ and their welfare goes beyond the gift of just donating moneys. We build schools; hospitals, community and religious centres. We teach underprivileged children, volunteer in legal and play centres. We bring medicines to remote nations, nurse and care for the hurt and wounded, at times, we even do it at the risk of our own wellbeing. The list of our deeds is long and exhaustive. All these actions are in one way or another The Big Society. We’ve been doing it for years and continue to do it today even when things are tough – via International Development Aid.

Seeing as The Big Society already exists and has worked well for years under many different titles that ranged from community action and involvement to pro bono work, fostering and aiding others. The attitude now that its some pie in the sky, does not quite wash. And the accusation that the public is expected to drop everything and go around (for free) doing the government’s jobs for them, is just ludicrous not to mention the bizarre opinion that it’s a fig leaf for cuts!

On the other hand, if the public wants to keep their local library open or setup and manage a new school, clean their streets, bring back order to their neighbourhood, fight to eradicate crime, improve the quality of live of their elders and the needy, or invite new businesses into their community, develop a wasteland or an old building, and even set up social enterprises to empower their community, the government in its aim to devolve as many powers as possible to the people who are main beneficiaries of these services, is welling to facilitate, help and support the achievements of these aims.

From where I’m standing there are two problems with The Big Society and neither of them have to do with the idea or its understanding.

The first – is our entrenched believe that the government is the sole provider and operator of every service, and the thinking by some that the public is just the recipient of these services because government always knows best. Secondly, The Big Society means big people and that advocates small government, which goes against the core of socialism. That’s why the left, led by Ed Miliband and his party, don’t like The Big Society and won’t support or stand by it – hence the ridicule and belittlement of the idea and its supporters.

Otherwise, how can private organizations find the concept easy to comprehend, welcome its philosophy and have no difficulty to implement it in its entirety while big government thinkers can’t!?

David Cameron and his government are on to a good thing, however, they also needs to keep in mind existing participants – those charities, groups and community organisations already established – and safeguard they are not collateral damage in the battle between the Coalition and the left as we’ve seen recently in Liverpool.

1 comment(s)

Banti Singh

Banti Singh
17 Feb, 13:35

Hi Walaa,

Excellent post! I did one too, on the Big Society and my take on it. I wonder what you’d think of it.

See it here: http://bantiblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/big-society.html

Thanks!

Banti
@Khyberman

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