I am because there is a lot about this idea I really liked.
I have been frustrated about the way a lot of Labour policies/changes in culture that aren't necessarily Labour's fault have contributed to putting people off from collective or individual action or making it harder for them to do it.
The CRB checks thing where volunteers are being put off or their recruitment getting slowed down because of the time taken to wait for checks, is the most obvious example, another one would be last winter when the pavements were full of snow that was not getting cleared because people had got it into their head that they would be liable if people fell over. Or that general situation where people are scared to confront antisocial behaviour because they are afraid (unjustifiedly or not) they will then be accused of assault and get arrested themselves.
I had hoped that Big Society would basically mean looking at what the barriers are that are stopping people from volunteering and doing something about them.
However whenever he talks about it it sounds like he is saying:
- you are lazy sods and you have got to get your finger out - we can't do everything for you you know! (can come across as v patronising)
- we are planning to take away some of your essential services and leave you with ones that will be run by volunteers (at which everyone who has been on a committee for anything thinks, 'Oh right, inefficient and crap then')