To think we live in a bizarre country?

[balancingfigure]

We can send the army to Africa to build a hospital to help with the Ebola crisis but a primary school in Gloucestshire can't have hot meals because there is no parking space?!

I think I need to stop listening to the news - I'm either crying or shouting at the radio!

Not really comparable though are they

Unless the same councillor is making the budget decisions about both these things I don't get your point....

Huh?

Having a sandwich instead of fishfingers isn't going to kill anyone is it?

Different pots of money, dear.

So saving lives isn't of any more value than pasta bake?

I think we live in a bloody fantastic country and we are very very lucky.

Your comparisons are bizarre

Maybe its me that's weird then

Of course they're not comparable and they definitely have different values! I just thought it was strange that a huge important exercise can be put in motion at the drop of a hat but organising a parking space for an hour day can't be achieved. And although there are other issues with the school I can't see the parking space being about money particularly.

And Thebody I agree with you, its an amazing country, just odd that we can do so much so well in some cases and some very small things seem impossible to achieve.

Oh stop it OP. The school is the local authority's job. The world in crisis is ALL developed country's job.

One's local government, and one is central.

If your council was funding a major humanitarian deployment, then YWNBU to question it.

I agree that we seem to have odd priorities at times for how to spend money. The OP may not be the best example but I'm often at the things there is no money in light of the money that is spent on other things.

And although they may be different pots of money now, they were once the same pot.

How daft, did the dinners turn up drive round the car park and have to go away then?

Ok, I sort of get you now.

The wheels do turn very slowly in some government departments.
The highways agency for example. There are some roadworks near Victoria station that have been going on for three years now.

To be fair, the army rehearse major, huge scale operations like this all year round.

That's an ungrateful attitude op. The fact that Ebola is claiming lives and people need help has nothing to do with parking. Get a reality check. This country is in a much better position than most.

If you think it through to its totally logical end OP, then unless we build the field hospital there will eventually be no-one to attend the primary school...

"I think I need to stop listening to the news - I'm either crying or shouting at the radio!"

You see I'd have had that reaction if we were more bothered about hot school meals in a UK school than a terrifying massive health crisis in Africa.

Not to say that the situation you describe isn't ridiculous but it's a different scale of things really isn't it?

The parking space might not be about money if there actually is no space.

I suppose they could demolish a few houses, or something

Do you write for the Daily Mail, OP?

Perhaps the army could demolish some houses. Or, just cone off one space.

You think its strange that a global epidemic comes before hot meals? Yes I agree there are definitely some oddballs in this country!

I think that's the greatness of Britain though just like Dads army.

We are a nation dogged by pettiness and littie annoyances but when we are needed we step to to the plate and help those less fortunate.

Personally the Ebola crisis scares me and I am in awe of those here going to fight it

Dawn your analogy is so poignant. Those poor poor people.

The primary school story is a situation that often happens where nobody really knows who should be sorting it out and it will resolve in a not as newsworthy way. I am just glad that whoever is running the response to the Ebola outbreak (the WHO?) is better at their job, in more control of the situation and isn't wasted on parking in Gloucestershire.

Setting aside the issue of comparing a global response to an epidemic/outbreak (when does it become an epidemic) to a local issue and obviously I'd rather have a cold lunch than Ebola.
All politicians want to be re-elected so if the school is your immediate concern get your MP and councillor on board and set up a lobby group.

FGS! The OP didn't suggest fighting ebola wasn't necessary or anything other than a wonderful humanitarian effort that we should be proud of.

She's just pointed out the scale of the things that can be achieved in contrast to those that can't.

I hope she's hidden the thread. These responses just epitomise the people who come on here looking for a fight instead of a discussion.

And its not a 'global epidemic'.

And Dawn's analogy is ridiculous.