What has happened to the UK?
A recent survey by the National Centre for Social Research looked at how the public perceptions on the responsibility of the government have changed between 2016 and 2022.
The results are concerning and indicate a seismic shift that has taken place over the pandemic years.
I agree that the government should provide a safety net for those that need health care when sick, assistance if they lose their job and a basic pension in old age but the rest of the survey sounds like the UK wants communism.
Keep prices under control
Provide industry with the help it needs to grow
Reduce income differences between the rich and poor
Provide a decent standard of living for the unemployed
Provide a job for everyone who wants one
I’m sure this reliance on governments over the pandemic means this isn’t just a UK problem and a similar shift has happened throughout the West.
The pandemic has reinforced my view that governments should have as little power as necessary but apparently a lot of the rest of the country disagrees. They have either enjoyed being told what to do by the government or have fallen into a Stockholm syndrome scenario whereby they have fallen in love with the government providing for them.
Populations have become infantilised and instead of trying to make it on their own in life, want the government to do everything for them.
And when you give the government full control over your life, there is no chance they will give it back. You will be powerless to make your own decisions but that is fine so long as it is for the greater good, you feel safe and it saves the climate. [That is sarcasm for those readers who can never tell when I’m being sarcastic!]
The nanny state is booming, make sure you buy stock in adult baby nappy/diaper companies. On a serious note, the results of the survey show how wide the gap between the rich and poor have become. In desperation, the people are looking to government to save them and in doing so create the perfect conditions for socialism.
I don’t trust any polling companies. Who’s the say that the individuals who they polled weren’t substantially of liberal mindset, which would skew the numbers. For instance, if they chose to only poll a certain demographic, or in urban areas as opposed to suburban or rural, than the numbers will reflect the above. It’s all to push those that may be on the fence and give them that little nudge to cave to their agenda. In other words, take it with a GIANT grain of salt.
There's just no concept in the UK that maybe the government should be smaller and do less . . . everyone runs around saying "the government must do something about the current thing !"
It is pretty dispiriting.