Children in Need

Like many I'm watching the Children in Need "show" and have been thinking about a comment made by Terry wogan.
He said the 35 million raised last year is a big help but it would take 150 million to cure the problem.
The population of the UK is just under 61 million SO if everyone gave £2-50 to the fund the problem is solved. That seems a very small amount of money for everyone to give as a one off.
That could be reduced by half if our MP's gave up their expenses for one year and gave the money to the fund (last year it was £78 million paid to them.)
How about it MP's and public - you MP's give your expenses and the rest of the population put £1-25 each into the fund.
Total = the £150 million it is said that is needed plus a little for extras.

Angry

I haven't done anything with the blog for a while as I needed to calm down and get my thoughts in some sort of order.
I'm getting old and looking back I wonder what or where my generation got it so wrong.
Everyone is in a panic over a recession, fair enough, a lot of people who make a living by investments, shares etc. are getting a bit of a hiding but they wont end up starving. Our brave troops are in wars they cannot win and many have lost their lives.
Across the world we see regimes that treat their citizens like expendable objects.
Throughout all of this we in the comfortable western world sit back and criticise, talk about it in the pub and sometimes pop the odd coin or two into a collecting tin and feel that we have done our bit so no need to bother any more.
A boy dies at the hands of those that should have loved him and everyone is up in arms about the "system" failing. Where were the neighbours who knew what was happening and did nothing. Social services got it wrong but I just wonder how many cases the social worker had on the desk at the same time. Throughout the system there are dedicated workers that have more and more piled on them but no more resources to deal with it. Successive governments have cut back on public spending on the things that really matter and increased spending on the things that don't.
What makes it worse is that we let them. We put them in power. We've allowed the "system" to develop into a bureaucratic nightmare that helps no one.
How about the "system" being looked at with fresh eyes and being changed into one that actually works and helps those that need help.
Millions and millions of pounds/dollars/euros are collected worldwide and used to help the countries that don't seem to be able to look after their own. Noble as that may seem the truth is that very little of the help actually gets to those that need it and a lot of the money is syphoned of into these governments pockets. Strange that whenever you see the images of the starving the politicians and leaders that are in view look very well fed.
The truth is that world poverty could be cured but it is not economically prudent. This world is divided into two types of people. The rich who want for nothing and the rest of us that are just above or below being broke. It's about a 10 to 90 ratio and politicians for many years have made sure it stays that way. I cannot see that changing in my lifetime or in the next few generations, if ever.
At any one time there is about enough food in the world to last around 6 weeks. Take the starving out of being starved and that would fall to maybe 2 or 3 weeks. One bad harvest and the world starves. So! the rich will continue to get richer and rest will continue to struggle.
Always strikes me as funny that throughout this world the religious leaders never seem to really address this imbalance, politicians like things the way they are. It is only those who want a better world for all that do openly say what they truly think.
I am waiting for that day when a politician or religious leader stands up and tells the real truth. Hasn't happened in my lifetime yet and I have a feeling it never will.
Glad I got that off my chest.
Now for another rant.
Did you know that to make it appear that everyone can get a NHS dentist the government are recruiting from abroad. Yes! you knew. So did I. BUT did you know that because of their training the majority are only licensed to perform a small percentage of a normal UK trained dentist work. Anything more than routine check ups and simple fillings have to be referred to the dental hospital. Net result dental hospitals now having longer waiting lists and staff pressurised all the time. Once again a whitewash job. Government "we have solved the problem and everyone can get a NHS dentist" but in truth a cover up for the lack of investment in the past which lead to a shortage and a lack of finances to pay those that did train.
I'm glad I'm old and not going to be around in this world for too much longer. I feel really sorry for those that will be. I don't envy our kids growing up in this corrupt world.