Education
I do not believe that the education that our children receive is
adequate. I am not sure that our teachers are all competent.
It is vital that people are provided with the tools to build their own
futures rather than looking to the state to provide, this does not mean
calling people in need "Clients" and "Customers" rather than "People in
need" and "Claimants" It means provision of a solid and high quality
education, It means making sure that there are high quality jobs for
people to do, It means putting in place dependable structures. "It's
your choice" and "That's your fault based upon the choices you made"
must no longer actually mean lack of state structure. Nobody chooses to
be ill, nobody chooses a poor level of education, not many people choose
to have no future.
Whilst it is easy to point to the failings of our young people, it often
seems to be forgotten that they are the product of the previous
generation and therefore parents carry a great weight of responsibility
for the actions of the young, in fact we all do! Fractures and failings
within our society are seen right across the social spectrum regardless
of age range.
I am not suggesting that all unemployed people do not want to work but
we need to revisit the benefits paid to people who choose not to work.
Before benefit is withdrawn the claimant should be offered 3 practical,
viable and relevant job opportunities based upon their abilities and
education (no I do not mean 3 rubbish jobs dictated by a benefits clerk)
the choice should be working or high quality training (no more rubbish
schemes just to massage the figures, we all have a right to dignity and
a full place in society provided by a sense of self reliance).
Inclusion legislation is failing to deliver the results that disabled
people have a right to expect, The "Are you disabled question" should
not be a front line filter.
I am keen to see our manufacturing base expanded so that we produce much
more of the things that we need (we could even start to sell things to
other nations), this would provide jobs for the 5 million unemployed
(this would allow people to re-establish pride in their ability to
provide for themselves, and raise tax revenue) and reduce the massive
amount of carbon gas produced by moving goods round the world.
We must invest more in science, maths and product development.