Forum Topic

wishful thinking

Like I said, I would gift a new building if I won the Euromillions ( National Lottery would not be enough!)However, it does make me wonder in an era where there are more billionaires in the UK than at any other time, where are the philanthropists ?So few make a significant contribution. Disproportionate compared to the Victorians who, while fewer made greater legacies.Previous philanthropists made great donations of buildings and sites for the benefit of the poor, needy and to encourage advancement. They did not ask for anything in return.Unlike the section 106 money which is not enough for the prizes developers seek.Maybe it's time that the super rich get a choice, make a legacy donation for the good of society in which they reside or originate or pay 65% tax..or more.Some have, Richard Desmond, a media empire builder has paid for an entire wing to be built at Moorfields eye hospital, Pete waterman, Richard Branson Al Fayed has done much as well. It tends to be those in the public gaze. But  There are thousands more out there who do not and would not miss a £1million once in a while.

Michael Brandt ● 5528d10 Comments

I think the last three or four comments on this thread have well illustrated the dilemma of a great many people locally who do not subscribe to the Thatcherite agenda nor indeed to any Conservative agenda, but who feel alienated by the judgemental, insular and superior attitude of those who act as cheerleaders for what purports to be its political "opposite".Vanessa often slates Thatcher on these forums (correctly in my view, for what it is worth) for her infamous "there is no such thing as society" statement, only then to come within a fag paper's width of delivering herself of the same view with her constant sneers against community empowerment (she has referred to the "so-called community" more than once, for example) and to more or less any initiative that involves normal, ordinary people becoming in any way involved in things which she appears to think ought to be the exclusive preserve of a uniquely and inherently gifted elite, of which she naturally is a part.Vanessa, do you not see how one position completely contradicts the other?The tragedy of our current political situation is that we would appear to be represented at one end by the recent heirs of a political "philosophy" which seems to hold that the sole purpose of any human endeavour is to amass as much personal wealth as possible and sod the rest, and at the other by a "philosophy" which regards the bulk of the community as a passive mass to be tended and nurtured by their kind benevolence but to be dependent, subservient and most importantly silent as our part of the deal.Either way the soul and spirit of our community is the sacrifice.Unless something gives before very long perhaps there won't be such a thing as society/community soon?

Phil Andrews ● 5527d

B******s as per usual from JL.

Vanessa Smith ● 5527d

A prime example of taylor's uncalled for name calling if you don't agree with him.Have a day off why don't you?

Keith Iddon ● 5527d

Spoken like a true Tory bigot.

Robin Taylor ● 5527d

No, Vanessa."sod you Jack pull the ladder up" was the attitude of the UK workforce in many areas of activity...and Mrs Thatcher was the one who saved an almost impossible situation.Sadly her medicine only filtered down to two thirds of the working population..and the rest carried on their old habits...finger being pointed at Unionised Public Services generally.It was only when there were subsequent disasters that some organised groups has to pull their socks up.. (Kings Cross Fire and Zeebrugga disaster come to mind).So leave Mrs T alone.. she has many fans.. especially those who lived and experienced what was happening in the 1960's.

Jim Lawes ● 5527d

No argument here Vanessa.

Keith Iddon ● 5527d

Unfortunately the idea of philanthropy has gone the way of the Dodo pretty much, apart from a few, Bill Gates is one person, Ricky Tomlinson another and there are a few assorted individuals left. I won't be thanked for this BUT I have to say Thatcher is to blame for many of the selfish attitudes we have today, remember "there is no such thing as society"? Her legacy of 'sod you Jack pull the ladder up' is still alive and well in a community near you, that attitude unfortunately is reflected by banks and business as a whole, everything is about profit before people. I heard some 'Big Society' proponent wittering about this on the lunchtime news about not getting support centrally from local council or the governement but approaching local businesses, I wish her luck with that one!

Vanessa Smith ● 5527d

Well reported Anthony... just the job.I remember years ago when the City of Liverpool was corruptly wasting tons of public money (you remember those days?)..they went to OUR Government for more money and OUR Government said "No! Go and sort your house out". So Liverpool went off to Europe and got the money from them.What chance had the Government got, I thought, of disciplining Liverpool if they coud run off to the EU. It was like a child going to their grandparents for lolly when the parent had said "No!"Interestingly, I find in parts of Scotland an instantaneous mention of the words "let's look for a grant" when the word "expenditure" is uttered.So, ihmo, you have made a great point.

Jim Lawes ● 5527d

Having been based in europe for the last few months the one thing that sits on my mind is why do we not have EU funded improvements?I've spent the last 3 months in 7 EU countries including France, Italy and Austria (all wealthier members) and almost everywhere I went, there were projects with the EU flag proclaming funding by the EU.In fact thinking about it, I have seen these signs in all places but England where I have never seen the signs on any significant project.Roads in some EU countries are now second to none and it is evident on my return that we have by far the worst roads in western europe and are not far from being overtaken by Romania in quality.Why is this?  We pay in more than most of the member states but seem to get very little in return? We also host more EU citizens form all members states than any other single member.We also have the oldest infra-structure in dire need of renewal.Yet since arriving back, all I hear of is cuts and sell off of facilities that can never be retrieved. Unthinkable almost everywhere else. In most medias abroad, the opinion is that we are nose-diving into complete mediocrity.It certainly seems that way, so why do we (England) not get infra-structure aid from the EU?

Anthony Waller ● 5527d

""There are thousands more out there who do not and would not miss a £1million once in a while."" Absolutely!! Who shall we make the cheques payable to?Better still..if the 10,000 residences in Brentford are worth in total about £30 billion (£30,000,000,000) perhaps we could apply for a Community Remortgage and build something really special!Thinking about it...many deprived areas in the UK apply to Europe for grants and maybe that's the way forward.. but we've got to start looking deprived and not as though we are enjoying ourselves.

Jim Lawes ● 5527d