The reason we love England is because of images that can be captured like this:
© Gavin Ayling (not subject to Creative Commons licence)
This is the sort of thing that was fought for during the wars. As well as this, were the greatness of Britain that people take from the description of our island, the character and stoicism of the people and the fact that this small island - and it is small - has acheived more than its size would suggest.
Unfortunately during the post war period, as well as creating a welfare state that, for the first time, protected people from destitution without charity, Britain’s governments lost their way.
As a result, today’s society has an underclass that people are only just willing to admit to using the new popular description, “chav“. Today’s society has created suicide bombers and a society where people are murdered for protecting their girlfriend from having food thrown at her, or for asking people to not jump the bus queue. Margaret Thatcher famously said that there was no such thing as society, but now it is clear that there is a society, but that it is not the one we would want. A very good friend of mine has told me in the past when I have looked as though I was about to intervene what the result could be - and this is the trouble with today’s society - it just isn’t safe!
I am sure that events such as those listed above are rare and that the majority of people do not experience a violent crime (maybe). I am proud that I will be standing for election to Adur District Council next year, and I hope I can make a difference at a local level. If you (the great public) have any thoughts about how society should be treated, what politicians (especially locally) should do (except for the obvious - the police should look at regularly sending patrols to areas where crime is being committed etc.), I really would welcome your thoughts.
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