Brilliant Joe, really brilliant. If one concept has failed in modern western society than it’s family. The state is not failing at all in this crisis, it just gives the stupid people what they asked for: stupid measures that don’t work because stupid people asked for them.
Alex Lekas
3 years ago
“When the state fails.” It’s almost like the problem is right there, staring one in the face. Who thought it was the job of “the state” to be one’s parent and guardian? Every policy decision, no matter how well-meaning, has real life consequences that are felt by those who had no role in the policy making itself.
Affluent millennials have been financially dependent on their parents like no other generation before them ” for an education, a house deposit, a wedding, support with childcare and the family crash pad if it all goes wrong. Hmm. That’s not what “affluent” people do.
Cheryl Jones
3 years ago
That’s how it should be. The abdication of family responsibility to the state is one of many reasons why modern life is becoming so damn atomised and miserable.
Malcolm Beaton
3 years ago
Proven over many years as survival attributes Get married Have kids Go to church once a week Perhaps the third attribute is not returning any time soon but equivalents exist-voluntary groups, charity work ,vocations etc Interesting to watch now from the sidelines – as a “child of the 60,s” -now 75 -who never bought the total package being sold at that time Married 51 years-didn’t divorce 3 kids -all married and working -had kids 8 grandchildren Kids and their wives in health care, prisons and teaching plus one is a banker to pay for it all! Did vocations replace church?
It should be possible to go once a month. I don’t understand why people are turning away. Leftism is cited, but there are plenty of traditional churches still around. Maybe television is simply more interesting….
…but an hour a month really should be doable. If the whole population went once a month, we wouldn’t have the problem of closing churches.
Computer games? Television? I’m not sure about any activities or clubs, these seem deserted.
It doesn’t help that many people have been told that church is full of “weird people”, and I have heard of mothers disapproving of their child going into the church choir.
If they went for an hour a month, then the church would not be dying.
People don’t go to church because it is either dreary and boring (the standard C of E service) or weird and childish (the ‘happy clappies’). In either case it is dreadfully dumbed down – I once had to point out (at a parish coucil meeting) that the poor in spirit may be blessed, but I for one do not want to have to listen to their inane sermons.
Fraser Bailey
3 years ago
An interesting article that seems to pull together a number of evolving societal trends. Of course, the British state will always fail, however much money and power it is given. So expect to see a lot more families ‘stepping in’.
Geoffrey Simon Hicking
3 years ago
I always go on holiday with parents. It is nice to be with them on holiday and do things as a family. Grandparents came with them for as long as they were able. I have paid for stuff where I can, so it is not a financial “reliance” thing for me. It is just nice to send time with people that will one day no longer be here.
Sanest post I have read tonight Geoffrey. Your parents did a wonderful job bringing up such a thoughtful man like you. I wish you and your family many more happy times together.
Stefan Hill
3 years ago
The reinvestment in the family is indeed an economic issue but an economic issue with a fundament of moral or religious responsibilities.
Consider the fact that there are parents who choose not to help their children because: They are bad parents. This subject is taboo in our culture. It is maybe possible to discuss fathers who abandon their children but not mothers. Still : Bad mothers exist.
And of course: There is also bad children who after a lifetime of benefits refuse to help their parents.
We would all benefit if we saw the world as it is. A place of good and bad.
Peter KE
3 years ago
Long live the family, get the state out of our lives.
I think the headline is the wrong way around.
Brilliant Joe, really brilliant. If one concept has failed in modern western society than it’s family. The state is not failing at all in this crisis, it just gives the stupid people what they asked for: stupid measures that don’t work because stupid people asked for them.
“When the state fails.” It’s almost like the problem is right there, staring one in the face. Who thought it was the job of “the state” to be one’s parent and guardian? Every policy decision, no matter how well-meaning, has real life consequences that are felt by those who had no role in the policy making itself.
Affluent millennials have been financially dependent on their parents like no other generation before them ” for an education, a house deposit, a wedding, support with childcare and the family crash pad if it all goes wrong.
Hmm. That’s not what “affluent” people do.
That’s how it should be. The abdication of family responsibility to the state is one of many reasons why modern life is becoming so damn atomised and miserable.
Proven over many years as survival attributes
Get married
Have kids
Go to church once a week
Perhaps the third attribute is not returning any time soon but equivalents exist-voluntary groups, charity work ,vocations etc
Interesting to watch now from the sidelines – as a “child of the 60,s” -now 75 -who never bought the total package being sold at that time
Married 51 years-didn’t divorce
3 kids -all married and working -had kids
8 grandchildren
Kids and their wives in health care, prisons and teaching plus one is a banker to pay for it all!
Did vocations replace church?
Sounds very productive – I wish them all well – especially those currently ‘in prisons’ 😉.
The church question is hard to answer – maybe there is just no room in peoples heads or schedules for it any more ….
It should be possible to go once a month. I don’t understand why people are turning away. Leftism is cited, but there are plenty of traditional churches still around. Maybe television is simply more interesting….
…but an hour a month really should be doable. If the whole population went once a month, we wouldn’t have the problem of closing churches.
Computer games? Television? I’m not sure about any activities or clubs, these seem deserted.
It doesn’t help that many people have been told that church is full of “weird people”, and I have heard of mothers disapproving of their child going into the church choir.
If they went for an hour a month, then the church would not be dying.
People don’t go to church because it is either dreary and boring (the standard C of E service) or weird and childish (the ‘happy clappies’). In either case it is dreadfully dumbed down – I once had to point out (at a parish coucil meeting) that the poor in spirit may be blessed, but I for one do not want to have to listen to their inane sermons.
An interesting article that seems to pull together a number of evolving societal trends. Of course, the British state will always fail, however much money and power it is given. So expect to see a lot more families ‘stepping in’.
I always go on holiday with parents. It is nice to be with them on holiday and do things as a family. Grandparents came with them for as long as they were able. I have paid for stuff where I can, so it is not a financial “reliance” thing for me. It is just nice to send time with people that will one day no longer be here.
Sanest post I have read tonight Geoffrey. Your parents did a wonderful job bringing up such a thoughtful man like you. I wish you and your family many more happy times together.
The reinvestment in the family is indeed an economic issue but an economic issue with a fundament of moral or religious responsibilities.
Consider the fact that there are parents who choose not to help their children because: They are bad parents. This subject is taboo in our culture. It is maybe possible to discuss fathers who abandon their children but not mothers. Still : Bad mothers exist.
And of course: There is also bad children who after a lifetime of benefits refuse to help their parents.
We would all benefit if we saw the world as it is. A place of good and bad.
Long live the family, get the state out of our lives.