Going South

A trip to the shop and "society" is on display. The motor car, the bicycle the pedestrian all making their pilgrimage to the shop. Its a thought that Mecca, St Peters in Rome and all the Hindu temples probably can't compete with Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury, and Morrison's combined foot fall.  Shopping is the new age religion. 

 

To many the shop is a release from the humdrum, we are transported into a world of "things" "goodies" we are told will bring satisfaction, things to wear, things to eat undisguised consumerism and millions worship at the altar regularly. There is no sermon to listen to only perhaps when one gets home and realises how much has been spent.

Of course, to many the business of shopping is a more serious event.    Those on very limited means have to be extremely careful amongst this dazzling display of goods. Every purchase has to be carefully considered for value and affordability.

You can see the tension at the cash dispenser as cards are tried and rejected, what to do throughout the day with no money and no means of obtaining any in the near future. 

We are fortunate in having an income or savings but for increasing numbers the future looks grim and the shake out of each pocket to find the simplest purchase is an every day event and very disheartening.

The state of the nation looks very bleak, the numbers of discontented disillusioned people can only grow, adding to the social tension already here.We are beginning to decline and the big question is how far will we fall. What if we become a "third world country", the first demotion from Division 1 to Division 3 in a none football context. what do we mean by being third world and what happened to "second class"?

The 1st world was the term applied to the nations that aligned with NATO. The 2nd world were the nations who aligned with the communist block and the 3rd were the rest.

"Going South" is another term to define the countries that struggle to attain "steady economic development".

The Brits have only themselves to blame since they repeatedly refused to invest, even a reasonable amount into our infrastructure or the necessary modernisation of plant and machinery. Profits are profits and not seen in the context of investment. 

We avoid tax with the view that the spending society needs will be provided for by "others".  Although naturally we would be the first to expect the structure around us to be "maintained", and would be highly vocal if the police, the the ambulance service, the hospitals and the roads were allowed to deteriorate.

The investment that "has" taken place is funded from companies overseas.    All our utilities are foreign owned. 

Investment in our motor industry is "foreign", investment in our steel production is "foreign", investment in almost everything is "foreign", often coming from countries that only a few decades ago were part of the empire !!!

It seems as if we the British have no faith in the future of their own country and would rather "short" the bet in the financial casino that is the "City", whilst hiding the profit in the Bahamas.

As we descend the slippery slope of economic relevance with no obvious signs of an appetite amongst our own ethnic stock to have the confidence or the nationalistic responsibility to believe we have a future. It is inconceivable that the French, Germans or the Dutch would ignore the national relevance of maintaining important industries under local control. These countries are not going South, they have understood their history and accept the responsibility each generation holds for past and future generations.

I wonder what the men and women who fought bravely to keep Johnny  Foreigner out of these islands, would think as they see "the Foreigner" coming in by the back door.  Of course whilst the men and women were fighting on the beaches the Speculators were making their fortunes and its the "sons of the sons" of those Speculators who are now "Shorting" us to death !!!