AUGUST EDITORIAL

Almond Tree

The gigantic Almond tree at my home and the baby hip height Almond tree at my school/theatre are in bloom, so can Spring be so far behind? Weather wise no, but in a business sense it appears to be the Winter of everyone’s Discontent. Many businesses including those in the Art and Cultural fields are suffering the pangs of cash depleted customers due to rising costs of everything. This has resulted in businesses advertising excessively with ever increasing offers of discounts, special rates, add on value and so the list goes to try to siphon that pocket or purse of every last cent.

Funeral insurance companies must be some of the most creative in their advertising and at least provides me with humour. The one I find the funniest is the one promising me an Exclusive Funeral.   And here I was thinking I could have a group swing-a-long party funeral to which I invited all my friends to join me on the trip to never never land. Then another company is offering a policy but only if you are over 17 years of age or 75 years and under.  I think this is just predijust against the young and the old and do they realize the market they are missing out on!  Hang on, I just had a thought.  That bracket probably do not have any money.

Politically the country is in the throws of pursuing the voting customers.  Money is being shifted and re-allocated from areas that are not bringing in potential voting customers to those where voting numbers need to be increased.  The old story of robbing Peter to pay Paul.  And how does that benefit us?  It doesn’t.

More and more money will be spent on promoting the individual political parties – well I suppose the advertising and printing concerns will benefit – but please politicos stop berating and denigrating each other and tell us what practical issues you have resolved and future ones you will resolve.  Give us all the power, whilst you still can and claim the credit for it, to get rid of councilors, members of parliament and any one else who does not perform in the best interest of the people of this country and not for their bosses and themselves. And do not try and tell us we already have that power – if we did a lot of people would not be in the positions they currently are .

The poor are getting poorer and many have reached the tipping point when they can see no future, no hope and when people have nothing to lose they have nothing to live for and they have experienced that for a long time now.  In the opening paragraph  I spoke of Spring which brings renewed hope – I see no signs of that politically or economically.  I see more Winter of Discontent for everyone.