Could This be Why We're in Trouble?

The report by Mr Neary in the BBC regarding the manner in which his autistic son is 'managed' by Social Services might explain a bit about what is wrong with the UK today. It certainly goes a long way towards explaining how many of our 'services' have become unanswerable and worse, unaccountable. But, who can challnge them? Everything is concealed by the use of 'jargon', and worse, the people they are supposed to 'help' are treated as objects incapable of thinking for themselves and unable to decide what is good for themselves. Mr Neary's case is far from unique, though he probably is unique in having taken the social services in this case to court and winning.

Social Services were set up to look after the vulnerable in our society, but, like a lot of good ideas, have been overtaken by the 'systemisers' and 'processers'. It has become a self perpetuating 'industry' in which its all about 'numbers' and 'procedures' and not about looking after people as individuals. This particular instance involves the Social Services, but almost all the 'new' professions that have arisen since the 1960s do it. Everything is about creating a niche, a permanent home for all those who like to feel they are 'caring' about something. The first thing that inevitably arises is an opaque 'jargon' which only insiders can actually interpret. It builds a mystique around whatever the profession does, and prevents outsiders from seeing or understanding how it operates or what it really does.

Some of my former colleagues will recall how our own profession was highjacked by a small group who suddenly got the 'education' bug. It wasn't long and everything was reduced to acronyms which most of us couldn't interpret. We went to meetings and listened as the 'experts' delivered briefings that consisted entirely of acronyms linked by a few verbs, articles and the odd noun. I once sat and listed every acronym used and when the bright spark giving the briefing finally asked 'any questions?' stuck my hand up and asked where I could find a list of the 43 acronyms I'd noted which would enable me to interpret them into English. There was no answer, and I think I was removed from the management Christmas Card list at that point.

One of the prime examples of the manner this quasi-professional jargon is used to exclude or to control access must be the Politically Correct process which dictates that no one may identify any group as being more likely to commit some offence, or more likely to be 'at risk' of something. The result is that everyone is now regarded as a potential criminal, or of being 'at risk' of dying in a fire starting in their kitchen due to falling asleep while heating a pot full of oil to make chips. Everyone - particularly pensioners - are suspected of 'fiddling' their tax returns and hiding income, but not, it seems those with mega incomes and clever accountants who make sure the money stays in tax havens. Every home must now be 'disabled friendly' in case the occupant is disabled - or a disbaled person wishes to buy it. Everyone is considered to be potentially racist, sexist or any other -ist, particularly those who profess to be followers of Christianity.

This 'process' imposition on every aspect of our lives is, in my view, one of the major reasons our society is becoming increasingly dysfunctional. By allowing quasi-professions like Social Services to reduce us all to 'cases', by allowing the family courts to hold sessions 'in camera' and accept evidence that would not be given to time of day in any other court, we are slowly but surely dehumanising the very people we are supposedly trying to help - and in dehumanising them, we lose something ourselves.

The second aspect to this that is deeply disturbing is that we are conceding power and control to these opaque professions. Their jargon passes for 'expert speak' and sounds 'professional' but it conceals the opposite. Much of it isn't scientific at all, it just sounds good. As the example given by Mr Neary illustrates: if you or I make a choice, it is a simple 'choice'. If someone in the care of Social Services makes the same choice - they are 'being empowered'. If one of us loses their temper, we get it off our chests. If someone in the 'care' system loses their temper, it requires a 'case review', followed by 'anger management training' and a 'risk management plan', somewhere along the line involving at least one psychologist for an 'assessment'.

When one reads of this and similar cases, one does begin to wonder if we have all taken collective leave of our senses. We actually believe this 'processification' and 'objectification' of the subjects is good for society? As I said, Social Services does do some good work, but all too often the good work is undone by a slavish adherence to 'procedure'. The powers over us all that have been given to the ubiquitous "Social Worker" are far greater than most Trading Standards Officers or Fire Safety Inspectors wield, and most have less legal training. Surely we can find a less soulless approach? Surely we can find a way that doesn't become so bureaucratic and rule bound it loses sight of children and adults who really are at risk while dealing in an often draconian manner with those who are trying to follow the rules?

The more I look at this, the more convinced I become that we are in trouble. We've allowed a lot of very smart people to highjack key parts of our lives, and now they have entrenched themselves - at the expense of the very people they are supposedly helping (see Mr Neary's comments on the closeure of Day Centres) and covering their deceits in jargon.

After each and every failure of 'care' by a Social Services Department we hear the same excuse, and the same 'remedy'. "We are revising our procedures" or "we are understaffed and underfunded". But, as I said, we should not look only at Social Services, there are numerous other 'industries' now all building little empires, all with their own jargon, all with their own clientele and all demanding ever bigger handouts to fund their 'activity'.

It is time we took a long hard look at all of them and demanded proper, jargin and acronym free answers. Until we do we will not get anywhere near repairing the divisions in a society that is becoming more fractured with each passing year.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-ouch-23423541

Investing in the Future

My old school is Selborne College, East London, South Africa. It was and is, one of the top public schools (as opposed to a fee paying "Private" school which is what Eton, Harrow or any of the "Public" Schools in the UK would be called in SA) in the country, and I'm not just saying that because I went there. I will also confess that I was never one of their star pupils or sportsmen. I sort of muddled all the way through - to the frustration of most of the Masters I think - and finally wandered off with some "education" and no idea what to do with it. Years later one of my favourite Masters (he taught me history and drama and his wife taught English) told me that I was one of his most frustrating pupils. In his words, he and the other teachers could "see an intelligence lurking in there, but couldn't seem to get it to switch on" - and yet I always somehow scrapeda passing grade despite their being convinced I wouldn't...

Sort of explained all those reports that said "can do better, if he applied himself to the studies." OK, so they did actually manage to at least teach me to listen, observe and think, all of which have stood me in very good stead through my subsequent career.

So why am I rambling on about all this? The school has launched an appeal. It needs to raise ZAR25 million to secure its future. The money is needed to upgrade facilities, extend some buildings to provide new facilities and buy new equipment such as computers. The Old "Boys" Association has kick-started the Appeal with a donation of ZAR500,000 and will, no doubt, be contributing more over the next three years. Under the title of "Selborne Legacy Project" the money will be managed by Trustees as it is collected and I would like to add my own appeal to anyone reading this. Please support them if you can. Follow the link on their website to the donations page and make a donation.

It doesn't matter how small, every Rand, Pound, Dollar or whatever counts!

Good causes ...

I'd like to draw attention to a bit of a challenge raised in a comment yesterday and on a blog about a month ago. Check this post at "Not the six word novel" and then check out her other blog at  "The hundred poem challenge."

Jen suffers from a genetic disease likely to destroy her sight in the next few years. There is no treatment and no cure - at present. She has launched a challenge and an appeal to support the research into EEC Syndrome, which despite the initials, is nothing to do with the European Economic Community. It is in fact a genetic malfunction in a gene which controls the regeneration and renewal of the cornea. Transplants don't work, because the transplanted tissue is destroyed fairly rapidly by the malfunction.

An explanatory video can be found on The Hundred Poem Challenge along with a Donation Page. I would urge anyone reading this to at least visit the site and listen to the video. If you can, please support the appeal.

Sweet Justice?

You have to love the story from the US where a Bank (Bank of America) fouled up a property purchase which didn't involve a bank loan or mortgage. Somehow the bank 'lost' the homeowners payment - purchase price and fees paid in full on date of purchase - and then, some months later tried to foreclose on the property for non-payment of a non-existent mortgage.

The owner's attorney won the subsequent court case and the court ordered the bank to pay the family's legal costs - as you may imagine, quite a substantial amount. Several months later, the bank had still not paid the fees.

Top marks to the attorney, he foreclosed on the bank ...

What a great advert for a bank to have the bailiffs show up with a court order to seize the banks furniture, fittings and the cash in the cashiers drawers for non-payment of a debt. Apparently the manager was visibly shaken and "felt intimidated" by the experience. I bet. Now I guess he and his superiors have some idea of what they do to the folk they put the squeeze on when they're having a rough time financially.

I'd put this one on the top of my list of "Justice: Seen to be done."

Nacht der Kirchen

Night of the churches, an ecumenical evening in which all the Wiesbaden Churches throw open their doors and share the worship for the evening. A tight programme included services, organ recitals and choral work. At our little Alt Katholische Friedenskirche, we began with a Vespers, then views of the city from our roof and finished with a Taize session of chant and prayers. The picture is of the interior of the Friedenskirche. In English, the "Peace Church."

Support Da Goddess

Da Goddess is a lady who supports causes. She has been through a rough time herself lately and now needs a little help in supporting one of her favourite causes - servicemen and women. Like me she believes this woprld is a safer and better place because there are men and women out there who are prepared to join up as soldiers, sailors or airmen and fight for our values and freedoms. Now she is asking us to help her. So, when I got this message I decided that I would do so.

As some of you know, I was accepted into the Operation: Love Reunited program as one of their photographers. There are many of us, but not nearly as many as we truly need. When I first signed up, the waiting list was long and I was told it would be months before anything would be reviewed. I figured I had ample time to get my business a little more active and profitable. You know what they say when you start making plans, right? God laughs and then hands you a challenge. Financially, I'm not up to the challenge on my own, but with your help I can be. So here's the deal: Have a read. If you feel this is something you can promote, I'd be happy. If this is something to which you can contribute, I'd be honored. If this is something you believe in and decide you'd like to be a part of, too, I would be thrilled beyond belief! For everyone who makes a donation: please indicate it is for OpLove and let me know what name you'd like on the thank you card I include in the albums because I want to recognize your efforts as well as prove to our troops that we do care. I've already heard from one reader who would like to donate a prize to those who donate to the fund. We'll be drawing a comment number at random on June 7 (the first big event is June 13 and that gives me plenty of time to purchase all the albums I'll need). If you're interested in seeing what the item is, it's part of the post. If you're interested in winning, please leave a comment. If you're interested in donating another item to be raffled off, WOW! You totally rock! And now, before I sign off for the day, I would like to remind you that this weekend is Memorial Day. While you're preparing the grill and the food and the beverages, please take a moment to say Thank You for all that you have because of those who made it possible.

Thank you!

I hope you'll join me in supporting her.