Victimhood and Barnet Council

Small minded people with little experience of life. What sort of person thinks removing wardens from sheltered housing is in any way civilised. What sort of person thinks that closing libraries is a good thing and that the people who object to it are a rabble. One of our cherished Conservative Councillors once claimed that there was a "culture of victimhood" in the lower classes ("Chav's" as they are now so lovingly known). I was reminded of a guy my Dad new. He was an real East Ender made good. Slogged his nuts off and became extremely wealthy. He sent his two daughters to posh private schools. He didn't want them to suffer the same social stigma he'd suffered. He wanted them to "know how to talk proper". His cunning plan paid off rather too well. By the time they both finished University, they wanted nothing at all to do with their common as muck Mum and Dad.

My Dad was of the opinion that snobbery was the most repulsive of the symptoms of social climbers. Sadly it strikes me that Barnet Council is overrun with such people. Read the comments on this Hendon Times story, if you want to see a good example :-

http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/9047850.Library_councillor_admits_plans_may_not_be_met_with__universal_enthusiasm_/?ref=mc

If you have a look at the picture at the top of the Story, you'll see a large group of people, mainly children, mums & old ladies. In short the type of people who use the library most. One commenter who has the hallmark turn of phrase of a well known Barnet Councillor, describes the group as a rabble. The group were protesting against Councillor Robert Ramsbottom and his proposal to shut Friern Barnet library. The Tories invented the term "big society" to mean citizens getting involved in the decision making process. Sadly the Barnet Tories hate this concept. They prefer passive victims who would sit around complaining. One of the people in the picture, who rather objected to being called a rabble is Kim. He asked me to publicise their petition - http://petitions.barnet.gov.uk/Saveourlibrary/  -

Please sign this if you care about the library. I don't buy into the concept that Barnet is full of victims, who take a masochistic delight in being shafted by this Tory Council. I just happen to think that without the "wheels of power" that the council has, it is hard to get organised. I will say this though, people are getting organised. Many are natural Conservatives who are sick of being crapped on. When I started blogging about Barnet Council, no one was saying anything. I only started the blog by accident  (it was meant to be about football and music, but I got a big response to an article about the Council). Now there are a whole stack of fine blogs, all of who are far better bloggers than I. There are thousands of people who have protested against the Council. There are all manner of active single issue pressure groups. The ruling Tories are a highly complacent bunch. They think that they are guaranteed control of the Council, because Barnet is a naturally Conservative area. Myself and my fellow bloggers are watching the Conservative Leadership contest with interest. The Tories have an opportunity to change tack and elect a sensible and competent administrator, who will end the war on the citizens of Barnet. If they don't, there will be a few people having a rather interesting meeting to discuss a few notes, I have on the back of a fag packet in my pocket, which has a rather interesting strategy to tie all of this up.

I am making this appeal to the Tory Councillors of Barnet. Elect someone sensible and competent and let me throw away this fag packet, so I can return to blogging about music and football. If you don't, we have three years in which to deliver a blow to ensure that sense prevails in Barnet. I suspect that three years will be time a plenty.

P.S Friern Barnet Library campaign -  Twitter: @SaveFriernBtLib and  Facebook group: Save Friern Barnet Liby .