As a conservative (politically speaking) it could be said that any decline in power the progressives experience would cause me to rejoice. However, I don’t feel joy when thinking about David Cameron the conservative Tory leader in the UK. Don’t get me wrong, I firmly believe that the Labor Party in the UK needs to be removed. Not only has the Labor Party bankrupt a leading economic ally of the United States but their administration has been a source of alleged corruption and scandal. It seems that many view Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his administration as the people who are responsible for Britain's “Big Government” economic melt-down.
David Cameron and the Tories are betting that their idea of a “Big Society” instead of “Big Government” will win the coming election. Should we be suprised to find out that most people in the UK know that the Labor party's over spending on British entitlements can not be sustained. You can not spend what you don’t have! (Obama should take notice of this). Having said that, I believe Mr. Cameron’s “Big Society” is a failure just waiting to happen too!
According to a Daily Mail online article, Mr. Cameron wants to reverse societal breakdown by having “ every adult to be a member of a neighborhood group as he pledged to create an 'army' of 5,000 trained community organizers to help people tackle social problems.”
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1262529/David-Cameron-plans-neighbourhood-army-help-mend-broken-Britain.html#ixzz0jrxc1WMA
The reason why this will fail is simple, Mr. Cameron has the wrong presuppositions about government and its role in society. I feel terrible that Great Britain is experiencing “societal breakdown.” But this breakdown can be traced right to the door of the church. Once a pillar in the Christian faith, Britain is just a shell of its former self. The true church in Britain is almost non-existent. If Mr. Cameron thinks morals and neighborhoods will return with out religion (Christianity), and people will just serve one another because it is the right thing to do, he is an anthropological fool. Maybe, good old George Washington could help out here?
One of the reasons the founding fathers limited government in the US Constitution was to free religion and churches (Christian) to “use persuasion and influence (not force) upon people generally as well as on those who govern.” (see Clarence B. Carson’s book Basis American Government page 61-62) Historically speaking the Americans got this right but as Carson points out the roots of this came from our British background!
Again, “The Constitution does not proclaim that religion is simply a private matter about which there can be no public concern. On the contrary, the founders of the United States believed that support of religion was essential to the well being of the state. As George Washington put it in his farewell address:
Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. (Mr. Cameron are you listening?) In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness-these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and cherish them…Let it simply be asked, Where is the security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in the courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.”
As Professor Carson states “Organized religion as well as the faith that sustains men has both supported government, limited it, and held it up to high standards of conduct and activity. To put it simply and directly, without faith in God, government has no transcendental sanction or support for its exercise of authority. Scripture makes it abundantly clear in many places that not only is man dependent upon God but also that government is sanctioned by God. Both religion and history have resonated with the affirmations of the profound foundation of government and religion. John Calvin, the great Protestant reformer, said that even among the heathen writers “not one of them has treated of the office of magistrates, of legislation, and civil government without beginning with religion and Divine worship.”
This is quite different than what Mr. Cameron believes as you listen to him “The Conservatives are also proposing a new 'national citizens service', putting 16-year-olds on a two-month programme in which they will 'learn to be socially responsible'.And they say they would create an annual 'Big Society Day' to celebrate the work of neighbourhood groups and encourage more people to take part in social action projects.Mr Cameron said his vision, which was derided by political opponents, was 'unashamedly optimistic and unapologetically ambitious'.'But I didn't come into politics to do small things. I don't aspire to run this country to manage Britain's decline,' he added.'I'm here because I want to bring change to this country and I believe we can change this country. Think of what individuals and communities can do and any despair is defeated.'We can get our country moving. We can restore hope in our future. We can if we come together, work together and build the big society together.'” Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1262529/David-Cameron-plans-neighbourhood-army-help-mend-broken-Britain.html#ixzz0jsEw5y29
As we Camerys see it across the pond the Camerons miss the point again!
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