Election day

My home country is on the verge of a political change, but will that change anything? I always think it is funny how foreigners applaud the UK for its social policies and programs, such as the NHS, Income Support, etc., and yet how the British living with the realities of it see the system as either dysfunctional or giving to the 'wrong' people (read non-Brits). I wonder if this comes about from a difference in how international vs. national/local papers portray events. Leading up to an election, of course, certain stories are sure to abound, and this election was no different.

A lot that I was attracted to were about parents who decided not to work - in fact, it seemed to be that they would have more money if they didn't. Think about it: if you have a fair number of kids (say 4 or more), and the government pays you money every week for each one, and they pay for your house (meaning no rent or mortgage), and they pay you Income Support or some such thing because you don't work, and if you have some sort of disability (apparently personality disorders and skin conditions count here - the latter would have to be bloody severe imo), then really you are quids in and have all that extra time to spend with the kids or watch TV or whatever it is you do to stop yourself from going insane from having a lack of goals, a lack of achievements (other than perhaps watching every single episode of Coronation Street), and showing your children that not working pays.

What really gets to me about these stories is that yes, they may be better off financially than if they were working (which is of course fucking ludicrous), but doesn't it matter that they are just festering away, doing nothing much all day? Even if they studied or did craft classes or something, at the end of the day some sort of action is needed to feel satisfied with your lot. At least, that's how I thought most people function, but I guess I'm wrong.

My hopes for the next government that gets in to power:

- That they will radically change the social welfare system. It is a great idea to have a net in place should some tragedy or hard times fall upon you, but being on the dole should not be a possible career choice.

- That they shake up the NHS. A wonderful institution, it has become clogged down by inefficient management, over-inflated hospital administrator salaries, etc. Pay nurses more, have more in-home care, and get tests done sooner so reduce the risk of costlier medications and surgeries.

- On a similar note, why not have some incentives for people who try to be healthy? Like offer gardening classes at the local village centre or whatever for cheap prices, fund urban gardening collectives, make unhealthy food more expensive.

- Get rid of most of the quangos. Massively stupid waste of money.

- Give people who have kids and earn under a certain salary (not as ridiculously low as it currently is) a break... Just because a family's joint income is £40K doesn't mean they can afford to send both of their children to university.

- Get rid of student loans, instead have fees based in a true means-tested fashion, not the farce of a one that is currently in place. There are scales of grey, you know.

- Be more efficient, and lose less secrets and important documents. If you MPs actually gave a shit and may have some comeuppances for blatant stupid behaviour and wrong-doing, then the public may have more faith in you and actually trust you with running their country.

- Stop your smarming ad campaigns. We really don't give a shit if you never do the washing up, like to cuddle, think you are the next best thing since tetra-packs. Just give realistic election promises and carry them through as much as possible, or at least show that you are fighting for them.

Seems pretty simple to me.