Isn't it strange how the two seem worlds apart until an election is in sight. Never before have there been so many consultations, but then I guess never before has there been a back office running the country, and since March 2013 they have had plenty to get their teeth into. With a suspected date of 2015 for all public services to be supported by private money time is tight. This is also the most stealth like secretive campaign I can remember.
How strange that the press is not interested, or have they been hushed up, after all look at Julian Assange, and of course the Levison enquiry, do we want it both ways? Freedom of the press but with no freedom of the press. What constitutes importance and what is classed as scandal. I think whichever category the public have the right to know.
Take us back 100 years, and news was something shared on doorsteps, heard on the radio, gossip and hearsay. Of course we still have gossip and hearsay, but we also have more political power as part of a 28 member state, anyone who thinks we have sold out to the EU have missed the point, EU membership creates power it doesn't reduce it, because anything unpopular can of course be blamed on legislation that is out of our hands.
So how come driving has become so political. Let me start with my favourite complaint, the length of the consultation period. Six weeks, when we could have had twelve, released at the busiest time of year, which also happens to be holiday time, so two weeks in the sun and back to hundreds of emails, the one most likely to be overlooked is the unassuming DSA consultation. Does this contravene the code of practice, erm, well, this was careful because the code of practice is actually a guideline, it's not legislation, it's a PR exercise in what sounds good. Having a web based forum, ask Mark Magee, can be a great lever as it complies with the code of practice, so a sweetener. A not so good sweetener as it allocated very little time for any real q&a. No CCL there then.
The few interested parties, which includes national associations have a duty to their members to encourage taking part in the consultation, and to take their views forward, that is not the views that they believe they should have but the views they really have. Too many say what they think others want to hear and not what they truly believe, until the ink is dry and the writing is on the wall, then it is too late.
Changes to any practice is unpopular, of course, we are creatures of habit and dislike change, but this time it's change that makes a real difference, and because in the past change was so slow and never quite made it past the first fence, we don't believe it, so why now, why should we think anything will be different? Because I am most possibly the most cynical of people, probably because my specialist subjects were politics and the health service, however this time it honestly is different.
Never have our futures been decided by private sectors before, and our opinions and decisions rushed through by back office workers, sitting on the warm seats from their redundant public service workers. The NHS is heading the same way, yet their consultations have a longer period, totally eight weeks, in my opinion twelve would be better but the apathy amongst the public means most won't answer and our futures will be decided for us.
So what do I get for my money? I pay the ConDems to run my country, to spend my money wisely and to make life easier for us all, so why am I not getting value for money? Why am I stamping on political doorsteps trying to get the date for the consultation extended, when most probably don't care anyway, because I believe in fairness, and this is absolutely not fair.
Who are the future driving instructors? Trained by larger companies, so goodbye to the small business sole trader, does anyone who wants to have a career in the driver training industry in future years have any say? Ask one member of the public, any member of the public about this consultation and they will have no idea what you are talking about, as with the NHS consultation, the HMRC consultations etc etc
It's about time the press stopped stalking celebrities and got their teeth into what really is going to hurt us all, the future of this country, and the mess it will be in if just one private company goes bust and we lose their financial input - dangerous ground - unrealistic expectations.
copyright 2103 Anne Green, this blog may not be reproduced in part or full without written permission of the author
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