The Social Care Bill / Consumption
The Social Care Bill is not going tobe on the agenda for the next Parliament. Adult social care in this country is in crisis: particularly for the elderly. Care workers are employed by companies providing contract work paid for by cash- strapped Councils. Care workers under time pressure  can do nothing more, than make brief visits to the old person, doing essential tasks then have to move onto the next appointment. This is the option for most people who are not able to afford private care.
The explanation for this omission is that the economy has to be the focus of the next parliament. The performance of the economy is directly linked to votes and the coalition winning the next election. Working and earning money wins the day?
At first glance this seems a logical explanation. Earning a living takes people off benefits, gives people and families respect, hope, and a future. This also creates tax revenue for the Exchequer. But another concern is the underlying lack of extra money for people to spend to consume.
In a market economy consumption is the drug. It gives us a high feeling at point of sale but then depresses our feelings. It can make us feel unworthy if we do not have the latest car, gadget or clothing accessory. So to compensate we buy something else, and so the cycle continues.
To remain depressed is the underlying aim of the market economy. To feel cynical, apathetic, isolated and helpless is the psychological state the market economy wants its population to be in. This begs the question what it would be like not to have a depressed population?
Energy, liveliness, an interest in others, and perhaps most importantly – anger. Anger has a bad press: we are all familiar with what is wrong with anger. What is a good about anger is energy. Energy to be ourselves, to question, to be curious about the world and our place in it. In short to have feelings that are not depressed. This is the biggest threat to a market economy. Being depressed prevents us from experimenting with alternatives to the market economy.
The Social Care Bill / Consumption