Folly or Fortune?

I really enjoyed a trip out to the countryside where I came across a folly called the Needles Eye at Wentworth.

  

“Legend has it that Earl Fitzwilliam built the structure as a result of a wager that he could drive his horse and carriage through the eye of a needle. The position on the coach road supports this story, although the size of the archway is probably only sufficient to accommodate a small gun carriage”.

I was thinking of my "Probation Voice" blog and wondering if it was my folly, or have I possibly got something right about "Transforming Rehabilitation" and the privatisation of the Probation Trusts.

Looking at the definition of a folly/fool, I read:

• ·    The state or quality of being foolish and rash
• ·      A foolish action or idea,
• ·      A costly and foolish undertaking.
• ·      An unwise investment or expenditure.
• ·      Self trust rather than accepting other counsel.

To my mind this sums up the "Transforming Rehabilitation Programme". A programme that that has not been tested or proven, a costly and unnecessary undertaking, brought in by a Government that is trusting ideology, rather than listening to criminal justice workers, experts, and the media, especially in regards to the risks of the programme to the public. 

But looking at our Coalition Government, I can’t help seeing what could be called the folly of the foolish!

The Folly of Public Sector Privatisation.

• ·      Which threatens the quality of welfare our nation needs.
• ·      Which threatens public sector workers.
• ·      Which threatens employment levels.
• ·      Which promotes profit over people.

The Folly of Pandering to Corporations.

• ·      Which threatens our democracy and reduces the voice of the individual.
• ·      Which leaves workers open to exploitation
• ·      Which takes money away from the poor, and gives to the rich.
• ·      Which threatens small business, with a powerful monopoly.
• ·      Which threatens to give too much power to Fat Cats
• ·      Which threatens our national wealth, due to tax avoidance.
• ·      Which threatens to leave us as tenants in our land.

The Folly of Broken Promises.

I don't know about you but find it very difficult to hear what politicians are saying, when you look at a Government of broken promises:

• ·      Regarding front line services.
• ·      Regarding the NHS being in safe hands.
• ·      Regarding the crack down on Bankers’ bonuses.
• ·      Regarding getting the UK working.

A Government of Folly or Fortune? Time will tell, but should we take a Chance?