From 'Cool Britannia' to 'Sick Society'

"There are pockets of our society that are not just broken, but frankly sick". David Cameron, 10 August, 2011.

I looked up the phrase "Sick Society" to see when it first started being used.

I came across a very disturbing song of that name, by a group called Skrewdriver

The sooner that phrase (and its inevitable associations with that song, and others by this group) is put out of circulation, the better.

Boris Johnson's unwitting or unguarded comment on the BBC that society has become like a broken washing machine leaking oil was surely not helpful.

Three years ago he described David Cameron's claim that Britain is a broken society as "piffle".

A diagnosis? Here's a review from The Guardian of Oliver James'  (pre-recession, 2007) book on one of the viruses affecting sick societies, Affluenza

Today (11 August) in Parliament the Prime Minister referred to his earlier comment about the sick society, and said that the sickest part of all was the EDL.

The Telegraph (10 August).

News from Eltham.

The Sun (Monica Konczyk)

More coverage (YouTube)

The "Me First" Culture

"A Major Criminal Disease" ("a major criminal disease that has infected streets and estates across our country").

My inner-city teacher friend from London (Fielding of the Guardian) was rightly furious about this provocative article by Damian Thompson.

Tony Blair, on the dangers of "trashing" our own reputation abroad.

and the BBC 

It will soon be time for another newIMAGES campaign

Let's hope we have some happier new images to project.
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"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society". 
Jiddu Krishamurti.


Perhaps now is the time to read or re-read "The Plague" by Albert Camus.


The last word is with Bob Dylan: Everything is Broken.