[Political rant warning]...
It has been reported today that a Holiday taken outside of School Term time is an average of 70% more expensive than one taken during Term time.... This will come as no surprise to anyone living in the UK, even if they don't have Children. We take our Holidays in Late Spring - Early Summer for this very reason. What I did find amazing was the unashamed response from the British Association of Travel Agents... "Its simple supply and demand" a spokesperson said, and compared it to buying strawberries during Wimbledon fortnight! This is not only a ludicrous response... One has the choice to buy strawberries whenever you want, Holidays are very different! In fact Parents can be fined by the School if they take Children out of Education for a Holiday... but shows the immorality IMHO of a 'Free Market' economy - no notice is taken of the social impact of the market, nor is there any notion of justice in its DNA. In this case (just as in others e.g.. the links between housing and School catchement areas) the people who suffer are Children and those who have least. I'm not a communist... but there must be a way of balancing 'free trade' with Justice and compassion, surely?! Oh well, criticising the 'free market' will no doubt get me labelled an anarchist... but there has to be a way to have a dynamic economy (global and local) which protects the poor and the innocent - and doesn't simply see people as money making opportunities for the business world. It seems obvious, to me, that ABTA love money more than they do providing a service for the whole of the community! And we all know what the love of money is...!
Wondering....not a 'communist' but it certainly sounds like there is a strong case of socialism running through your veins!!! From a theoretical persepective I think that the 'answer' lies in one of your last phrases, 'love money more than they do providing a service for the whole of the community.' Turn that around and love the community more than the money = problem solved. But in real life, this only creates the new problems of working out how to love other people and how to help others to do the same...and in the short time I have 'known' you, is that not entirely what you are all about?
Posted by: Phil Rankin | 29/04/2006 at 11:56
mmmm do my socialist leanings show that obviously ;-) As for your question... yes I hope it is waht I am about... what I try to be about anyway!
Posted by: Mark Berry | 29/04/2006 at 12:16