No, you're quite right to make that point about voluntary work Moss. Much extremely valuable work is done by the voluntary sector. What annoys is the idea that a job is seen as "surplus to requirements" when it's paid, but then acknowledging that actually, yes we did need someone to do that after all, so let's get someone to do it for nowt (and without the training, experience, etc that it was previously done with).

I firmly believe in the public sector and in the state taking responsibility (i.e providing funding) for things that benefit everyone. Sadly the Big Society concept appears to be diametrically at odds with that idea. The concept appears to work on the basis that the rich don't need "public"services because they can pay flunkies to attend to their medical needs, empty their bins, keep the grass verges around Witney nicely manicured, etc, whereas the "poor" don't need any of those things (because they're too busy being worked into the ground to have the time for illness, or leisure, or education).

So the message from the government is that if we really have to have these things, let Society provide them for themselves on a voluntary basis, why should the government pay for them? It has better things to spend your money on, like buying guns (to keep up the appearance of being an Important Country) and keeping the banks happy. Bah.