This is only my opinion.
I woke up the other morning with the sun streaming in through the window and after a leisurely breakfast I took the dog to the park where the grass was carpeted with crocuses and daffodils were swaying gently in the breeze. Last week end the clocks went forward and as with every spring there is a sense of new beginnings. I felt great.
Then I went home and put my feet up with the newspaper, a freshly brewed coffee and warm scone. Very quickly my optimism and positivism began to lose their shine. I read about Putin’s territorial machinations, the latest trial of a household name on sex charges and of course bankers’ bonuses.
The BBC very recently reported that “The Co-operative Group is set to give pay rises and bonuses to its senior staff despite the near collapse of its banking division.” Euan Sutherland, the newish Chief Executive Officer, is recommended to receive a £3.66 million package while admitting that last year was the worst year in the Co-op’s 150 year old history.
The Independent on Sunday the 9th March 2014, also drew attention to the fact that Barclays where profits are down 32%, with 7,000 job cuts paid out bonuses of £2.4 billion. The Royal Bank of Scotland made losses of £8.2 billion but gave £3 million of shares to their new boss and Lloyds gave their CEO a bonus of £1.6 million and their staff a 2% pay rise.
Depressing news indeed. But you know what really gets to me is the apathy and lameness of our population placidly accepting just about everything. There may be flurries of righteous indignation but where is the fiery spirit of public outcry? How is it that Scottish people have in 100 years moved from tanks in George Square to meek willingness to accept inequality, wage deflation and job insecurity . Why is there such social inertia ?
