Wednesday Waffle

Good morning my small but loyal band of followers - I hope the world finds you happy and full of love.

It's Wednesday, which in Mansfield means Chad Day, we get our weekly local newspaper.

No doubt one of the big stories will be the elevation of our humble MP, Alan Meale, to the rank of knight of the realm - Sir Alan Meale. I don't suppose the Chad will be able to report verbatim the wide range of responses to this news, because some of the words and phrases that were scattered among the Facebook and Twitter pages were less than happy and polite about this state of affairs.

I liked this comment, expressed on Twitter with the usual forthrightness of Mansfield folk:

"My local MP, Alan Meale, has received a knighthood, presumably for services to being a fat useless greedy toadying cunt".  Chris  @seismicshed Mansfield, UK



There were some rather negative comments about a life long socialist accepting the honour, class traitor, champagne socialist etc etc. There again, as a long time mate of John Prescott, sorry Lord Prescott, he must have thought what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

There were some whose comments reminded us about the allegations over his expenses; perhaps he got the award for services to garden sheds or garden centres and the like - here is the link to the telegraph article if you were not aware of the story:

Telegraph - Alan Meale

He ended up repaying more than £11,000 to the tax payer - but it was all a mistake I'm sure and in no way impugned his status as a man of the people, one of us - did it Sir Alan?

I have yet to meet or speak to anyone who has been positive about this honour and I have no doubt that he will sell it as being for the people of Mansfield - load of rubbish!

I don't mind if Brucie gets his knighthood, he has at least added something to the gaiety of the nation, and I don't mind the lollipop lady getting her MBE for throwing children across the road for 87 years, but when public servants are rewarded for doing their job, it really sticks in my throat.

They get paid a very good wage, they have a very generous pension provision and then they expect some gong or other status lift that will enable them to feel just that little bit more special than the people who elected them.

I'm not a socialist, but I think that a truly meritocratic system should reward all equally for the service they offer - so why not see Dame Elsie Lollipop Lady and Alan Meale MBE?

You chose to enter politics, you get paid for it, you get expenses, you get a pension - why do you need or deserve a knighthood or elevation to the Lords?

Anyway, moving on, I shall await the coverage and no doubt report back - likewise I await the coverage of the 'I Love Mansfield' campaign.

I have been negative in my responses to this campaign and some have asked why - well it's simple, I don't love Mansfield. I live here, I work here, I occasionally shop here but I don't love the place.

I think some of the people who live here are brilliant, strong minded, down to earth, refreshing in their take on life - but that's the people not the place.

I want to see a campaign that tackles the apathy of some in the community, that shows them that they can aspire to something better - and that something better could be built in Mansfield.

I best not go on about it as it upsets people but it is my honest opinion that any campaign to improve a town or part thereof, that does not tackle to needs of the inhabitants directly, will not have the desired result. Perhaps I will be proved wrong.

I must away now, my application to become a People's Peer has arrived - Lord High Guru of The Hill, sounds OK doesn't it?