UK Government Names Minister for Loneliness

[Jerome]

Concern rising as Emo kids reach adulthood:

Britain...has a serious problem with loneliness, research has found. More than nine million people in the country often or always feel lonely, according to a 2017 report.

There are so many university students who just lock themselves in their rooms for days because they feel rejected or that they don’t fit in

The issue prompted Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday to appoint a minister for loneliness.

New York Times - U.K. Appoints a Minister for Loneliness
ITV News - Tracey Crouch Appointed Minister for Loneliness

Tracey Crouch, Member of Parliament for Chatham and Aylesford, is the Government's newly appointed Minister for Loneliness

 

[carpro]

A minister of snowflakes.

 

[777]

I thought this was a joke, sounds right out of a Benny Hill sketch. "Minister of Loneliness"? So Orwellian, sounds like the Ministry of Truth.

Statism on steroids, now they need to appoint a Minister of Self-Doubt, a Minister of Alienation, a Minister of Bad Moods, a Minister of Denial, a Minister of Revenge, and so on - including a Minister of Endless Possibilities.

 

[Rob_BW]

I thought this was a joke, sounds right out of a Benny Hill sketch. "Minister of Loneliness"? So Orwellian, sounds like the Ministry of Truth.

Statism on steroids, now they need to appoint a Minister of Self-Doubt, a Minister of Alienation, a Minister of Bad Moods, a Minister of Denial, a Minister of Revenge, and so on - including a Minister of Endless Possibilities.

You forgot Minister of Silly Walks.

 

[Matt Black]

I think you'll find the appointment is aimed primarily to help the elderly, not Millenials. It's a growing problem:

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/loneliness/

 

[church mouse guy]

Pathetic. The British are improvident.

 

[Matt Black]

Thanks for your Christian concern...

 

[Jerome]

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/kent-mp-put-in-charge-158623/

"Miss Crouch said:...'"I feel really proud to have been given the role by the Prime Minister....We are going to look at putting together a strategic framework going forward and how we can tackle isolation across all departments. We will be looking to work with lots of different partners both charities and other organisations such as uniformed youth groups and a variety of other people including public and private businesses.'"

"Vickie Day, 22, from Sandwich....will be meeting the Prime Minister to talk about her work with lonely people in Thanet....'When I started this job I thought loneliness only affected the elderly because they are less mobile and younger people have social media. But I was surprised how many younger people suffer....It seems such an easy thing to do to talk to people but it can also be difficult and a very scary process.'"

 

[Squire Robertsson]

Having a 95-year-old father, I can well understand HM's government's concern. Dad does have me and my brother to look in on him. But, there are others less Providentially blessed.

 

[church mouse guy]

Having a 95-year-old father, I can well understand HM's government's concern. Dad does have me and my brother to look in on him. But, there are others less Providentially blessed.

Government is god and all problems can be solved by more government and higher taxes.

 

[Squire Robertsson]

Didn't say it was the best solution to the problem. I was just acknowledging there was a problem.

Government is god and all problems can be solved by more government and higher taxes.

 

[church mouse guy]

Didn't say it was the best solution to the problem. I was just acknowledging there was a problem.

I know. There was a lady rescued during Katrina. They asked her if she were alone and she told them no, Jesus is with me.

Now the FBI has found a way to end loneliness--they have special agents paramours, so that is an American governmental program already in place.

 

[church mouse guy]

Thanks for your Christian concern...

Stiff upper lip, ole chap! Prince Charles must be the loneliest person in the UK, huh? Remember the UK official motto "I'm okay, Jack!"

 

[Jerome]

Kentucky columnist skeptical of Conservative Prime Minister's loneliness programme:

kentuckytoday.com/stories/britain-appoints-official-to-deal-with-epidemic-of-loneliness,11363

on Wednesday of last week the British Prime Minister Theresa May appointed a new member of the government, a new official, a minister for loneliness.

loneliness is now a major problem amongst many college and university students, young people who are living in the midst of other young people, often in a very concentrated social environment. This just points to the fact that one can be lonely in a crowd. Loneliness is not the absence of other people in our lives, it is the absence of relationships and meaningful human contact.

in our time something else has intervened....the advent of social media in the digital age. That helps perhaps to explain more directly the impact of loneliness in epidemic form amongst young people. Young adults, teenagers, and adolescents who can be lonely even in the concentrated presence of so many others of their own age.

To put the matter bluntly, government can't be our friend; government can't solve the problem of loneliness....when human connection breaks down at a fundamental basic level no government, no amount of government spending, no goodness of government intentions can solve the problem.