Seems like everyone's got an opinion on how things should be run, usually involving spending more money, if you ask me.
But if you cornered me and insisted on knowing what their most important priorities should be, well, I'd point you in a pretty clear direction. And it doesn't involve them sticking their fingers in every pie.
First off, let's be straight: it's the businesses that actually get things done and make the wheels turn, not the government. They're the ones who should be driving the wealth and making things grow, not these committees and endless meetings. What we need are more of those businesses that actually help their customers and get it right the first time. Imagine that, eh? Less faffing about fixing mistakes and more getting on with it properly. That'd make everyone a bit more productive, wouldn't it? Less time wasted, more tea breaks, perhaps.
Now, what should the government be doing? Keep it simple, I say. Like making toast. You don't need a hundred buttons and flashing lights; you just need it to brown the bread.
So, for London, their job boils down to a few basic bits:
- Keeping people safe. Law and order. You can't have much of a city if folks are worried about being mugged every time they pop to the shops. That's a fundamental, that is.
- Maintaining a clean and well-run city. The bins need emptying, the streets need sweeping. Basic stuff, but if it's not done, the whole place goes to pot. Like a garden you don't tend.
- Ensuring fair rules and laws for everyone. No fiddling the books or having one rule for them and another for us. Everyone treated the same, that's the ticket. Though getting that to happen is another matter entirely.
- Protecting people's freedom. Let people live their lives without the government breathing down their necks all the time. Within reason, of course. Can't have everyone running around starkers, though some days you might feel like it.
- And here's a thought that might ruffle a few feathers: lower the taxes. Let people keep more of their own money. It's their money, after all. They earned it. Let them decide how to spend it, live their lives as they choose, maybe even treat themselves to a decent fish and chips. The government doesn't know best how everyone should spend their hard-earned.
That's it, really. No need for grand schemes or endless initiatives. Just the basics, done properly. Focus on the things that truly matter and let the businesses get on with making the city thrive. Seems like common sense to me, but then again, what do I know?.