So here’s the thing. Given that it is now widely believed that:-
1. Due to our own love of consumer goods and some wanton mismanagement, not only the UK economy but the European and world economies are pretty darned wrecked for the time being and will continue to be for some time to come (even Barack says so)
2. Economic growth over the next few years in the UK is going to be as rare as a convincing England footy performance
3. Unemployment is a scary fact of life for all of us – those without jobs and money and those with jobs and money who are scared witless by the thought of yet more looting hoodies
Wouldn’t it be a good idea to do something? More specifically wouldn’t it be a good idea to do something different? You’ve all heard the old adage that “continuing to do what you’ve always done expecting to get a different result is madness.” Well to my jaundiced eye and opinion most of UK industry is now certifiable.
We are in a major, major crisis. We are on the Titanic, it’s struck the ice-berg and we are going down. The thing that is amazing me is the response of the leaders of our UK industries. They are behaving like those terribly nice musicians on the Titanic who understand that they are in big trouble so start playing their instruments to keep up the spirits of those who are doomed.
I am now thoroughly fed up of hearing execs speak of the need to innovate (almost wringing their hands as they do) and then fail to actually put in place anything that would pass as a major innovation programme.
So here’s my plea – please, please, ladies and gentlemen of British industry, can we stop being so terribly reticent about taking radical action as this crisis hits us. Let us take some radical action (and no I don’t just mean make a few people redundant), let us take some action that glories in the technological capability of the UK, our inherent inventiveness and let’s put in place some radical programmes that might just get us clear of the listing and holed vessel as it heads for the depths seeking to pull the passive and inactive under the water with it.
Rant over.
