Before the pandemic, Britain was fragile. Years of austerity, uncertainty over Brexit and growing inequalities created cracks in the foundation.
But the issues go back further. During the financial crisis, the walls came down. We banged some wood over some holes, added some tin then crossed our fingers and closed our eyes.
Actually, wind the clock back to the privatisation of the 80s, when we let in all sorts of rough sleepers into our home. They didn't care about the house. They weren't investing in our property. It was about what they could plunder.
Now we find ourselves facing thousands more in electricity bills. The cost is mulyiplying x4 or x5 or more within months.
Everyone is poorer, except for the big corporations who make huge profits. One excuse banded about is that the pensioners need their dividends. How many pensioners are jumping for joy at the moment? Should we ignore all the executives and other beneficiaries?
The chancellor's £400 subsidy to households announced a few months ago alleviated some of the pain, but it was never going to be enough.
The latest proposals by Tory beauty contestants are tax cuts and money for the poorest.
When you look at stories about the homeless, they had decent jobs. Some were middle class. You look at the elderly who are faced with the heat or eat. They worked hard and where did their savings go?
Why is the narrative that we only have ourselves to blame? Or it is the people who voted for the party or Brexit?
In criminal law, you commit the crime and you are punished. It isn't the enablers ie voters or victims.
Take the tragic case of gun crimes - it's the shooter we as a society say is guilty - not the murdered dead person, the gun manufacturer or the bus driver who was following his usual route and allowed the gun man with his concealed weapon onboard.
Then we have a government that says they can't help everyone. Somehow, they've managed to help their mates, wives of their mates and of course, the rich donors. I'm referring to PPE contracts and the vast number of other suspect going-ons raised by the Good Law Project, a not-for-profit organisation highlighting abuses.
Then there are commentators labeling people doom mongers because they point out the:
- water issues
- energy prices
- inflation
- the illegal Chanel migrant crossings
- covid deaths + long covid
- nhs backlogs
- an absent caretaker prime minister
- not enough schools, houses or gp surgeries
And the list goes on.
Some facts and statistics about the cost of living problem are outlined in Clear need for action on the cost of living crisis.
The prime minister's replacement - Truss / Sunak - are only concerned with their own self interest and not dealing with the fire in our house.
The other laughable defense is no one could fix this or do better.
So Britain is broken. Where do you begin? A handyman isn't going to cut it. You need to deal with almost everything from the leaky pies, the faulty electrical, the holes in the walls and roof, not to mention the subsistence beneath.
The most pressing issue is the electricity problem which requires immediate redress. It affects everyone and plugging the gaps isn't going to work. Too many people who need help miss out. You have to go to the source. The actual cost of electricity needs to be cut. The idea of letting money go down a corporate black hole indefinitely does not make sense.
Nationalisation seems to be the solution. Even the former prime minister, Gordon Brown, has said it may be what Britain will have to do.
How did it come to this? Our beautiful house with its gorgeous gardens, sparkling kitchen, luxurious living room, beautiful bathrooms and brilliant bedrooms feels like it was a distant dream.
Now we are surrounded by ruins, like Pompeii which was struck by Vesuvius' wrath. Did we see it coming? Was there no escape?
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