l dont really want to get into polatics about it, but disagree that selfishness or callousness is just down to one political system, l think it can be found in all systems, on the whole western affluent society offers more help to people than poorer society,s. where often ill or disabled people get little help financially or practically, often resorting to begging to survive, whilst the look after all communism could be quite ruthless to non workers, as some societies still are, with no services to back up at all, there are many countries where life with illness disability far worse.
After saying all that l think its easy to shift all blame and attitude to the society of whatever type, surely individuals have choice to support others or befriend them. But society in uk at least has become more divided than when l grew up in the 50s, few divorced, and had family living nearby, along with neighbours who all knew each other and often visited, or shared communal activities, whether parents playing rounders in field with kids, communal walks picnics, parents taking several neighbours kids to cinema, coach trips, neighbours having card games, l,m sure l,d been in every neighbours house as a kid, went to shop for olders or those ill when needed, parents would do repairs or bake, weed gardens, even do hair for older or ill neighbours. most went for tea visits. Even up to my sons being small we still did coffee mornings at neighbours. Now many dont know many of their neighbour for visits, just an hello in passing l think there is more self in families, neighbours, communities, but also think people are not as relaxed and comfortable with each other, as many are not thoughtles and selfish but feel uncomfortable approaching people, l can be also. Plus those who need practical help or phycalogical support dont ask for it, we also feel uncomfortable and try to keep pride and manage. But often your first port of call is the doctors, and for illness,s like cfs more so than cancer, because its not considered terminal, there is often a casual dismissive response by some gps. lve found my gps show no interest in my personal circumstances, how l manage at home with practicals, even how l get to and from gps, hospitals, if you say you cant do early morning appt, its often looked on as the `lazy` lot, reality is, for me, l can barely function on waking, will power to get up dressed, become mobile enough to do essentials. l do manage with a struggle, though house not as clean as l,d like, l wonder in summer about gardening hedge cutting back, today notice curtain rail pulling away, now a major job, bit at a time and everything takes 2o ten times longer, think it would take 2 wks to paint a room, used to be 2days, but l manage, glad for delivery services, re heavy things supermarket, chemist, so get by, but if small family and most gone, dead or away to other area, same with old friends, it can get lonely, guess l,m lucky l can get out a bit. l just hope those who cant or are bedfast often do get offered more help. l do think gps could do more, even if only asking about circumstances and referring people to agencies that can offer practical help or social. Its possible with some illness, s such as cancer or ms others they might, l dont know, l think many do have a casual attitude to cfs, But even with cfs people have different circumstances, some have supportive partners, that means a lot practically and emotionally, some have large families, bros sisters aunt uncles, or old friends still on the scene, others havent, l do have 2 sons but ones a distance away, see him twice a year, other nearer, but busy life, see occassionally. l,m glad of my pets, my happy funny little dog, computer for email contacts. l hope we can all keep posative and live with hope, for advances in medical.
l,m a champion soap box ranter, so your not on your own Rose.