Sixth richest global economy and we have food banks for the working poor. (What is wrong with that sentence?)

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

So said the Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu, and who could argue with that?

Everything we do has to start somewhere.

An idea blossoms into action and then we move forward incrementally until we realize the idea.

It doesn't matter if the initial thought is to ask someone if they want to go on a date with the intent being to kick start a relationship, or if it is a lateral thought that steers a quantum physicist in a direction that wasn’t previously considered leading us to understand the universe more.

Both have in common the same process.

That single step being taken that precedes the walk of a thousand miles.

So it was with this in mind that today, after I read the headlines about the rise in food bank use while we create ever more millionaires, that I thought that enough is enough.

There’s little point in raging on the world of social media and it is time to walk the walk as opposed to talking the talk, and as I decided that then my initial thought jumped to the point of action as I registered a petition on yougov.

I have since had confirmation of them receiving it and it will now take seven days to see if it meets the terms and conditions required for it to go live.

This is the petition here.

We, the undersigned, wish to draw the attention of the government to the ever increasing financial inequality that is being visited upon the citizens of this country.
While austerity measures have become an oft repeated mantra from the coalition we are now well aware that the implementation of those measures has had a disproportionate impact on those who are either unemployed, or are low wage earners.
As we are a small nation, and have the sixth largest economy in the world, we would like to hear a reasoned cross party debate in parliament on why there is a poverty issue at all.
We would also be interested in being made aware of what counter measures are under consideration to combat this growing inequality.
If this debate is not forthcoming, or falls short of providing a satisfactory response, then we respectfully ask for the Queen to initiate the dissolution of Parliament.

If, and I do stress the IF, it does go live then I will provide links to it and I would appreciate it if people who agree not only sign the petition, but also share it as far and wide as they can.

I am aware that some will ask themselves why should they sign it and others will consider it pointless, but what I would say to them is that those who are looking for assistance from food banks today could be you tomorrow.

The person who is close to losing their home due to circumstances out with their control could be your Father, Mother, Brother or Sister.

A few years from now it could be your Son or Daughter.

We really do need a cross party debate right now, and that debate has to be the first step on a journey of a thousand miles.

It’s time to act, and this is why I have petitioned the government.

I sincerely hope that enough of us feel the same way and this can be the beginning of our voices being heard.