Manhood in crisis? Are men in danger of becoming extinct in the work place?

Fascinating article in Newsweek recently about how men in America have been suffering more than the fairer sex in the workplace. Scoff you might, or perhaps even roll your eyes. But the reality is, during the current financial uncertainty, many employers have 'gotten rid' of the 35-45 year old male who once had it 'so good'.

Is this really just the start of a vicious trend, or are men actually being treated unfairly? Or is it just the reality that the economy is in such a mess that organisations have little choice but to get rid of staff who are more expensive? Sad as it is and in many cases desperate as it has become for many, what can fathers and dads do to get out of this hole?

Hopefully not turn to the bottle. In a recent study in Denmark, scientists found that alcoholism can actually be passed on to children. Fathers, dads, men - time to listen up and do something about it

The reality is that men have 'had it good' for a long time, particularly in western nations. As the East 'rises' we in the west will start to suffer - that is inevitable. Only recently Liam Halligan in the Sunday Telegraph reaffirmed this fact. Whilst western nations are on their knees economically, the rest of the world is catching up fast. It makes you wonder why we waste our time with democracy and politicians at times? They only seem able to mess everything up and rarely work for the long term economic future of the nation, unlike Queen Elizabeth for example during the 1400s or perhaps Margaret Thatcher - amusing that both were women and both full of steely determination to make 'Britain better'.

I do have to say, David Cameron appears to be taking the economy seriously, or should I say, the need to get it going. Whilst some have criticised him, I find it rather annoying really. We're in a right mess and all other politicians can do is be negative and offer no solutions.

Indeed as we fast approach 2012, with unemployment all over the place, western nations burdened with huge debt, the time really has come to address it head on and stop pretending it will all go away if we say so. No it won't. We need to face up to the reality and acknowledge for once and all western democracies have to run a tight fiscal ship, the alternative is no longer an option.

New baby - new start

For many men having a baby is completely life changing. Everything from routine, what you eat, drink, how you speak, the works. If family values are your thing, then marriage and bringing up your child can be a new starting point.

Now, yes government may try to encourage you to get married, and perhaps some might not like the idea. But to others, it represents more than just an official document, it is something more magical if you like.

Responsibility and 'doing the right thing' can sometimes be used as an excuse, but really, people should get married if they know each other, feel it is right and do it out of love, not lust or money.

Yes, cliche as it sounds, people do actually love each other from time to time, and yes, as relationships develop, people can lost that 'lust'. But is that really what relationships are all about?

Bringing up children is not an easy thing, it means many long hours, lots of effort - you are responsible for someone other than yourself. Some people say don't have a baby unless you can look after a dog first. Dog you say? Yes a dog. As in woof woof. Reason being, they rely on your 24/7.

So if you are thinking of having a baby, perhaps ask if you are ready. Often, people do things on a whim, but planning and thinking about what you're doing can be beneficial. Friends have said, when they had kids they just didn't expect it would be so life changing. Being prepared is one thing, but the reality is go for it and enjoy it. Bring your kids up 'responsibly' and yes, marriage, well it is a worthy institution as David Cameron often says.

Eminem said it: be a parent

Now Eminem was interviewed a few months back and when he was asked about parenting and society, he said something that made me smile: 'if you're a parent - be a parent.' It was like poetry, so he's not just a good rapper after all.

I mean when you hear about the state of British families you begin to wonder what on earth happened to society's values, respect for self and most importantly parenting!

How can parents not be interested in their child's safety and well being? Or proud of the fact that their child cannot read or write? Ok, some might have learning difficulties but granted, not the entire country.

To me, people call them 'old fashioned' values, I call them universal. The idea that having respect for yourself and children is something to shy away from is nonsense. Children need care, love and parental guidance. Why? Because they are children..

It is really quite a simple thing to understand. Yes tough love is important. Yes government can do more to eliminate the criminal activity that directly targets young children. But when it comes down to it, if parents don't look after their children. If they don't stand up for the values of decency and integrity then we as a society have to ask the question why?

Media probably doesn't help. But the reality is it is up to the individual. If I can do it so can you. Make that decision and stand up together, for if all the parents in Britain today decided to unite and say no more abuse. Then I think we could all hold our heads high knowing that we are fighting back.

10 months paternity? Are they going mad?

So Deputy PM Clegg is on a mission. A mission for dads, fathers and men in the UK. Yet, is it just a gimmick or is there really some substance behind this? At a time when the British economy needs all its employees to be giving their all, it is hardly 'good business' to allow new fathers to have 10 months paternity pay, especially if employers have to pay for it?

The point is, as businesses struggle to survive and keep staff on their books, is all this paternity/ maternity leave just 'politics' or should we really be pushing for this kind of thing?

Recently Baby & Father reported about Chinese parents and how they raise their children, some say, better than western families. The reality is that in the 'East' i.e. Asia, parents raise their kids strictly, not because they are mean or nasty, rather, they understand the importance of family.

Now family you say? In the UK, people up and down the land may be used to 'handouts' and 'having it their way'. In the rest of the world it is survival of the fittest and competition is something that is a daily occurrence on a truly epic scale.

Can we really take Deputy-PM Clegg's proposals seriously when those very economies and families that want to succeed and perform well encourage hard work, discipline and unity. Something that many western families and parents are losing.

Why? Well, some may say it is about cultural value. Whereas western parents have become 'too soft' Chinese families even in the West are highly motivated, would they want 10 months off? Hell no, they value their jobs and want to achieve and survive in their jobs. The idea of taking 10 months off means that they are out of the fast lane for too long.

So if you ask me, parents in the 21st century yes have a hard time, both probably need to work to provide, the idea of one parent working and one at home is an ideal, and I'm sure is far more beneficial to the children. Yet, the financial implications of a family where only one parent works, well, we all know what that means.

So there you have, politicians sometimes tend to want to grab headlines, being rich and wealthy with their many advisers and servants, they don't have to worry about the real world. Whilst some credit should be given, I think Mr Clegg would be better off focusing on stimulating the economy, creating new private sector jobs and most importantly cutting the colossal public sector pension liabilities - that would be more use.

2011 here we come..

So after a few weeks of turkey, food and more food, are we any closer to understanding the universe? Probably not. It seems that the earth is round.

You may wonder what it is I'm trying to suggest? Well, when you take for example the state of the UK economy. It is in fact heading in the right direction, or at least so we're told?

As a parent, father or dad, you are probably wondering, now where do I get all this extra money from for my family? You are probably saying, what money are you on about? Well, the extra VAT, the increase in the cost of food and fuel, the potentially increasing interest rates, you name it, prices are going up - wages aren't. So something has to give.

When you read about government Minister's trying to 'save' Ringo Starr's old house you begin to wonder if they are spending our money on the right thing?

To me, I just don't understand how hard it is for a government to 'manage' the finances. I mean we all know the boom and bust of the previous lot, and yes, it does take time to 'balance the books'. However, just where we spend our tax money should be of interest to parents.

Ok, there's not much you can do about it, I mean, politicians do as they like. Parents do as they must. If only things were different.

When you hear about soldiers dying in foreign lands, you begin to remember Kipling and his stories from over a Century ago when Britain was last in Afghanistan - things didn't end much better then..

So as 2011 starts with a bit of sun, perhaps father's have a role to play in saving a little more, being a little more thoughtful and most importantly thinking about the 'long term', not just today, rather tomorrow.

Government, ISPs and parents - why haven't they done more?

When I heard that the government was trying to bring together the main ISPs to stop adult rated websites or 'porn' from entering the households of millions of parents, I thought, that has taken a long time to work out.

With all the magic, tech wizardry and power of Google, why haven't they done more to quite simply stop internet porn? They can do it. Moreover, should do it. Yet, never, do we hear of Google actually doing anything to stop the criminal gangs that exploit, women, children and make millions in the process?

Instead some argue that Google is infact, well, taking the mick a little with its overwhelming power of the internet. Using and abusing its position, rather than using its abilities to 'do good'. You would have thought it would come naturally? Alas, it is a company motivated by money as any other and unfortunately appears to have become blinded by its moral and ethical obligations.

So, on that note I am actually 100% behind the governments initiative. To be honest, parents need to be on board too. It is just far too easy to logon or search for a porn website. Anyone can do it. And the sad thing is, demand is at an all time high. Why? Because it is uncontrolled.

Governments are the only bodies with power to do something. So hearing that Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg are going to do something about this in the UK, well, go for it I say.

So, parents, dads, you can make a difference and you know what, It would be an idea if they government set up a website to encourage the public to send it urls of 'adult websites' they know to help the ISPs shut them down.

It is one area I am particularly happy for the government to enforce. Question is: will they?

Are parents really that naive in 2010?

Watching the news much of the past few weeks I couldn't help but notice the many hundreds of young children, literally no more than 13-14 year olds who were stuck in a head on clash with the police.

Now, protesting is one thing, but for young teenage school children that is completely wrong. Protests have a tendency to turn nasty, in fact, you only have to look at the violence and destruction of the past few student riots to see that they don't care about public property. They have descended into a mob and intent on causing nothing but trouble. The Police have said parents need to take responsibility for their children's actions.

The thing I don't understand is why we don't force those that are arrested destroying property aren't given the bill to pay for the clean up? Why haven't police passed that bill onto the parents? I think that would encourage a bit more responsibility.

To be honest, as I walked over to Westminster on each of the strike days, I noted that there were anarchists in the crowd here and there. Many of whom looked well prepared for violence and seemed to be much older than the majority of the students that were there.

Now as a parent, I wouldn't allow my teenage son or daughter to go on one of these protests. When you pay tax you can protest. That is my view. Until then you do as your told. It cannot be right that the students who have in my opinion been extremely immature and childish. Their arguments are weak and fail to recognise the fact that they will pay nothing until they graduate and earn a decent salary.

I have to agree with Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg, I don't see all the fuss. It was Blair that brought in tuition fees and made everyone pay, the new government has taken that all away and yet still people complain?

That is why I can't help to speculate that this might be politically motivated? Hence my concern about young children attending these kinds of protests. Typically infiltrated by extremists with weird ideologies, do you really want your young son or daughter to be led astray by some lunatic?

I think most people will say no. I have to add, as the final vote will soon pass in the House of Commons on the 9th December, I just hope parents around the country behave like parents as Eminem so aptly put it in a recent interview. Essentially saying 'grow up'. Not just a good musician after all!