The Big Society

Public Administration Select Committee Smaller Government: Bigger Society?
A noble phrase everyone subscribes to which is found "on the street now approaching the gutter" but everyone "walks on by"  on the basis its someone else' job because "I am too busy" the narrative is held hostage by the term "voluntary work" for which disposable time is required. In former times "retired people" did a certain amount of this BUT more and more are required to continue remunerative work - and as I am (Born 1950) finding out you get tired and don't have as much energy as in earlier years.
So, In that context still how can/must everyone still contribute to the Big Society, I suggest aspire to be a better citizen, read widely , assemble a set of well considered values, work at understanding the other persons point of view and practice it with rigour,strength at home, at work, in public.Search for the truth through
 "The dialectical method a dialogue between two or more people holding different points of view about a subject, who wish to establish the truth of the matter by dialogue, with reasoned arguments" 
"Different from debate, wherein the debaters are committed to their points of view, and mean to win the debate, either by persuading the opponent, proving their argument correct, or proving the opponent's argument incorrect — thus, either a judge or a jury must decide who wins the debate"
"Different from rhetoric, wherein the speaker uses logos, pathos, or ethos to persuade listeners to take their side of the argument"
Notice what Socialists like Ed Balls say they like to debate!, Parliament debates 
The dialectical method may be idealistic but give it a chance by studying Greeks Socrates Plato Aristotle for starters. Human nature does not change our machines do and they are getting smaller. 
Inequality - remember the French revolution was founded in inequality of taxes, treating the masses as cheap subsistence labour - The monarchy built a ring road around Paris to avoid the stench and disease! We have built another sort of  aristocracy, the Rich celebrity reality show , we believe we can "inherit their world" if we become "famous" enough to endorse 
"product".
Post to the FT dated Sat 17 Dec 2011 Big Society is ‘damaged’ brand, says charity leader Sir Stephen Bubb

Big"ger" (better) Society (more people in that demographic)
A "big" Society is made up of "better" people - now comes the "biggie". Define "Big"
Assumption !
"In the early days the Big Society was “mired in wacky speeches about more volunteering and more giving,
Definition 1 
and I’ve always felt the real heart of the concept is about empowering people, empowering citizens, empowering communities”".
My definition 
Self motivated people aspiring and wanting to be better individuals so they are Better Parents, better spouses, better work colleagues, better drivers, better pedestrians etc. Its not prescriptive of legislatable it comes form within and our education system (as distinct from our training system - they are distinctly different. I always thought a University was for getting educated - not so sure they all perform that function. Sixth forms ditto.
Like a house its built brick by brick on solid foundation (not idols built on feet on clay)
"Adam Smith's discontent at Oxford might be in part due to the absence of his beloved teacher in Glasgow, Francis Hutcheson. Hutcheson was well regarded as one of the most prominent lecturers at the University of Glasgow in his day and earned the approbation of students, colleagues, and even ordinary residents with the fervor and earnestness of his orations (which he sometimes opened to the public). His lectures endeavored not merely to teach philosophy but to make his students embody that philosophy in their lives, appropriately acquiring the epithet, the preacher of philosophy. Unlike Smith, Hutcheson was not a system builder; rather it was his magnetic personality and method of lecturing that so influenced his students and caused the greatest of those to reverentially refer to him as "the never to be forgotten Hutcheson"––a title that Smith in all his correspondence used to describe only two people, his good friend David Hume and influential mentor Francis Hutcheson." I have the impression that Adam Smith needs to be read as does Machiavelli as both are misrepresented