Progress?

Progress.

They tore down our old fire station, when the planners got their way.
Replaced it with a drive through fried chicken takeaway
“Commercial enterprise” Capitalist powers
"Is that with extra fries?”ask the kids on zero hours

“ This sort of business brings in  jobs!” Say the Suits in City hall.
"Progress economics it’s better for us all
Satisfy the glut of unskilled labour up for hire.
Don’t know what we’ll do, if it ever catches fire?”

  You see, the Firemen are much fewer. some are now part time,
  Some work in the take away just to make a dime.
  Because according to statistics the computer did recall
  That the chances of a fire in that part of the town is small.

 If a fire started, and if there was a shout.
They’d be fifteen blokes there frying chips, trained to put it out.
It’s all about cost saving, I’m sure it will be fine.
Emergencies by email instead of 999.

“We’ve had to chop the Police force.
Really had to sort it.
If you’re the victim of a crime, don’t bother to report it.
Unless you get an email, that makes you feel offended.
That’s the sort of scallywag who must be apprehended.

We’ve stopped the coppers walking out, patrolling on their beat.
Coz people made some rude remarks about their truncheons and their feet.
So now the Bobbys stay indoors with a computer on their lap.
Watching on the screen for a disturbance or a scrap.

And if it all starts kicking off on a Friday night.
They replay back a thousand times the highlights of the fight.
They identify the victim, the witnesses and accused.
And have a Station sweepstake on who is going to lose.

The council are not keen on opinions or suggestions.
They refer you to the website and frequently asked questions.
If you can’t find the answer from the internet.
Your question’s not important, better to forget.

And if you dare complain, they'll handle it in stages,
Forget who pays their bonuses salaries and wages
Meeting after meeting a non productive farce
Whoever is in charge needs a rocket up their …… chamber !

I guess I don’t like progress
Suppose I’m getting old
I often don’t believe all that I am told.
I don’t like those who mislead me and those who just tell lies.
Who think that our brave firefighters should be making fries.