Public sector monster needs to be tamed

MPD

If we cut public services to the bone then what will happen to the armies of private sector consultants that gorge indirectly on on our taxes? We would also lose our "world class" outsourcing industry.

In reality though a cull in the public sector would lead to a similar sized cull in all the private sector suppliers.

macaque_2

MPD wrote: »

If we cut public services to the bone then what will happen to the armies of private sector consultants that gorge indirectly on on our taxes? We would also lose our "world class" outsourcing industry.

In reality though a cull in the public sector would lead to a similar sized cull in all the private sector suppliers.

Private sector companies who rely on government contracts are not bona fide private sector companies. They don't operate in a competetive environment and the quality of their work is not properly scrutinised. They are just an extension of public sector sleaze.

bigheadxx

kabayiri wrote: »

A simple question. Aren't we just creating a timebomb?

Central government pension funds are paid for out of the public purse 'at that time'.

If the yoof of the day / our offspring turn round in 15/20 years time and say "on yer bike....we can't afford all that" we will be in a right pickle won't we? They are after all, looking at a heavy taxation burden for our recent credit escapades.

A £1trn time bomb
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2008/dec/15/cbi-pensions-politics-public-sector

donaldtramp

I see just as many !!!!!!!!!!s and wasters in the private sector as in the public sector. Think about all the useless, half-witted people working in finance, estate agency etc etc., all those people suckling on the 'big company' teat.

Yup but there is a key difference. Natural selection takes place in the private sector, if you don't perform, companies go bust and people get laid off. There is no such process in the public sector. The only thing that happens is demands for more cash, which leads to higher taxes and more strain for the country.

OTOH I suppose if people think that working in the public sector is so great then they can go and get a job there - big demand for social workers I hear :rotfl: Its only when times get hard that people start thinking public sector jobs are 'good'

Once again:rolleyes:, we are not jealous of the public sector, we don't want to work for them,
We're sick of picking up the tab.

donaldtramp

A badger,

Yes, there are some sweeping comments made. That, I suspect, is because people are very frustrated.

It isn't good enough. and if we aren't careful, that vacuum Nature is said to abhor could be be filled with something very unpleasant.

I agree wholeheartedly. After speaking to a lot of people on this subject I would as far to say that it has went past frustration in a lot of cases, I have came across a lot of genuine anger at the state our country has been allowed to reach.

I personally put this at labours door. They have been in charge for 11 years now, with Brown as chancellor for most of it.
In trying to make everything "fair" they have taxed more and more people so that it is now genuinely hurting people.These people who are working hard in all sectors and all salary scales have seen this tax take increase, felt the pain and seen their wealth being redistributed incredibly badly and without a plan.
Being "fair" and giving people everything they want or demand (allowing benefits to be a lifestyle choice, pension benefits etc etc) just doesn't work and never will. It's human nature, people will keep taking and taking until there's nothing left. We're rapidly approaching the nothing left bit!
Gordon's only plan at the moment seems to keep the plates spinning for as long as possible and hope no-one finds out. Regardless of his efforts the plates are now staring to fall and people are seeing through it. Look at our mounting national debt. This will take decades to pay off.

They have spent an incredible amount of money, wasted huge sums and people are realising it now.
They have no-one else to blame except themselves for their coming downfall.

I hope the vacuum that's been created isn't filled with something nasty, but I do have genuine worries.

A._Badger

Snipped for space

donaldtramp wrote: »

A badger,
I agree wholeheartedly. After speaking to a lot of people on this subject I would as far to say that it has went past frustration in a lot of cases, I have came across a lot of genuine anger at the state our country has been allowed to reach.

.......
I hope the vacuum that's been created isn't filled with something nasty, but I do have genuine worries.

I hope I'm wrong but I fear the growing realisation that we have been bled dry by the political classes (of all three parties, let it be said) coupled with a very deep and profound anger at what has been a deliberate and calculated policy to encourage immigration, will result in a shock at the next EU elections, where the BNP could gain seats.

From there, we could go in a number of directions, but it isn't entirely impossible, in my estimation, that if the economy gets worse, rather than better, the simplistic appeals to protectionism, state control, authoritarianism and generalised anger could start to snowball.

I'm not saying this is likely - but I do think it's possible.

donaldtramp

a shock at the next EU elections, where the BNP could gain seats.

Lets hope not

From there, we could go in a number of directions, but it isn't entirely impossible, in my estimation, that if the economy gets worse, rather than better, the simplistic appeals to protectionism, state control, authoritarianism and generalised anger could start to snowball.

I'm not saying this is likely - but I do think it's possible.

I'd say state control and authoritarianism is already here.
Look at the policies that are already being inflicted on us and used to control us, all in the name of what the government thinks is good for us.
Thats a good part of the reason why I'm against this increase in government input (control over) our lives.

donaldtramp

The knives are being sharpened.....

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article5950683.ece

Knife must fall on bloated public sector

With the economy continuing to shrink, any thoughts of taxing ourselves into recovery must be avoided

....The pay cuts and redundancies that are now commonplace in the private sector must be replicated in the public sector, whose costs are completely out of line in an economy that could shrink by up to 8% this year.....

donaldtramp

Look at the sheer number of non jobs here.

Whilst the private sector is declining the public is doing this nonsense!!!

Focus: Most unwanted

Councils buck the credit crunch trend by creating roles such as ‘bouncy castle attendant’ and ‘toothbrush assistant’

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article5950273.ece

.....But while the rest of Scotland slumps into recession, Shirran can count himself fortunate to be part of one of the country’s few growth industries. The business and finance sector may have shed 24,000 jobs last year, but local authorities are continuing to recruit — and not always for what might be regarded as essential posts.
A Sunday Times investigation, using freedom of information legislation, has uncovered dozens of posts that appear to have little to do with core municipal functions. Angus council, for example, employs a £13,000-a-year bouncy castle assistant, while East Lothian council has a fruit preparation assistant on £12,000.
Glasgow has a £22,000 officer dedicated to organising work experience placements and an £18,000-a-year florist. Inverclyde council has a £17,000-a-year “street mediator” to improve relations between youngsters who loiter on street corners and adults.
Falkirk council employs a part-time cheerleading development officer and a toothbrush assistant. These roles, they say, encourage young girls to become physically active and promote good oral hygiene.
East Lothian says its fruit preparation assistant “plays a key role in the provision of fruit to children as part of our healthy eating initiative”, while its interior designer “is responsible for ensuring our premises are not only pleasant to be in, but meet health and safety and accessibility requirements”.
Local authorities justify such appointments as their response to specific government initiatives. Many, they say, are funded by government or from the National Lottery. Each job has to go through a formal approval process, but critics are unimpressed.
“I remain astonished that councils don’t seem to understand we are in a recession and these posts cost all of us money,” says David Watt, executive director of the Institute of Directors in Scotland. “Some of the posts are crazy. It’s indefensible. Budgets are getting tighter and they need to have a think about any post they are filling.”.....

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article5950574.ece

Millions wasted on council ‘non jobs’

Sunday Times research reveals a host of superfluous posts, leading to calls for local authority spending cuts

MyLastFiver

Yet again, people on this thread concentrate on the job titles and call these posts "non-jobs" without giving any thought to what the job actually involves.

Bouncy Castle Assistant
How are bouncy castles to be erected and dismantled without someone being paid to do it? And yes, the hiring out of bouncy castles actually produces revenue for local authorities.

Toothbrush Assistant and Fruit Preparation Assistant
These jobs are both part of public health campaigns to promote, respectively, oral hygiene and healthy eating. Are you suggesting that councils should not promote oral hygiene and healthy eating?

DonaldTramp, I'm very sorry that you have a sh!te pension but how long are you going to keep this thread going? You've made your point over and over and over again. We get you. Some people agree with you, and some people don't. I think you imagine that if you keep posting, eventually the whole world will say "My god, DonaldTramp, you're so right. I'm going to go out right now and hang a civil servant from a lamp-post."

Calm down, man, before you blow a heart valve, and find yourself in a hospital staffed by hard-working and professional public sector employees.