Royal Mail privatisation... Would you?

JoeCrystal

I do recalled that a general was on a radio show or something about the nuclear weapons and a safeguard against mad PM, the wiki gpt something about this

General Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank, explained that the highest level of safeguard was against a prime minister ordering a launch without due cause: Lord Guthrie stated that the constitutional structure of the United Kingdom provided some protection against such an occurrence, as while the Prime Minister is the chief executive and so practically commands the armed services, the ultimate commander-in-chief is the Monarch, to whom the chief of the defence staff could appeal: "the chief of the defence staff, if he really did think the prime minister had gone mad, would make quite sure that that order was not obeyed... You have to remember that actually prime ministers give direction, they tell the chief of the defence staff what they want, but it's not prime ministers who actually tell a sailor to press a button in the middle of the Atlantic. The armed forces are loyal, and we live in a democracy, but actually their ultimate authority is the Queen."

Glen_Clark

JoeCrystal wrote: »

The armed forces are loyal, and we live in a democracy, but actually their ultimate authority is the Queen."

Since the Queen is unelected isn't there a contradiction there somewhere?
It sounds as much a nonsense as the suggestion putting the ultimate power in the hands of one Unelected person is safer than 650 Elected ones.

Jumpinbeans

I'd be tempted to sign up for shares. Privatisation should improve service and increase productivity.

Only caveat (as a UK resident) is that it should be put in law that they need a universal service and shouldnt be allowed to close branches in the remote areas.

Glen_Clark

Jumpinbeans wrote: »

Only caveat (as a UK resident) is that it should be put in law that they need a universal service and shouldnt be allowed to close branches in the remote areas.

Post Office branches are nothing to do with the privatization.
Royal Mail is just mail collection and delivery.

grey_gym_sock

the main practical constraint on the monarch grabbing more power is that the royals are respected for staying out of politics. once they were seen to get involved in it, the future of the monarchy would be brought into doubt.

it's also pretty clear that the main members of the royal family have a strong belief that they ought to preserve their current role. it doesn't make any particular sense - there's no special reason why we need a monarchy - but that's what they're been brought up to believe. so that's how they're likely to act, rather than going on some mad power grab.

of course the idea that the monarch could overrule the PM in extreme circumstances, as some kind of safeguard, is a pretty bizarre. if it were done at the suggestion of the chief of the defence staff, then that would actually be a military coup.

getting back on topic, i don't agree with privatizing the royal mail, but i'm tempted to apply for some shares in it. regulated monopolies have generally done quite well for shareholders (if not for employees or customers).

moneyfoolish

AdrianC wrote: »

That was certainly not my intent. My intent was merely to point out that being paid that close to national average is not bad for an unskilled job.

I'm not a postman but I am in an industry (IT) where people are regularly getting paid twice or three times that amount for doing jobs that are nothing more than administration which is equally "unskilled"! In fact, in IT your salary is almost in inverse proportion to your "skill"!!!!

grey_gym_sock

russell_anderson wrote: »

In fact, in IT your salary is almost in inverse proportion to your "skill"!!!!

you're doing it wrong

moneyfoolish

grey_gym_sock wrote: »

you're doing it wrong

I'll agree with that one! At least I was because I've just retired after 47 years of doing it wrong!!!!

Glen_Clark

grey_gym_sock wrote: »

the royals are respected for staying out of politics. once they were seen to get involved in it, the future of the monarchy would be brought into doubt.

Yes, presumably thats why Charlies letters to the Government are censored, because the Windsors can't be seen to get involved in politics - link: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/prince-charles/9612090/Attorney-General-blocks-release-of-Prince-Charles-letters-to-avoid-serious-damage-to-his-future-as-king.html

Glen_Clark

russell_anderson wrote: »

I'm not a postman but I am in an industry (IT) where people are regularly getting paid twice or three times that amount for doing jobs that are nothing more than administration which is equally "unskilled"! In fact, in IT your salary is almost in inverse proportion to your "skill"!!!!

If we compare ourselves with others we can make ourselves look underpaid or overpaid. Compared to Bankers/Politicians we are all underpaid. Compared to the people who make our clothes for 20p an hour we are all overpaid. The only meaningful comparison is with the national median average wage.