Is privatisation all it's cracked up to be?

Roundabouts

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Posts: 49,021
Thanked 100,024
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I just noticed Graham, you now have over 100,000 thanks. Well done, that is a fine achievement and shows just how valued you are by the forum's members. Long may you continue to shine. :T

Generali

shortchanged wrote: »

But as others have stated Gen there is still a great deal of government subsidisation of these companies.

Not really. There's subsidisation of rail companies but not many others.

shortchanged wrote: »

For what its worth I wouldn't put the telecoms industry back into state hands but I think there is a case for some of the other industries.

What competition is there in the water industry? It is a totally closed and uncompetitive market.

I take the point but I really think that this comes from a lack of realising just how truly awful these Nationalised companies were. It's hard to describe how mendaciously dreadful they were.

Want to pay your bill in person? Fine, turn up at your lunch time at the local office. Of course everyone in the local office wants to take lunch at lunch time so they do and balls to you. During the morning and afternoon the counters are all fully staffed of course with people staring at the wall.

There are so many examples about how unbelievably bad Nationalised firms were. Really. Try living in France for a year and then tell me you want more Government.

Generali

Roundabouts wrote: »

I just noticed Graham, you now have over 100,000 thanks. Well done, that is a fine achievement and shows just how valued you are by the forum's members. Long may you continue to shine. :T

Nurse!!!! Nurse!!!

wotsthat

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Most of those politicians are likely now dead.

And in any case, politicians would not be running it. Secondly, your point assumes that nothing can ever change or no lessons can ever be learn't. Or in other words, assumes nothing can ever change.

This is why I envy the Scots and they choice they have. A lot of them seem to see things can change and are willing to give it a go. They are not neccesarily stuck rigid by fear of upsetting the status quo.

The £4bn (?) handed to the rail companies last year was definitely done by living politicians. Right to Buy a terrible idea and definitely wouldn't happen again if the taxpayer stumped up for a load of council housing? Well today's politicians, all living, are still handing out free houses.

Of course politicians would run the nationalised railways. They, quite literally, would use it as a political train set in the same way they play doctors and nurses with the NHS.

There's an issue with the quality of politician people vote for. Absolutely nothing to do with Scottish independence.

Generali

wotsthat wrote: »

There's an issue with the quality of politician people vote for. Absolutely nothing to do with Scottish independence.

TBH, I don't think the problem isn't with the people we vote for it's what we require from them.

We want politicians to stop us from dying, make the stupid clever, make the insolvent solvent and make the poor rich. Those things can't be done but we repeatedly vote for those that make ridiculous promises because we require those promises of them.

Free health care? Yessir.
Riches raining down on those that can't work but not those that won't? Yess'm.

We get the politicians we want in a democracy. Nobody is forced to vote Tory or Labour yet almost everyone does.

shortchanged_2

Generali wrote: »

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Want to pay your bill in person? Fine, turn up at your lunch time at the local office. Of course everyone in the local office wants to take lunch at lunch time so they do and balls to you. During the morning and afternoon the counters are all fully staffed of course with people staring at the wall.

But Gen this is the point. Things have moved on. I'm sure nationalised companies could use automated paying systems etc.
Technology has helped private companies but I'm sure it would benefit state run companies as well.

Roundabouts

Generali wrote: »

Nurse!!!! Nurse!!!

Less than 4,000 thanks needed for you to join this elite club. Keep going!

Generali

Roundabouts wrote: »

Less than 4,000 thanks needed for you to join this elite club. Keep going!

And in half the number of posts Graham.

Really, you don't need to set up another socky. I'll just pop this one on ignore too.

ETA: Done!

CLAPTON

genuine competition is the key to better, innovative, cheaper services




railways and water and utilities are either part monopolies or cartels


however, privatisation does have the benefit that grand standing politicians can kick the company round a bit whereas if they were in the public sector they would be protected by government

mayonnaise

Roundabouts wrote: »

I just noticed Graham, you now have over 100,000 thanks. Well done, that is a fine achievement

Congratulations Graham on reaching this oh so important milestone.