Is privatisation all it's cracked up to be?

Generali

mayonnaise wrote: »

Congratulations Graham on reaching this oh so important milestone.

I don't think it counts when you just sign in as someone else. It's a bit like losing your virginity by using your left hand instead.

tincans

Generali wrote: »

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.

Sounds rather like banks in the 1970's, but they only opened until 3:30pm and never on a Saturday & the queues were at least as long as the PO. They often locked the front door at 3.20pm and only let people out rather than in from that time.

Then again shops closed on wednesday afternoon as legacy of 1911 legislation and pubs still operated under defence of the realm legislation from 1914.

Still, despite the 20th century being one largely of Tory governments, its nice to blame 'the socialists'.

Generali

tincans wrote: »

Sounds rather like banks in the 1970's, but they only opened until 3:30pm and never on a Saturday & the queues were at least as long as the PO. They often locked the front door at 3.20pm and only let people out rather than in from that time.

Then again shops closed on wednesday afternoon as legacy of 1911 legislation and pubs still operated under defence of the realm legislation from 1914.

Still, despite the 20th century being one largely of Tory governments, its nice to blame 'the socialists'.

When did I blame 'the socialists' for anything on this thread Graham?

Andy_L

Generali wrote: »

So much better than they were and now you have a choice. Imagine being forced to use the same company forever no matter how badly you were treated.

but that's effectively the case with the railways. Since your destination is generally fixed you have no choice of TOC

Andy_L

CLAPTON wrote: »

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

Really?

filler

Graham_Devon

Generali wrote: »

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!

Good grief.

Take a look at the posters history before embroiling yourself in conspiracy theories.

Edit: Oh, I see I'm tincans now too, because they had the audacity to argue against your point!

mayonnaise

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Good grief.

Take a look at the posters history before embroiling yourself in conspiracy theories.

Edit: Oh, I see I'm tincans now too, because they had the audacity to argue against your point.

Back on topic please. There's really no appetite for another episode of the Graham Devon Show. Thanks.

Roundabouts

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Good grief.

Take a look at the posters history before embroiling yourself in conspiracy theories.

!

Yes, I can confirm that indeed I am not me. I hope this clears that one up!

the_flying_pig

Generali wrote: »

They are more efficient because they were privatised!

You couldn't change provider because they were lousy or more expensive....

yeah but important not to conflate: (a) being privately [rather than publicly] owned with; (b) facing really widespread competition; or with (c) facing really effective regulation.

it's in theory possibly to have any combination of the three.

the pressures for efficiency that come from having private share/bond holders vs. having competitors vs. being regulated are not all the same.

ukcarper

CLAPTON wrote: »

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

You think so the post office / BT were not immune from being kicked around by the government in the 70s.