Would you re-nationalise the energy companies?' poll discussion
Comments
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Interestingly we now pay more in subsidy to train operators to run the railways than we did to run British Rail in real terms.
For me a nationalised energy company would provide not only lower prices (just look at the difference between wholesale and consumer prices) but also energy security and some proper investment in the infrastructure of the country.0 -
National Grid spent £1 billion in the last year on capital expenditure.
Just what criteria would a nationalised energy company use to decide what 'proper infrastructure' should be constructed? And who would decide - politicians, civil servants?
Energy security? Don't make me laugh. Remember those CEGB (RIP) workers on strike, miners on strike, gas workers on strike. Doesn't sound like security to me, but making yourself a hostage.0 -
Just think what the government could do with the profits these companies extort from an artificial market. I am personally sick of conmen and women calling on my phone or knocking on my door to sell me so called cheap gas and electricity, these people should find a real job and save us money to boot. Margret Thatcher promised these companies would provide better service and cheaper in both cases it has been a disaster. That goes for all her privatisations, Just look at the lottery you have to go through buying a rail ticket let alone getting a seat.0
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Utilities like power, water and railways are vital national interests. They are far too important to be allowed to fall under foreign control or into the hands of greedy domestic speculators.
All should be renationalised. Nationalisation doesn't have to mean (as it did for so long), massive waste and incompetence."Never underestimate the mindless force of a government bureaucracyseeking to expand its power, dominion and budget"Jay Stanley, American Civil Liberties Union.0 -
Margret Thatcher promised these companies would provide better service and cheaper in both cases it has been a disaster."Never underestimate the mindless force of a government bureaucracyseeking to expand its power, dominion and budget"Jay Stanley, American Civil Liberties Union.0
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relaxtwotribes wrote: »Rather like the debate about Cadbury's being taken over last year, this is a silly point to make. It matters not one jot whether these companies are UK owned. What matters is whether the money received from the foreign purchasers is employed to better purpose than previously. For example, take a company making £100m pa profit that is sold for £1,000m to a foreign buyer and that £1,000m is invested to make a return of £150m pa then the UK is better off by £50m pa.
I know some posters will reply to the effect 'what about all the lost jobs?' but that too is to be sought after (with the caveat that it is government's responsibility to create an economy that creates new jobs). Ditching defunct jobs (coalmining, steelmaking, shipbuilding) and replacing them with higher value added jobs helps to fund a better NHS etc.
Try telling that to the many skilled and experienced and workers who are now forced to work in supermarkets and call centres rather than use their skills and experience to benefit the UK economy. Are these the higher value added jobs referred to? 'Defunct jobs' is a smokescreen used by those who refuse to defend British industry and manufacturing whilst other countries steal an edge off us.
Government needs to be about serving the people of this country. Representing and enacting the electorate's will rather than using smokescreens and illusions to act to the contrary. What a shame it's not, because judging by the poll so far, nationalisation is what people want despite many years of being offered idealogical smokescreens.0 -
Renationalise and use the profits to reduce defecit and fund the public purse.
Renationalise Energy/Rail and BT.
All profits would help fund public services in the longer term and create jobs rather than shareholders screwing british citizens in order to line their own pockets while the poor and eldery suffer.
This country needs to stop selling its assets for a short gains. Buy it all back now as it will pay for itself in no time.0 -
relaxtwotribes wrote: »My point is that the running costs of a government backed company are greater than the running costs and profit of a private enterprise.Eco Miser
Saving money for well over half a century0 -
relaxtwotribes wrote: »Rather like the debate about Cadbury's being taken over last year, this is a silly point to make. It matters not one jot whether these companies are UK owned.Eco Miser
Saving money for well over half a century0 -
relaxtwotribes wrote: »May I assume you are too young to remember the vastly higher tax rates of the 1960s and 1970s that were set in order to fund the atrociously inefficient state-run basket cases like steel, rail, coal and, yes, electricity?Eco Miser
Saving money for well over half a century0
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