[Staunton]

Would you like the executive board of Barclays Capital running your local hospital? Would you be happy if Rupert Murdoch was running the school your children go to? How would you feel if an elderly relative of yours was in a care home run by these people?

Well, that is exactly what is taking place. Neoliberals are not interested in you or your family. They are looking to profit from you and then to offshore all those profits to avoid paying tax. Less tax meens poorer schools, bancrupt NHS trusts, care homes in crisis. And once big business has taken over such institutions they will not provide the services they promise, because that would harm their profits.

It is essential that we all understand the agenda that the neoliberal coalition is forming into policy. It must be challenged by each and every one of us before it's too late.

[Mecky]

Privatisation is good, it creates wealth and provides jobs you know

[Darth Vader]

Originally Posted by Staunton

Would you like the executive board of Barclays Capital running your local hospital? Would you be happy if Rupert Murdoch was running the school your children go to? How would you feel if an elderly relative of yours was in a care home run by these people?

Well, that is exactly what is taking place. Neoliberals are not interested in you or your family. They are looking to profit from you and then to offshore all those profits to avoid paying tax. Less tax meens poorer schools, bancrupt NHS trusts, care homes in crisis. And once big business has taken over such institutions they will not provide the services they promise, because that would harm their profits.

It is essential that we all understand the agenda that the neoliberal coalition is forming into policy. It must be challenged by each and every one of us before it's too late.

It's almost too late. And when the few people on here that are under the impression that they are worth a bob or two realise that it's all gone to fund the superrich, then they'll have something to say but it'll be too late then - you'll never get your hard-earned back, just like the banks' balances.

At the moment, they are laughing, as they want to believe the ConDem spin that the 'scrounging poor' are going to be the hardest hit, when in fact, they don't have a deal to lose. It will be the middle classes that totally disappear as we go back to Lords and peasants.

[Jim Graham]

Originally Posted by Mecky

Privatisation is good, it creates wealth and provides jobs you know

But it's nothing like as good as nationalisation because that provides overpaid jobs for stroppy people with few skills and a bad attitrude to work.

[Jim Graham]

Originally Posted by Staunton

Would you like the executive board of Barclays Capital running your local hospital? Would you be happy if Rupert Murdoch was running the school your children go to? How would you feel if an elderly relative of yours was in a care home run by these people?

Of course, the people who run hospitals and schools are doing such a bang up job aren't they? Sheffield schools 131st out of 150 and the NHS killing more than 30,000 people a year with blood clots alone. That's before they start starving the patients to death. Then there are the hospital trusts going bust because of stupidly expensive Labour PFI schemes. I don't see anybody protesting about that.

[buck]

Originally Posted by Mecky

Privatisation is good, it creates wealth and provides jobs you know

But privitization is a conservative theme. I thought you were against conservatism.

[epiphany]

Originally Posted by buck

But privitization is a conservative theme. I thought you were against conservatism.

That depends on what the "conservative" is trying to conserve.

[Michael_W]

Originally Posted by Staunton

Would you like the executive board of Barclays Capital running your local hospital? Would you be happy if Rupert Murdoch was running the school your children go to? How would you feel if an elderly relative of yours was in a care home run by these people?

Well, that is exactly what is taking place. Neoliberals are not interested in you or your family. They are looking to profit from you and then to offshore all those profits to avoid paying tax. Less tax meens poorer schools, bancrupt NHS trusts, care homes in crisis. And once big business has taken over such institutions they will not provide the services they promise, because that would harm their profits.

It is essential that we all understand the agenda that the neoliberal coalition is forming into policy. It must be challenged by each and every one of us before it's too late.

How old are you ? This is nothing new, it has not just come about under the current government, you are just becoming aware of what goes on, because of the financial crisis. Everyone is on the make, that's how businesses and politics work, the world thrives on hype and bull. Show me anyone making money without fiddling, bankers, governments, industrialists, local councils, public services, your local plumber ...... look at the people greasing each others palms, ripping each other off, overcharging and under-performing.
It's dog eat dog out there, everyone is in it for themselves regardless of political flavour, how can I get more, how quick can I get it and how little can I get away with doing ..... gimme, gimme, gimme. The brown nosers and the yes men climb those ladders faster than the hardworking and honest.
Get used to it, that's the way it is !

[LeMaquis]

Originally Posted by Staunton

...bancrupt NHS trusts....the neoliberal coalition ....

The bankrupt NHS trusts are due to the PFI schemes of the last Labour government.

[Mister M]

Originally Posted by Staunton

Would you like the executive board of Barclays Capital running your local hospital? Would you be happy if Rupert Murdoch was running the school your children go to? How would you feel if an elderly relative of yours was in a care home run by these people?

Well, that is exactly what is taking place. Neoliberals are not interested in you or your family. They are looking to profit from you and then to offshore all those profits to avoid paying tax. Less tax meens poorer schools, bancrupt NHS trusts, care homes in crisis. And once big business has taken over such institutions they will not provide the services they promise, because that would harm their profits.

It is essential that we all understand the agenda that the neoliberal coalition is forming into policy. It must be challenged by each and every one of us before it's too late.

Believe it or not Cameron is set to offer one of the Vice Chair of Barclays a senior role in the NHS, (commissioning role).

This comes on top of Baron Freud given a role as welfare adviser (by previous administration) and Sir Philip Green's role as spending advisor (the one who aggressively avoided £300m tax bill).

Still it isn't like the public sector had to bail out the private sector 4 years ago. The British Establishment is like a revolving door from cabinet office to boardroom and back again. I suppose politicians will need a nice high paying job to go to when they've been kicked out by the electorate....

[buck]

Originally Posted by epiphany

That depends on what the "conservative" is trying to conserve.

Back in the day, when I was still a UK voter, it seemed that labour wanted to nationalize everything, and the tories to reprivatize everything. Simplistic of course and incredibly stupid. The conservative is not crazy about change. He sees his situation as idyllic if he has the means to make it so, and the devil take the rest. The liberal or socialist wants everybody to have everything that others have, whether they deserve it or not, and devil the cost. Somewhere betwixt the two lies the truth, but partisanship never allows that happen. To me a warm bed, a dry ceiling, and meat and two veg are the truth. If you can't afford the cabin cruiser somebody else can afford, wish them good luck, and paddle your canoe. It has a keel just like his does.

[Anna B]

Originally Posted by Michael_W

How old are you ? This is nothing new, it has not just come about under the current government, you are just becoming aware of what goes on, because of the financial crisis. Everyone is on the make, that's how businesses and politics work, the world thrives on hype and bull. Show me anyone making money without fiddling, bankers, governments, industrialists, local councils, public services, your local plumber ...... look at the people greasing each others palms, ripping each other off, overcharging and under-performing.
It's dog eat dog out there, everyone is in it for themselves regardless of political flavour, how can I get more, how quick can I get it and how little can I get away with doing ..... gimme, gimme, gimme. The brown nosers and the yes men climb those ladders faster than the hardworking and honest.
Get used to it, that's the way it is !

Not sure I agree with you.

There was a time the government was basically honest and had the interests of the country at heart. They felt they had a public duty to set a good example. A minister would resign immediately for far less serious things than go on now.

Any banker type caught with his hand in the till would retire immediately into private life and hide away in shame, and if it affected anyone else he might even commit suicide as he couldn't live with himself.

Businessmen were shrewd ans some were ruthless, but out and out business criminality was left to the mafia and East End gangsters.

Integrity was a word that still meant something and mattered.

I think this current decline goes back to the 80's and the rise of the Yuppies, when 'Greed was good' and vast sums of money began to flow amongst a relatively small circle of people. And when you get moral decline at the top, it trickles down through society

Add to that the rise of the internet which has been responsible for raising awareness in all sorts of issues, and a diminishing of God / church with the fear of hell and damnation, I think you have a recipe for where we are now.

Or am I just being nieve?

[I1L2T3]

Originally Posted by buck

But privitization is a conservative theme. I thought you were against conservatism.

I think Mecky was taking the piddle

That said, why is privatisation a uniquely conservative theme? Some things can be done very well by the private sector. If the state can provide cost-effective services in partnership with private companies then why not? The real problem comes when the privately-provided portion of the service becomes too important in relative terms and the provision of the service is usurped for profit.

In the simplistic black/white world of UK society and politics the argument has a horrible tendency to distill into private vs public provision. The truth is the best services are often going to result from taking the best from both sectors.

[Darth Vader]

Originally Posted by buck

Back in the day, when I was still a UK voter, it seemed that labour wanted to nationalize everything, and the tories to reprivatize everything. Simplistic of course and incredibly stupid. The conservative is not crazy about change. He sees his situation as idyllic if he has the means to make it so, and the devil take the rest. The liberal or socialist wants everybody to have everything that others have, whether they deserve it or not, and devil the cost. Somewhere betwixt the two lies the truth, but partisanship never allows that happen. To me a warm bed, a dry ceiling, and meat and two veg are the truth. If you can't afford the cabin cruiser somebody else can afford, wish them good luck, and paddle your canoe. It has a keel just like his does.

The Neoliberals we have in power now are anything but conservative. They are not happy with the status quo. For them, the poor are not poor enough, the middle classes are not poor enough and the super rich are not rich enough. They are a bunch of chancers on the make.

[Jim Graham]

Originally Posted by Anna B

Not sure I agree with you.

There was a time the government was basically honest and had the interests of the country at heart. They felt they had a public duty to set a good example. A minister would resign immediately for far less serious things than go on now.

When was that? When Oliver Cromwell was a lad? I think you are being a tad optimistic in thinking there was ever a time when politicians and businessmen acted honourably. I think if you read most resignation letters by business and politicians the only thing they are sorry about is being found out.

[Jim Graham]

Originally Posted by Darth Vader

The Neoliberals we have in power now are anything but conservative. They are not happy with the status quo. For them, the poor are not poor enough, the middle classes are not poor enough and the super rich are not rich enough. They are a bunch of chancers on the make.

Insightful stuff

Of course the antidote to Neoliberalism is Socialism where the government advances the common good. And worldwide Socialism has been such a success hasn't it? You wonder why every country in the world isn't up in arms demanding it. Why aren't people fleeing from the economic ruins of Europe and America and demanding political asylum in North Korea? It doesn't make sense does it?

[green]

Originally Posted by Jim Graham

Insightful stuff

Of course the antidote to Neoliberalism is Socialism where the government advances the common good. And worldwide Socialism has been such a success hasn't it? You wonder why every country in the world isn't up in arms demanding it. Why aren't people fleeing from the economic ruins of Europe and America and demanding political asylum in North Korea? It doesn't make sense does it?

Do you honestly believe the only alternative to Neoliberalism is Socialism?

Come on Jim....

[I1L2T3]

Originally Posted by Jim Graham

Insightful stuff

Of course the antidote to Neoliberalism is Socialism where the government advances the common good. And worldwide Socialism has been such a success hasn't it? You wonder why every country in the world isn't up in arms demanding it. Why aren't people fleeing from the economic ruins of Europe and America and demanding political asylum in North Korea? It doesn't make sense does it?

Actually to an extent socialism has been successful. Every advanced western economy is a mixed economy, combining elements of socialism and capitalism. What is your alternative? It just seems to be anything that isn't socialism but I've really no idea what you actually believe in so spell it out.

[Jim Graham]

Originally Posted by I1L2T3

Actually to an extent socialism has been successful. Every advanced western economy is a mixed economy, combining elements of socialism and capitalism. What is your alternative? It just seems to be anything that isn't socialism but I've really no idea what you actually believe in so spell it out.

I don't believe that's true because Socialism has nothing to do with a lot of things the left claims to believe in like unions and workers rights. The idea that Soviet Russia had unions going on strike is absurd. Anyone who went on strike would have been shot or sent to a gulag. I think you'll find a lot of what is claimed by the left is actually somebody else's idea. Socialism does not work and it never has.

[Jim Graham]

Originally Posted by green

Do you honestly believe the only alternative to Neoliberalism is Socialism?

Come on Jim....

The only thing that is wrong with Liberalism is the pillocks we elect to govern it.