| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re::Re:Low Water Pressure | |
| Posted by: | Michael Brandt | |
| Date/Time: | 16/07/13 18:37:00 |
| Correction: the government of this country elected a few generations ago to bring the class divide to an end and create a welfare state. Our whole system in this country is geared to it. Part of that responsiblity is or was state ownership, to protect both industry and employment. Few British private companies prior to 1948 cared much for the welfare of employees. Those that did are few, Cadbury's Sunlight, the railway companies and utility and several others are well documented. Providing homes and a good security. But looming large was the American system and that is what we would have had if it were not for the welfare state. The trouble is it was too restraining and the unions had an easy lever with state owned industry and they played a large part in it's demise - long before Thatcher arrived on the scene. Healthy and profitable state industry not only generates enough income to plough back into improving it's industry but also to fund the state system like pensions and benefits. The unions did a lot of damage in the 60s and 70s by being complacent in some issues like equal rights for women and militant over trivial issues. They opened the door to other ideas. Times have changed but we now have a huge underclass. Take the Royal Mail. It's profitable even though it has been badly run by a raft of management like Adam Crozier and co. it could and should have been so much better but both Labour and Tory governments have always kept it shackled. But it has a large workforce many of whom will not fare well in the outside world. It's very possible that 60% of the workforce will be disguarded upon privatisation. Most will never get another job. So they will end up on benefits, and suffering all the other problems being on the scrapheap brings and we the taxpayer will be funding it while the new owners of Royal Mail share out the pickings. What's better, a large workforce actually working for a living and a business that provides at least a small profit for the UK or an ever increasing underclass with a life of hopelessness? I may not be a socialist but there is a line that has to be drawn if we want a society with an NHS and safety net for all. |