Current Affairs The General Election

[peteblue]

The point is surely though Pete, that the private sector benefits when the public sector is strong. When the streets are safe, when crime is low, when young people are well educated and rounded individuals, when people are treated well if they are ill etc.

Having worked in both sectors (and I have to say I enjoy the private sector far more) I've never really understood the perceived antagonism that is pushed between the two.

It's clear to me that blokes like eggs, and his children offer as much value to a society as lots of the people who I work with in the private sector.

I did not intend to have a go at @Eggs, and I’m not. But sometimes the public sector have a moan about money or support from government without thinking about the poor sods in the private sector who have to generate it.....

 

[magicjuan]

Adjustment to schools to accommodate larger class sizes to take in the kids from the private system, the reduction of kids who are given better opportunities than they would in a state school through scholarships, academic or athletic. I’d say that’s two societal changes.

I’d even argue that the economy would impact far more deeply than though - for example Sedburgh school is its towns main employers. If it goes that town is in economic decline - does that also encourage migration away, hence again creating another societal change?

How about investment in all aspects of education? Liken it too greater squad depth, more have opportunities. How about removing tax breaks and charitable status for private schools and reinvesting that?
There aren't just 'negatives', it's about perspectives and opportunities. Across the board.

 

[catcherintherye]

Of course it is. But people need to remember that it’s the private sector that generates all of the money to provide public services, governments then just spend it......

But fiscal policy has an enormous influence on private sector growth doesn't it? Pursuing an ideological but ultimately flawed fiscal model to try to prove a point even at the expense of two centres depleting and growth barely recovering is foolhardy (in any direction).

The inequality that we have in this country is crippling our capacity to grow our GDP. It's a widely accepted view amongst economic circles. We simply can't afford to continue the top 5% of this country to have growth in revenues of 10% p/a year after year. As a society we just can't afford that sacrifice any longer.

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

Nick Clegg sold out a lot of the Lib Dem's progressive side for a referendum on Proportional Representation he was never going to win. Which is a shame as they had some decent sorts in their parliamentary party.

I have a good friend standing for them in Somerset at the election as well, he's also one of the good guys,

Unfortunately leader Jo Swinson does not hide away from putting metaphoric boot into the most vulnerable in our society...

 

[Ollie d]

The NHS does not need preserving. It needs to grow and become better. Money needs to be generated to provide funding for it and the alleviation of poverty. Corbyn and his merry men haven‘t got a clue how to do so........

The NHS does need to grow and adapt but that's not through taking it apart piece by piece and paying a corporation increased prices for the same services, let alone the price of drugs rocketing.
Cutting taxes for big business and multi millionaires to allow the poorest in society to be punished further is not the way to alleviate poverty...

 

[catcherintherye]

I did not intend to have a go at @Eggs, and I’m not. But sometimes the public sector have a moan about money or support from government without thinking about the poor sods in the private sector who have to generate it.....

No I understand it wasn't meant in that way at all.

The problem is that I am not sure a wholly agree with the above believe and would say it is a little problematic. Yes I am very much on the "wealth creation" side now, but I still drive on roads maintained by the public sector, work with people educated by the public sector (or at least teachers via the public sector), we are kept safe as a business by the public sector, our employees are kept fit for work by the hospitals and doctors in the public sector etc etc. It's much more of a joined effort than a case of black and white I would say.

Of course there has to be balance between what we allocate to the public sector and allowing innovation and I'd probably suggest that balance has been out for a little while now.

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

I did not intend to have a go at @Eggs, and I’m not. But sometimes the public sector have a moan about money or support from government without thinking about the poor sods in the private sector who have to generate it.....

Those poor sods as you put it would benefit from a well funded public sector... Much of their lives is made unnecessarily harder because of what you advocate. Time and time again its proven that the private sector does not fill the void once the public sector is reduced...

 

[zzr45]

How about investment in all aspects of education? Liken it too greater squad depth, more have opportunities. How about removing tax breaks and charitable status for private schools and reinvesting that?
There aren't just 'negatives', it's about perspectives and opportunities. Across the board.

Even with the tax breaks etc, it was still a case that private schools are putting more into the system. Agree that schools need more investment though. I know the school I left 16 years ago was considered ‘left behind’ even back then. Would hate to see it now.

 

[Eggs]

I did not intend to have a go at @Eggs, and I’m not. But sometimes the public sector have a moan about money or support from government without thinking about the poor sods in the private sector who have to generate it.....

...Public Sector workers pay taxes, Peter. Public Sector workers generate cash for the public sector in the same way the Private Sector do. Indeed, Public Sector workers can’t hide their income and not pay their way. Believe it or not, teachers and doctors buy cars and washing machines to support the Private Sector.

The last election was turned into Private v Public sector, but surely it’s in everybody’s interest to have effective public services. Public Sector isn’t a charity.

 

[catcherintherye]

How about investment in all aspects of education? Liken it too greater squad depth, more have opportunities. How about removing tax breaks and charitable status for private schools and reinvesting that?
There aren't just 'negatives', it's about perspectives and opportunities. Across the board.

Yes I mean it's one of my big big bug bears the charitable status thing. Essentially saps like me pay for the children of the rich to be educated. I would also have to say, they are one of the most ungracious, pig headed, unappreciative bunch of people when you make them aware of that as well. They have a proper tantrum when they realise the debt they owe to the likes of me, not vice versa.

 

[catcherintherye]

...Public Sector workers pay taxes, Peter. Public Sector workers generate cash for the public sector in the same way the Private Sector do. Indeed, Public Sector workers can’t hide their income and not pay their way.

The last election was turned into Private v Public sector, but surely it’s in everybody’s interest to have effective public services. Public Sector isn’t a charity.

Yes exactly this, and as I said above, private sector businesses benefit from having good public services too. To me it's been one of the worst aspects of the Tory party over the last 20 years, the idea that public sector and private sector people are natural enemies.

I have to say, from my experience public sector workers are far more professional than their private sector counterparts. Doctors, teachers, nurses, police officers, ambulance drivers, youth workers, social workers, council employees all offer enormous social value contributions to a cohesive society. It's a shame that this point seems to have been lost from the modern Conservative Party, and perhaps explains why they've failed to win a workable majority for 3 decades.

 

[Joey66]

Those poor sods as you put it would benefit from a well funded public sector... Much of their lives is made unnecessarily harder because of what you advocate. Time and time again its proven that the private sector does not fill the void once the public sector is reduced...

The public sector of run correctly imo can be far better than the private sector .........
The private sector often fails in the quality of work stakes ....
Their are no bad private contractors ...... Only the ones who are allowed to get away with cuttting corners and get paid for shoddy workmanship......fact......

 

[Hickson9]

I did not intend to have a go at @Eggs, and I’m not. But sometimes the public sector have a moan about money or support from government without thinking about the poor sods in the private sector who have to generate it.....

The Private Sector also needs good public services in order to run effectively and make profits.

If the public sector didn't maintain our transport systems for example, things would go to pot rather quickly.

 

[peteblue]

...Public Sector workers pay taxes, Peter. Public Sector workers generate cash for the public sector in the same way the Private Sector do. Indeed, Public Sector workers can’t hide their income and not pay their way. Believe it or not, teachers and doctors buy cars and washing machines to support the Private Sector.

The last election was turned into Private v Public sector, but surely it’s in everybody’s interest to have effective public services. Public Sector isn’t a charity.

Of course the public sector pay taxes, out of the money given to them in salary, which comes from the private sector. We need a good public sector, it helps to keep the private sector going, which generates the money to pay for everyone. But just going on about doctors, teachers, policemen being underfunded, I.e. therefore we should give them more money, doesn’t change the fact that the private sector has to pay for it......The Public sector is not a charity but nor is it a wealth creator in its own right. If the public sector disappeared tomorrow, the private sector would all set up their own hospitals, police, teachers and schools etc. If the private sector disappeared tomorrow everything would come to a halt......

 

[peteblue]

Those poor sods as you put it would benefit from a well funded public sector... Much of their lives is made unnecessarily harder because of what you advocate. Time and time again its proven that the private sector does not fill the void once the public sector is reduced...

well funded by whom.....