bosstrabs It’s relevant to the NHS though, as it’s Buchanan’s disciples in the States who are trying to take control of the NHS, and it’s there ilk who will stop it from being free at the point of delivery etc. So I think it’s applicable. Also, do you think he’s that different in his thinking to Rees-Mogg?

The percentage is completely irrelevant - it is hundreds of millions of pounds, Amps. When you are an organisation being funded by the taxpayer and you are always claiming that you are being underfunded, you should be looking at yourself and your practices to see if there is wastage. Any organisation that can write off hundreds of millions of pounds and at the same time say they are underfunded needs to have a shake up

    Old-Dutch Any organisation that can write off hundreds of millions of pounds and at the same time say they are underfunded needs to have a shake up

    This.

    Old-Dutch True, but if it’s only 0.005% of their budget (I don’t know what it is, hence I asked), then it dwindles in comparison to the underfunding the Tories have done in tenure. Yes, they should be looking to recoup that money, but, the imperfection of the business model shouldn’t be used as an excuse to not fund it properly or consider privatising it. My car is less than perfect, it’s a dirty diesel and the front plate is cracked and needs replacing, but I’m not about to sell it and ride a bike everywhere until I can afford a new Tesla.

      Not disagreeing with the service being underfunded, but at the same time it should be operating in a way that shit like this isn’t happening. It would certainly strengthen their hand when it came to asking for more funding.

      Agreed, but unfortunately the sun could shine from their hoop and the Tories would still see it as an asset to be stripped and sold. If they’re willing to sell our national grid they’ll be stiff and salivating at the thought of selling the NHS.

      Amps oh come on, you know its what George Monbiot would do

      • Amps replied to this.

        alistair Monbiot would walk everywhere, barefoot, reseeding with native plants as he went.

        Homegrove Giving birth was like a 100 € or something.

        So you got to give birth for €100?

        Like Arnie in Junior ?

        To those who believe that the Tories have underfunded the NHS: how do you know that? As in, how can you tell it’s underfunded? Upon what empirical or theoretical basis have you reached that conclusion? I thought we had the best health service in the world, no?

        And what would be an appropriate level of funding? are we talking like 10% more? 50%? Double? Do we literally just keep throwing money at it until they finally say “enough! We’re sorted now thanks!

        And would I also be correct in presuming you also take the view that teachers, policemen and prison wardens are all chronically underpaid as well, slogging their lives away in appallingly underfunded institutions? And state benefits are too low as well yeah? All because Boris Johnson and his ilk refuse to tax the global elite?

        Fucking hell. You’re dreaming lads.

          Old-Dutch When you are an organisation being funded by the taxpayer and you are always claiming that you are being underfunded, you should be looking at yourself and your practices to see if there is wastage. Any organisation that can write off hundreds of millions of pounds and at the same time say they are underfunded needs to have a shake up

          That’s the problem in a nutshell, isn’t it. If a private business does that it goes under and a more professional outfit fills it’s shoes. If the public sector wastes hundreds of millions you get loads of idiots claiming their precious public services are underfunded!

          Cj not too far away with both posts there. Hard to argue with either.

          C_J agreed, class warriors conveniently forget the median public sector wage outstripped that of the private sector a few years back too, not to mention the much more generous pensions that we all pay for. My heart bleeds

            alistair the median public sector wage outstripped that of the private sector

            Once again, not the UK, but here the high-end directors and physicians make far less than they would in the private sector. But those on the lower end - social workers, LVNs, support staff - make much more than their non-profit or private counterparts. Take that for what it is, I guess.

            The final salary pension schemes in the public sector finished soon after the private sector wrapped theirs up.

              Along_the_Wire

              The career averaged schemes that replaced the old defined benefit schemes are still a lot better than the defined contribution schemes that a lot of private sector firms offer, never mind some of the absolutely pish auto-enrolment schemes that a lot of unfortunate people are made to contribute to.