Don't forget to vote for...

[DodgyAgent]

Mainly because of the very lucky coincidence that the technology revolution delivered. Had it not been for technology, there would have been a far smaller contractor boom and I doubt any of those companies would have had an easy ride, some falling straight back into public ownership. I had contracts spanning 10 years during that period within privatised utilities and transportation. With the exception of transportation, the rest were cesspits of incompetence and as far as the human factor goes and given the press since, wherever humans are involved, nothing has changed.

If they had not been privatised they would not have invested in technology. It is nothing to do with luck it is to do with markets.

[tractor]

....

British Petroleum October 1979
British Aerospace February 1981
Cable & Wireless October 1981
Amersham International February 1982
National Freight Corporation February 1982
Britoil November 1982
Associated British Ports February 1983
Enterprise Oil July 1984
Jaguar August 1984
British Telecommunications December 1984
British Shipbuilders 1985 onwards
British Gas December 1986
British Airways February 1987
Rolls-Royce May 1987
BAA July 1987
British Steel December 1988
Water December 1989
Electricity 1990

Some of the industries are subsidised and some are monopolies but no one can possibly argue that the public would have been better served had they remained in state control. And let us also remember that once these companies were launched into the world of free markets where they had to compete this event sparked the huge growth in IT contractors

Mainly because of the very lucky coincidence that the technology revolution delivered. Had it not been for technology, there would have been a far smaller contractor boom and I doubt any of those companies would have had an easy ride, some falling straight back into public ownership. I had contracts spanning 10 years during that period within privatised utilities and transportation. With the exception of transportation, the rest were cesspits of incompetence and as far as the human factor goes and given the press since, wherever humans are involved, nothing has changed.

[SpontaneousOrder]

British Petroleum October 1979
British Aerospace February 1981
Cable & Wireless October 1981
Amersham International February 1982
National Freight Corporation February 1982
Britoil November 1982
Associated British Ports February 1983
Enterprise Oil July 1984
Jaguar August 1984
British Telecommunications December 1984
British Shipbuilders 1985 onwards
British Gas December 1986
British Airways February 1987
Rolls-Royce May 1987
BAA July 1987
British Steel December 1988
Water December 1989
Electricity 1990

Some of the industries are subsidised and some are monopolies but no one can possibly argue that the public would have been better served had they remained in state control. And let us also remember that once these companies were launched into the world of free markets where they had to compete this event sparked the huge growth in IT contractors

Plus most of the ones receiving subsidies aren't privatised. You can't grant a monopoly (even if it's a franchise which only lasts X number of years at a time), or partially publicly fund said body, and still call it privatised in any meaningful sense of the word.

Private means subject to the 'invisible hand' and all that that entails in with regards to promoting productivity, efficiency, and value to the consumer market. Granting monopolies and subsidizing ruins all of those things.

Admitedly some things would be tricky to privatise. Although much of that is due to regulation in it's many forms anyway.

[DodgyAgent]

So you think that Gordon shouldn't have sold off the gold? I suppose he could have sold off a few public bodies instead although you tell me a public body which has been privatised which is (a) either doing very well or (b) isn't getting government subsidies?

British Petroleum October 1979
British Aerospace February 1981
Cable & Wireless October 1981
Amersham International February 1982
National Freight Corporation February 1982
Britoil November 1982
Associated British Ports February 1983
Enterprise Oil July 1984
Jaguar August 1984
British Telecommunications December 1984
British Shipbuilders 1985 onwards
British Gas December 1986
British Airways February 1987
Rolls-Royce May 1987
BAA July 1987
British Steel December 1988
Water December 1989
Electricity 1990

Some of the industries are subsidised and some are monopolies but no one can possibly argue that the public would have been better served had they remained in state control. And let us also remember that once these companies were launched into the world of free markets where they had to compete this event sparked the huge growth in IT contractors

[FatLazyContractor]

My money 'On the tits' or 'swallows'

[DodgyAgent]

So you think that Gordon shouldn't have sold off the gold? I suppose he could have sold off a few public bodies instead although you tell me a public body which has been privatised which is (a) either doing very well or (b) isn't getting government subsidies?

I am making two points here. One is that it is not necessary for the state to own anything (particularly businesses) and secondly if you are criticising Tory for selling assets then you might like to take Gordon Browns selling of gold into consideration.

[OwlHoot]

you tell me a public body which has been privatised which is (a) either doing very well or (b) isn't getting government subsidies?

The GPO?

(now known as BT)

[darmstadt]

I thought labour had sold it off with all the gold?

So you think that Gordon shouldn't have sold off the gold? I suppose he could have sold off a few public bodies instead although you tell me a public body which has been privatised which is (a) either doing very well or (b) isn't getting government subsidies?

[DodgyAgent]

No, but the Tories are thinking of privatising them seeing as they're always buggering off to foreign climes and leaving their deposits there

So you think that the Nationalised industries should have remained in public ownership?

[darmstadt]

I thought labour had sold it off with all the gold?

No, but the Tories are thinking of privatising them seeing as they're always buggering off to foreign climes and leaving their deposits there

[DodgyAgent]

Britain's national bird, the vote for that is also today: Vote for Britain's Favourite Bird

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I thought labour had sold it off with all the gold?

[Eirikur]

Swallow has my vote

[TheFaQQer]

I voted for a blue tit. I'm sure I'm not the only one to do that today.

[darmstadt]

Britain's national bird, the vote for that is also today: Vote for Britain's Favourite Bird

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