John’s Blog 90 – Pensions – Comment

There have been several items reported this week, all indicating similar trends. Our modern lives and futures appear to be based on a purely monetary basis, not whether it is the best course, is affordable or will even work, yield results or give benefits. It would not be so bad if we were being run by business experts in a modern financial system, who knew what they were doing I was surprised at the result of the North West Rail franchise auction, although I should not have been, with the decision having been made on the highest bidder rather than ability to deliver. Of course the passengers will have to find the £5.5bn involved, in addition to the twice inflation annual rises being applied and the money will not end up in improving the railway system, but lost in the Exchequer coffers. Virgin have built up and improved the West Coast line meeting all of the targets and the bid continued the prudent way this was done and passengers deserve a similar attitude. Then we had the proposal that the larger high reputation hospitals should go commercial, selling their services at home and abroad and opening offices and even hospitals there, with no guarantees that this will not affect services here. All part of the move to privatise the NHS. It is already occurring and would make sense if we had surplus capacity here, but coincided with reports of a chronic shortage of doctors, units being closed down, empty beds, long waiting lists and all other indications of a failing system, whilst doctors emigrate due to lack of posts. Meanwhile drastic changes to working conditions and the NHS structure press ahead without the consent of those the system depends on. Changing emphasis to more community and local care makes sense only if you build up adequate facilities, but is not compatible with cottage hospital closures and large specialist units at remote distances. Remote consultations are possible with robot doctors and TV links to specialists, allowing local clinics with GP’s present but need better expanded surgeries combined with local care in small hospice and hospitals and better co-ordination of local Council and NHS services, particularly for home care. Then we have the post Olympics euphoria, with talk of greater encouragement of youth activity, meanwhile School playing fields are still being sold off, swimming pools closed or with limited services and parks and open spaces with limited and poorly managed facilities. There are now proposals to sell of high valued properties and build more affordable homes, of course the sales will happen but not followed by the build. Part of the present shortage results from the sell -off of Council houses, but then not allowed to build replacement stock with the money. Housing associations do a great job, but building needs more financial support, cheaper mortgages, smaller assisted deposits and less Stamp Duty. Exam results are out with the discussions on again changing exams, downgrading results etc., and Industry and Commerce stating that students do not have the basic skill of maths, communication, spelling, reading and writing. In my days it was the three R’s with times tables, mental arithmetic and phonetic spelling and reading; Primary schooldays were happy ones with little stress or competition in group working and pairing work of strong plus weak, so one took 11+ with balanced and strong basic skills. The problem today is too much change and interference; teachers should be left to do the job without constant assessments, targets and league tables, they ran their own tests and kept performance records to supplement exams. These and coursework should be part of final exams not solely a two hour test. Downgrading results to suit politicians is also unfair, inconsistent and devalues the exams. The Government should govern and like any good business delegate and let the professionals do the job they trained for with checks but free of interference; teachers should teach, doctors and nurses care and cure and Local Government look after the Community. They should not be rigidly controlled by Central Government.  Enough problems exist with the economy, budget overspend, balance of payments, infrastructure, foreign affairs, unemployment, inflation, outdated laws and general policy to keep any Government overworked without doing everyone else’s work. We need a common sense balance, delegation and sharing of workload.