Why does everyone keep talking about nationalising things assuming that it will provide a better service than the private sector when all evidence suggests the contrary?

Edited by We are goin up! (02 Oct 2015 9.49am)

The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.

Is the correct answer.

You will get plenty of comments about imaginary 'fat cats' creaming profits from ex nationalised industries but the reality is very different.

I would suggest that instead of reading emotive blogs which are solely designed to incite class war, the renationationalisation crowd take a trip to a British steel mill and discuss with the management of the operation there what the effects of nationalisation had on their industry.

They will find that 40 years of underinvestment has meant that the works are losing money hand over fist. The management have received no payback for their investment and they are considering mothballing parts of the operation because it is simply to expensive to operate them.

Nationalising industry has never worked in this country. Calls for renationalising are largely driven by ideology over practicality.

"That was fun and to round off the day, I am off to steal a charity collection box and then desecrate a place of worship.” - Smokey, The Selhurst Arms, 26/02/02

I agree that the steel industry should not be nationalised, but essential services such as power and transport should. Blaming the failure of the current British steel industry on its previous nationalised incarnation is a bit strong given that steel was de-nationalised 27 years ago - how long does capitalism need to work its magic? Anyway, the owners have blamed falling steel prices, not 'underinvestment'. I worked for the nationalised gas industry in the 1970s and they certainly did not underinvest and they ran a pretty tight ship (far better than some private companies I have worked for). They were somewhat overstaffed admittedly, but for a real shambles of over-staffing, inefficiency and 'right-on' unionism, Lewisham Council where I worked for a year takes the biscuit.

mother-in-law is an anagram of woman hitler

Why aren't the owners blaming Tony Benn then instead of stating that their difficulties are due to a fall in steel prices? Why did these clever business buy into something that had had its 'foundations smashed'

Edited by leggedstruggle (02 Oct 2015 8.21am)

mother-in-law is an anagram of woman hitler

Did I say that? Defence of the country, its people and its law should of course be the responsibility of government because that cannot realistically be expected to be provided by citizens. The NHS I think should stay free at the point of service but I have no problem with privatising parts of the background to make it more efficient. I have family that work in the NHS and they endorse that, as long as it is free to use who the bloody hell cares?

My point was that because the railways are providing a poor service now, does not mean that you can wave a magic wand, nationalise it and assume that it will provide a better and cheaper service. The same goes for utilities, I don't want my power being at the hands of the unions, I don't particularly like rolling blackouts since my business that I run from home relies on it.

Corbyn is promoting fantasist economics and policies and it won't wash with the British electorate.

The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.

Erm, quite a few people... Do you need a list? You have Google.

The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.