tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post5848916618236645748..comments2023-11-05T22:35:31.766+00:00Comments on Neil Clark: Why Northern Rock should stay in public ownershipNeil Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10479041156190090119noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post-56753936960889915652008-03-03T22:37:00.000+00:002008-03-03T22:37:00.000+00:00Well that just about sums up where your head is at...Well that just about sums up where your head is at: We can't to afford to heat our houses or cook food, but we should rejoice because we can call abroad and write bollocks on the internet.<BR/><BR/>You're in cloud cuckoo land.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post-39723831664166597212008-03-03T21:09:00.000+00:002008-03-03T21:09:00.000+00:00So why have prices risen?Energy prices have risen ...<I>So why have prices risen?</I><BR/><BR/>Energy prices have risen because oil and gas prices have massively risen - it's not exactly rocket science, and the upward trend wouldn't have been any different under nationalisation, as the suppliers are generally outside the control of the British government. <BR/><BR/>On the other hand, telecoms prices have fallen significantly since privatisation - I remember transatlantic calls being so expensive that they were the rarest of luxuries. Similarly, the cost of internet access is the merest fraction of what it was a decade ago, when I was on metered dial-up. <BR/><BR/>And the reason it's so cheap today is because hundreds of companies are cutting each other's throats to offer the best deals - only the other day I had BT ring me to dangle what sounded like a ridiculously good offer in front of my nose, if only I'd guarantee to sign another 12-month contract. <BR/><BR/>And I loved the underlying desperation (they're clearly running scared of Virgin's aggressive marketing) because it means that the humble customer is ultimately going to benefit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post-22542968685141000232008-03-03T11:02:00.000+00:002008-03-03T11:02:00.000+00:00"It's called competition."So why have prices risen..."It's called competition."<BR/><BR/>So why have prices risen?<BR/><BR/>Sounds like your "utopian vision" of accountability is a bit detatched from reality, matey.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post-44631624141117687102008-03-02T21:53:00.000+00:002008-03-02T21:53:00.000+00:00The problem is, it's not 'public' ownership.It's j...<I>The problem is, it's not 'public' ownership.<BR/><BR/>It's just 'government' ownership.</I><BR/><BR/>Indeed. And given that Neil is normally only too happy to slag off the government (while proselytising for a utopian vision that involves <I>more</I> state control), why is this a good thing? <BR/><BR/><I>It seems the only effective vote these days is with your money.</I><BR/><BR/>Absolutely. It's called competition. And the level of accountability that it engenders is far greater (and far more immediate) than any form of state interference.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17766817.post-2289820069990523682008-03-02T20:18:00.000+00:002008-03-02T20:18:00.000+00:00The problem is, it's not 'public' ownership.It's j...The problem is, it's not 'public' ownership.<BR/><BR/>It's just 'government' ownership.<BR/><BR/>And if the Iraq war has shown us anything - it's that the government is not accountable to the people who elect it.<BR/><BR/>It seems the only effective vote these days is with your money.Roland Hulmehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08979437320446956987noreply@blogger.com