Comments on: Hari on Public Services http://timworstall.com/2008/01/10/hari-on-public-services/ It is all obvious or trivial except... Wed, 23 May 2012 17:34:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Andrew B http://timworstall.com/2008/01/10/hari-on-public-services/comment-page-1/#comment-5278 Andrew B Fri, 11 Jan 2008 12:10:36 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/01/10/hari-on-public-services/#comment-5278 A further thought - at least with private insurance there is a contract which should specify what cover the customer is actually getting. With the NHS and the de facto rationing that takes place, there is no link between the premium (tax) paid and cover received. An explicit statement of what cover you do get from your general taxation insurance/assurance would allow individuals to decided whether to take out seperate insurance to cover any gaps - e.g. speed of treatment, availability of latest drugs etc.. Of course that opens up all sorts of political questions - much better to pretend the NHS covers everything than to admit it doesn't and watch the consequent growth of private provision. A further thought – at least with private insurance there is a contract which should specify what cover the customer is actually getting. With the NHS and the de facto rationing that takes place, there is no link between the premium (tax) paid and cover received. An explicit statement of what cover you do get from your general taxation insurance/assurance would allow individuals to decided whether to take out seperate insurance to cover any gaps – e.g. speed of treatment, availability of latest drugs etc.. Of course that opens up all sorts of political questions – much better to pretend the NHS covers everything than to admit it doesn’t and watch the consequent growth of private provision.

]]> By: john b http://timworstall.com/2008/01/10/hari-on-public-services/comment-page-1/#comment-5268 john b Fri, 11 Jan 2008 09:55:49 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/01/10/hari-on-public-services/#comment-5268 One is not a logical consequence of the other, but (given the massive decline in the proportion of jobs that involve hard manual labour, and the substantially improved quality-of-life of people aged 65-75) both are actually true. One is not a logical consequence of the other, but (given the massive decline in the proportion of jobs that involve hard manual labour, and the substantially improved quality-of-life of people aged 65-75) both are actually true.

]]> By: sam_m http://timworstall.com/2008/01/10/hari-on-public-services/comment-page-1/#comment-5263 sam_m Fri, 11 Jan 2008 09:24:31 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/01/10/hari-on-public-services/#comment-5263 "...the State pension age should rise to the average life span" No it shouldn't. Because more people live into old age doesn't mean they are any more able to work at that age than ever it did. “…the State pension age should rise to the average life span”

No it shouldn’t. Because more people live into old age doesn’t mean they are any more able to work at that age than ever it did.

]]> By: Andrew Paterson http://timworstall.com/2008/01/10/hari-on-public-services/comment-page-1/#comment-5246 Andrew Paterson Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:44:33 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/01/10/hari-on-public-services/#comment-5246 Did he seriously just argue that TVOD will ensure the survival of the license fee? Words fail me.... Did he seriously just argue that TVOD will ensure the survival of the license fee? Words fail me….

]]> By: JuliaM http://timworstall.com/2008/01/10/hari-on-public-services/comment-page-1/#comment-5244 JuliaM Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:56:52 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/01/10/hari-on-public-services/#comment-5244 <i>"...private insurers are bad because they can refuse to insure people..."</i> The NHS is worse - it can take your money in NI contributions for years (rrgardless of whether you want to pay for them or not), then turn around and refuse you lifesaving drugs or surgery because it is 'not cost effective'. “…private insurers are bad because they can refuse to insure people…”

The NHS is worse – it can take your money in NI contributions for years (rrgardless of whether you want to pay for them or not), then turn around and refuse you lifesaving drugs or surgery because it is ‘not cost effective’.

]]> By: QuestionThat http://timworstall.com/2008/01/10/hari-on-public-services/comment-page-1/#comment-5239 QuestionThat Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:21:57 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/01/10/hari-on-public-services/#comment-5239 I largely agree with you. His argument regarding the NHS has some merit, and I plan on writing a full blog post on that side of things. His argument regarding the BBC is total balls. I largely agree with you. His argument regarding the NHS has some merit, and I plan on writing a full blog post on that side of things. His argument regarding the BBC is total balls.

]]> By: sanbikinoraion http://timworstall.com/2008/01/10/hari-on-public-services/comment-page-1/#comment-5237 sanbikinoraion Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:58:41 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/01/10/hari-on-public-services/#comment-5237 What struck me was that he was happy to claim that the NHS was a health insurer, and that private insurers are bad because they can refuse to insure people, but totally ignores the fact that the NHS is also a healthcare provider, which has nothing to do with the insurance aspect of what it does. What struck me was that he was happy to claim that the NHS was a health insurer, and that private insurers are bad because they can refuse to insure people, but totally ignores the fact that the NHS is also a healthcare provider, which has nothing to do with the insurance aspect of what it does.

]]> By: Stephen http://timworstall.com/2008/01/10/hari-on-public-services/comment-page-1/#comment-5232 Stephen Thu, 10 Jan 2008 12:59:29 +0000 http://timworstall.com/2008/01/10/hari-on-public-services/#comment-5232 It's all part of the same "but it really is good value, and a needed service" etc etc. Fine. If that's all true, there's no reason to make it compulsory, people will pay for it anyway. And if they won't, your argument is false. So drop the gun, and stand by your convictions. It’s all part of the same “but it really is good value, and a needed service” etc etc. Fine. If that’s all true, there’s no reason to make it compulsory, people will pay for it anyway. And if they won’t, your argument is false. So drop the gun, and stand by your convictions.

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