Everything you need to know about the Tories
Via Andy Evans: "Think this says everything you need to know about the Tory party in one handy nugget":
Upon trying to access the internet at the ICC [during the Tory party conference], we were informed that while Conservative party members could surf for free, other attendees would have to pay. One bemused ICC staffer quietly informed us that the conference venue offers universal free web access for the other 51 weeks of the year but was ordered to restrict it especially for the Tory summit." (Research Professional, 17.10.12)
So they demanded an otherwise free resource be denied to others so they could attempt to squeeze some rent from it? Yup, Andy's right, that's an absolutely perfect example of the real meaning of privatisation in Toryland.
(with the caveat that of course it may be too perfect a parable to actually be true but, hell, I'm just gonna go ahead and propagate it anyway...)
Comments
For once...
....we agree.
Though I'd add that this may also be partially to do with our political class's continuing fear, and misunderstanding, of social media. They might have reasoned that paid up party members may be less likely to send out damaging tweets etc.
Hey up lad. Not sure if
Hey up lad. Not sure if you'll see this but... there's some interesting stuff to be done around this public/private split that we both might agree on somewhat. As you've probably picked up, I think the tory (and nulab) idea of privatisation can only help turn private sector firms into rentiers.
But I'm some ways from knowing a good solution since I'm not particularly enamoured with much of the way state organisations are set up. Have you read Steven Johnson's "Where Good Ideas Come From"? There's some very interesting stuff in there about platforms / building on platforms to enable new levels of productivity / creativity. It struck me as a fantastic and useful metaphor (well, he makes that comparison himself) and a good neutral way to think about how we end up building social structures that actually work.
The example I keep on banging on about: the NHS hack day vs the monstrosity of the most appalling IT failure.. I say 'failure', it obviously wasn't for anyone who actually managed to get paid for that...
Also, I was going to edit:
Also, I was going to edit: I'd emphasise, Nulab probably did more than anyone to set up a perverse system that's managed to combine all the worst bits of both public and private. That's just been carried on - I see specsavers have won some NHS contracts for hearing tests - thus doing away with the whole point of having a number of high street branches competing for my custom.