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Monday 20 July 2020

Make it as crappy as possible



I'm merely putting together some casually acquired anecdotes and personal impressions here, but Mrs H and I have noticed a sharp distinction between pandemic approaches in the public and private sectors. 

Cafes, shops and other businesses appear to be making the best of things within the ludicrous morass of restrictions they have to comply with. Make the best of it seems to be their approach.

To repeat - this impression is derived from anecdotes and personal experience, but GP surgeries and schools appear to be gold-plating every possible rule and restriction as if they would really prefer to close down altogether. Make it as crappy as possible seems to be their approach.     

8 comments:

Doonhamer said...

Well. This is true in every way, even before dreaded virus popped up.
Who loses money, customers, lively-hood as a result of certain actions.
Make an appointment. If you are late turning up, you very, very bad person.
They keep you waiting hours? That is fine. Your time is worthless.
What do you expect? After all it is "free".

Sam Vega said...

Look at the differing responses between the sectors in education. Private schools offered their premises, equipment and expertise to the public sector, in an attempt to help them catch up. The public sector refused. The private sector have the financial incentives to innovate and show determination, of course. The public sector have acquired a huge number of unproductive drones who are there to hinder the core business.

John Arthur said...

Nothing to do with the fact that businesses need the income but the public sector can sit on their backsides on full pay while bleating about safety.

Nessimmersion said...

In addition to the above the gold plated pensions most public sector types can expect in comparison to the private sector are still there, completely unaffected.
We're not really in it together are we?

Sobers said...

"GP surgeries and schools appear to be gold-plating every possible rule and restriction as if they would really prefer to close down altogether. "

Just proof that the real focus of the public sector is their own pay packets, and nothing else. The idea that there are customers who need serving is anathema to them, its all about themselves. They've always wanted the opportunity to eliminate the pesky public, so they could get on with providing the 'world class' service they're always banging on about.

Its also another bit of proof that the Left constantly projects - they always accuse their opponents of being the things they are themselves. So private businesses are always described as 'selfish' for want to make profit, while the public sector is 'selfless'. Who's selfless now? The doctor who doesn't want to see patients, the teacher who won't teach, or the butcher, the baker and the hairdresser who are all open providing their services as best they can?

Scrobs. said...

We've saved about thirty quid by not having to see our dentist!

'Free' nhs service?

Paaaaah!

Pensioners lives matter too...

Macheath said...

I wonder whether the 3.1% for teachers is the result of some behind-the-scenes negotations with the unions.

Meanwhile, with fee-paying parents under pressure and the future uncertain, some independent schools have already announced a pay freeze for teachers who, in many cases, have remotely taught a full timetable throughout lockdown (as well as offering extra-curricular activities).

A K Haart said...

Doonhamer - yes we saw it before but lockdown has highlighted it in ways which may prove difficult to live down. I hope so.

Sam - in my experience those unproductive drones are a core problem. The public sector attracts them for obvious reasons but won't do anything about it.

John - everything to do with that of course. Even so I'm surprised at how poor it has been.

Nessimmersion - I have a suspicion that without the pensions the best people would leave and things could be even worse.

Sobers - "private businesses are always described as 'selfish'" - it is very deeply embedded that one. I've just been watching SpongeBob SquarePants with Granddaughter and Mr Krabs is a crude depiction of the selfish businessman. It's everywhere.

Scrobs - we haven't saved anything because we pay monthly. Boo!

Macheath - I'm sure the 3.1% for teachers is the result of some behind-the-scenes fixing. The government wants teachers to go back to work and this is the sweetener which makes it difficult to do otherwise. Not impossible though.