Extortion of the elderly

[RollingJ]

3 minutes ago, pfifes said:

I might add that there were Coronavirus Conspiracy Theories that the virus was deliberately spread to do away with the elderly to reduce social care costs!

As you say 'conspiracy theories'.

[El Cid]

41 minutes ago, cressida said:

Can the free NHS be stopped  for non-UK citizens?

 

We would need to make sure all incomers had 2 weeks of medical insurance coverage, or for how ever long they are staying.

Do other countries do that?

Some people that come here need a visa, maybe the cost of that includes medical cover?

 

But this thread is about the elderly, why bring this in to it?

[pfifes]

24 minutes ago, RollingJ said:

As you say 'conspiracy theories'.

There were (and indeed still are) very many Covid Conspiracy Theories.  However, the ones suggesting that the powers that be were deliberately bumping off the elderly were particularly distasteful.

The management of Covid-19 in care homes was often poor and unfortunately was used by certain persons for political gain.  

[RollingJ]

I agree with all of that.

[Anna B]

Indeed they are businesses. There simply for profit.

 

Profitering from old, ill and disabled people seems wrong to me, in a 'civilised' country where we pay our taxes to provide such services.  But of course in a free market economy the majority of care homes are now privatised.

The difference is that for these businesses there is no real competition keeping prices down and costs relevant, because although there are thousands of homes, run by hundreds of different companies, they are all ultimately owned by a handful of offshore parent companies operating a cartel to maintain prices. 

 

It's deliberately hard to track through the myriad of buy outs, swaps and mergers shrouded in obfuscation and convoluted tax avoidance deals to reach the very top of the chain, but It keep a few individuals you will never have heard of very very rich indeed.. 

 

This is Privatisation at its best,....  The big fish eat the little fish until they control the entire pond, then they are free to charge what they like and make massive profits. It's  called Neoliberalism and it will soon affect all areas of society.  Vets are next. 

If you want to know why there's a cost of living crisis you would do well to study this. It's literally going to be the death of many of us. 

[Al Bundy]

Getting old really sucks doesn't it.😔

[pfifes]

4 hours ago, Anna B said:

Indeed they are businesses. There simply for profit.

 

Profitering from old, ill and disabled people seems wrong to me, in a 'civilised' country where we pay our taxes to provide such services.  But of course in a free market economy the majority of care homes are now privatised.

The difference is that for these businesses there is no real competition keeping prices down and costs relevant, because although there are thousands of homes, run by hundreds of different companies, they are all ultimately owned by a handful of offshore parent companies operating a cartel to maintain prices. 

 

It's deliberately hard to track through the myriad of buy outs, swaps and mergers shrouded in obfuscation and convoluted tax avoidance deals to reach the very top of the chain, but It keep a few individuals you will never have heard of very very rich indeed.. 

 

This is Privatisation at its best,....  The big fish eat the little fish until they control the entire pond, then they are free to charge what they like and make massive profits. It's  called Neoliberalism and it will soon affect all areas of society.  Vets are next. 

If you want to know why there's a cost of living crisis you would do well to study this. It's literally going to be the death of many of us. 

Absolutely 💯

Whatever arguments are made in favour of it, at the end of the day it doesn’t even work as we are seeing now.  https://tribunemag.co.uk/2023/10/breaking-britain-neoliberalism

The resident neoliberal band Mr Ecconoob and the Tories can bang their tune on and on about the wonders of neoliberalism but that party is coming to an end.

[hauxwell]

The thought of going into a care home and losing my independence terrifies me. If we had euthanasia clinics in the UK I think I would much prefer to end my life than having to have help with personal hygiene, we might not need as many care homes if we were given the choice.

[ECCOnoob]

2 hours ago, pfifes said:

Absolutely 💯

Whatever arguments are made in favour of it, at the end of the day it doesn’t even work as we are seeing now.  https://tribunemag.co.uk/2023/10/breaking-britain-neoliberalism

The resident neoliberal band Mr Ecconoob and the Tories can bang their tune on and on about the wonders of neoliberalism but that party is coming to an end.

 

Yeah yeah yeah heard it all before. 

 

Posting an OPINION link from a socialist magazine  is really going to change my position. Really solid evidence that.

 

Absolute irony of people whining about privatisation and the big fish dominating the entire pond until there's nobody else left....by the same people advocating state control, state ownership, state run, which will then provide what?  A single place that you are mandated to use, whether you like it or not, with no competition, no market, no freedom of choice.  A complete licence to charge the service user whatever they like and leaching out the taxpayers as much as they ever want because where else are you supposed to go. 

 

People seriously think that's going to make things magically better? People are seriously deluded if they think it will make it dramatically cheaper or even free for everyone. 

 

Yeah, can't wait till the NHS or Council employed care workers and their unions go on their annual tantrum demanding 17%, 20%, 22% pay rises or when the service grinds to a halt because some incompetent government minister brings in some new wave of knee-jerk regulations just to appease the fickle electorate. 

[redruby]

28 minutes ago, ECCOnoob said:

 

Yeah yeah yeah heard it all before. 

 

Posting an OPINION link from a socialist magazine  is really going to change my position. Really solid evidence that.

 

Absolute irony of people whining about privatisation and the big fish dominating the entire pond until there's nobody else left....by the same people advocating state control, state ownership, state run, which will then provide what?  A single place that you are mandated to use, whether you like it or not, with no competition, no market, no freedom of choice.  A complete licence to charge the service user whatever they like and leaching out the taxpayers as much as they ever want because where else are you supposed to go. 

 

People seriously think that's going to make things magically better? People are seriously deluded if they think it will make it dramatically cheaper or even free for everyone. 

 

Yeah, can't wait till the NHS or Council employed care workers and their unions go on their annual tantrum demanding 17%, 20%, 22% pay rises or when the service grinds to a halt because some incompetent government minister brings in some new wave of knee-jerk regulations just to appease the fickle electorate. 

Heaven help us if ordinary people need to paid fairly.  So they can like pay bills and a mortgage or rent.  And have a meaningful and healthy life.  Heaven help us! God forbid, the sun would fall out of the sky!!  

But let’s get back on topic to care homes.  If a private care home is making a profit, who is payrolling that profit?  Who is benefiting from that profit?