No one seems to have taken the hint that this rampant capitalism lark doesn't seem to be in the best interests of the general public. After castigating bankers for putting the economy into meltdown, politicians have simply tutted and blamed each other for not regulating them enough before not regulating them. Like the 50p tax rate big business threaten to leave if they have to join in the "we're all in this together" malarkey so politicians run scared and mumble something about job creation as if they are wonderful philanthropists. In reality they employ as few people as possible for as little as they can get away with and want perks for doing so. Yes small businesses are a vital part of the economy but they are not the ones in a position to uproot anywhere as they often provide a local service, but big business try to squeeze these smaller companies thus removing any competition and effectively forming a cartel where they can demand what they want.
This is the case with energy suppliers who have just been criticised by Chris Huhne at the Lib Dem conference in another example of "oh we didn't see that coming" where they have come up with confusing tariffs and make excessive profits from peoples unwillingness to shop around. This is always the argument put in favour of privatisation: competition will drive down prices. Now this may work in the manufacturing sector where you have a product which people want to buy but another company is selling one slightly cheaper although it may not be as good quality. Different companies will have differing overheads and their size may make them more or less efficient and as a consumer we do have the choice about which we would prefer. This is slowly being eroded by efficiency gonks who believe that each company should strive to make Product A as cheaply as possible which may mean sidelining it for the slightly different but easier to produce generic Product Z. The trouble is as every company does this we are left with a sea of the same generic product at some cheap price after they have all undercut each other but no Product A or even B and C which the public actually quite liked.
With the energy companies the "product" is the same. The quality of the electricity or gas is no different no matter who supplies it and what I've found when shopping around is they ask me what I pay then say "Well if you pay that to us". Really? You want me to fanny around switching suppliers just so I can give the same (or slightly less at a push) amount to you. Then in a couple of months time British Gas or n-power will announce they are putting bills up 16% and within a couple of months the others will have followed suit.
This problem arises with most of the companies that were privatised in the 80s which supplied your household needs. Energy and water are essentials for every household and people don't have the time or inclination to wade through the various tariffs available. Telephones are the exception in that they now have ab accompanying product to pitch but again the various tariff rates on offer make a maths degree essential when shopping around.
Letting these companies grow in a deregulated fashion and then scratching your head wondering why they seem a bit greedy is pathetic and asking them not to do it again just weedy. Self regulation will never work and if any of these politicians are serious about addressing the imbalances in society then they have to start acting.
Parish Notices:
Alison started college today and is now the proud owner of a student card, but the extra placements she needs to do the course and the overtime stopping at work mean things could be a bit tight for a while. Bethany is developing an ever increasing fondness for our bed to the extent where she won't go down in the cot and we have to wait for her to fall asleep in our bed before transferring her over. Oddly we don't have to be in the bed with her: she just likes our bed.
This is the case with energy suppliers who have just been criticised by Chris Huhne at the Lib Dem conference in another example of "oh we didn't see that coming" where they have come up with confusing tariffs and make excessive profits from peoples unwillingness to shop around. This is always the argument put in favour of privatisation: competition will drive down prices. Now this may work in the manufacturing sector where you have a product which people want to buy but another company is selling one slightly cheaper although it may not be as good quality. Different companies will have differing overheads and their size may make them more or less efficient and as a consumer we do have the choice about which we would prefer. This is slowly being eroded by efficiency gonks who believe that each company should strive to make Product A as cheaply as possible which may mean sidelining it for the slightly different but easier to produce generic Product Z. The trouble is as every company does this we are left with a sea of the same generic product at some cheap price after they have all undercut each other but no Product A or even B and C which the public actually quite liked.
With the energy companies the "product" is the same. The quality of the electricity or gas is no different no matter who supplies it and what I've found when shopping around is they ask me what I pay then say "Well if you pay that to us". Really? You want me to fanny around switching suppliers just so I can give the same (or slightly less at a push) amount to you. Then in a couple of months time British Gas or n-power will announce they are putting bills up 16% and within a couple of months the others will have followed suit.
This problem arises with most of the companies that were privatised in the 80s which supplied your household needs. Energy and water are essentials for every household and people don't have the time or inclination to wade through the various tariffs available. Telephones are the exception in that they now have ab accompanying product to pitch but again the various tariff rates on offer make a maths degree essential when shopping around.
Letting these companies grow in a deregulated fashion and then scratching your head wondering why they seem a bit greedy is pathetic and asking them not to do it again just weedy. Self regulation will never work and if any of these politicians are serious about addressing the imbalances in society then they have to start acting.
Parish Notices:
Alison started college today and is now the proud owner of a student card, but the extra placements she needs to do the course and the overtime stopping at work mean things could be a bit tight for a while. Bethany is developing an ever increasing fondness for our bed to the extent where she won't go down in the cot and we have to wait for her to fall asleep in our bed before transferring her over. Oddly we don't have to be in the bed with her: she just likes our bed.
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