The “ I’ve got something to say, but it doesn’t warrant its own thread “ thread.

[davieG]

Anyone who's enjoying plus 30 degrees of heat is not naturally British their genes must be from countries nearer to the equator.

 

I really struggle with it I was even sweating in the supermarket which is obviously cooled

[Jon the Hat]

10 hours ago, davieG said:

Anyone who's enjoying plus 30 degrees of heat is not naturally British their genes must be from countries nearer to the equator.

 

I really struggle with it I was even sweating in the supermarket which is obviously cooled

Late Autumn, here, 23 degrees yesterday.  

[Trav Le Bleu]

I was tempted to start a thread for this, but maybe it can be discussed here.

 

Privatisation.

 

It doesn't seem to work.

 

I get the thinking behind it. Competition between companies should reduce the waste associated with publicly owned institutions, thereby saving the tax payer money.

 

However, corporate and individual greed usually ends in a race to the bottom as cost cutting spirals out of control or the private companies acting as a cabal to keep prices inflated.

 

Let's look at companies once publicly owned, but now private. I'll start with the obvious ones.

 

Water utilities - underinvested for years, paying out dividends to shareholders, at the cost of maintaining it's infrastructure, so that now we're all paying through the nose for a very poor service. What is more, you can't choose your water company, which somewhat defeats the point of privatisation.

 

Royal Mail - steadily gone downhill since privatisation. Competing with courier companies who don't have to also deliver letters, it can't possibly do two things at the same time. The pandemic only accelerated the decline as recruitment and change of practice hasn't kept up with modern trends.

 

Energy companies - often accused of acting as a cabal, there's little difference between any of them bar perhaps which has the least worse customer service.

 

Trains - successfully run for over 100 years as private companies, but nationalised post WW2, have been a nightmare since being privatised again. Pretty much every complaint that was levelled at British Rail can be levelled at them, but much more expensive. It's got to the point where some rail networks have been taken back into public ownership.

 

I'll end with the only positive sector I can think of, in the interest of balance.

 

Telecommunications - using a phone has never been easier or cheaper. Competition is healthy and switching fairly simple. Much better than BT.

 

So, if privatisation so rarely works, why do so many people right of centre want it? In principle, yes it should work, but there's very little actual history you can point out to validate that.

[Foxdiamond]

8 hours ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

I was tempted to start a thread for this, but maybe it can be discussed here.

 

Privatisation.

 

It doesn't seem to work.

 

I get the thinking behind it. Competition between companies should reduce the waste associated with publicly owned institutions, thereby saving the tax payer money.

 

However, corporate and individual greed usually ends in a race to the bottom as cost cutting spirals out of control or the private companies acting as a cabal to keep prices inflated.

 

Let's look at companies once publicly owned, but now private. I'll start with the obvious ones.

 

Water utilities - underinvested for years, paying out dividends to shareholders, at the cost of maintaining it's infrastructure, so that now we're all paying through the nose for a very poor service. What is more, you can't choose your water company, which somewhat defeats the point of privatisation.

 

Royal Mail - steadily gone downhill since privatisation. Competing with courier companies who don't have to also deliver letters, it can't possibly do two things at the same time. The pandemic only accelerated the decline as recruitment and change of practice hasn't kept up with modern trends.

 

Energy companies - often accused of acting as a cabal, there's little difference between any of them bar perhaps which has the least worse customer service.

 

Trains - successfully run for over 100 years as private companies, but nationalised post WW2, have been a nightmare since being privatised again. Pretty much every complaint that was levelled at British Rail can be levelled at them, but much more expensive. It's got to the point where some rail networks have been taken back into public ownership.

 

I'll end with the only positive sector I can think of, in the interest of balance.

 

Telecommunications - using a phone has never been easier or cheaper. Competition is healthy and switching fairly simple. Much better than BT.

 

So, if privatisation so rarely works, why do so many people right of centre want it? In principle, yes it should work, but there's very little actual history you can point out to validate that.

Everything was sold off cheap and guess who picked up the bargain. The con was that the public could buy something that they already owned. Similarly with right to buy. Something like 40% are in the hands of private landlords who rent out the ex council house at a far higher rent 

[Grebfromgrebland]

13 hours ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

I was tempted to start a thread for this, but maybe it can be discussed here.

 

Privatisation.

 

It doesn't seem to work.

 

I get the thinking behind it. Competition between companies should reduce the waste associated with publicly owned institutions, thereby saving the tax payer money.

 

However, corporate and individual greed usually ends in a race to the bottom as cost cutting spirals out of control or the private companies acting as a cabal to keep prices inflated.

 

Let's look at companies once publicly owned, but now private. I'll start with the obvious ones.

 

Water utilities - underinvested for years, paying out dividends to shareholders, at the cost of maintaining it's infrastructure, so that now we're all paying through the nose for a very poor service. What is more, you can't choose your water company, which somewhat defeats the point of privatisation.

 

Royal Mail - steadily gone downhill since privatisation. Competing with courier companies who don't have to also deliver letters, it can't possibly do two things at the same time. The pandemic only accelerated the decline as recruitment and change of practice hasn't kept up with modern trends.

 

Energy companies - often accused of acting as a cabal, there's little difference between any of them bar perhaps which has the least worse customer service.

 

Trains - successfully run for over 100 years as private companies, but nationalised post WW2, have been a nightmare since being privatised again. Pretty much every complaint that was levelled at British Rail can be levelled at them, but much more expensive. It's got to the point where some rail networks have been taken back into public ownership.

 

I'll end with the only positive sector I can think of, in the interest of balance.

 

Telecommunications - using a phone has never been easier or cheaper. Competition is healthy and switching fairly simple. Much better than BT.

 

So, if privatisation so rarely works, why do so many people right of centre want it? In principle, yes it should work, but there's very little actual history you can point out to validate that.

Only politicians and businesses that stand to exploit the population are for it.

 

Oh and those who are brainwashed by  news and media. I mean just look at the total character assassinations of those who want a better country and nationalise our essential services, they're called dangerous and anti-semitic and traitors.

 

 

[kenny]

13 hours ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

I was tempted to start a thread for this, but maybe it can be discussed here.

 

Privatisation.

 

It doesn't seem to work.

 

I get the thinking behind it. Competition between companies should reduce the waste associated with publicly owned institutions, thereby saving the tax payer money.

 

However, corporate and individual greed usually ends in a race to the bottom as cost cutting spirals out of control or the private companies acting as a cabal to keep prices inflated.

 

Let's look at companies once publicly owned, but now private. I'll start with the obvious ones.

 

Water utilities - underinvested for years, paying out dividends to shareholders, at the cost of maintaining it's infrastructure, so that now we're all paying through the nose for a very poor service. What is more, you can't choose your water company, which somewhat defeats the point of privatisation.

 

Royal Mail - steadily gone downhill since privatisation. Competing with courier companies who don't have to also deliver letters, it can't possibly do two things at the same time. The pandemic only accelerated the decline as recruitment and change of practice hasn't kept up with modern trends.

 

Energy companies - often accused of acting as a cabal, there's little difference between any of them bar perhaps which has the least worse customer service.

 

Trains - successfully run for over 100 years as private companies, but nationalised post WW2, have been a nightmare since being privatised again. Pretty much every complaint that was levelled at British Rail can be levelled at them, but much more expensive. It's got to the point where some rail networks have been taken back into public ownership.

 

I'll end with the only positive sector I can think of, in the interest of balance.

 

Telecommunications - using a phone has never been easier or cheaper. Competition is healthy and switching fairly simple. Much better than BT.

 

So, if privatisation so rarely works, why do so many people right of centre want it? In principle, yes it should work, but there's very little actual history you can point out to validate that.

Do not take away octopus....

 

Also fwiw I'm happy with STW.

 

However, if you are making changes please bring back virgin trains, head and shoulders above anyone else.

[Trav Le Bleu]

49 minutes ago, kenny said:

Do not take away octopus....

 

Also fwiw I'm happy with STW.

 

However, if you are making changes please bring back virgin trains, head and shoulders above anyone else.

Are you one of those people who enjoy a "golden shower"?

 

[kenny]

Just now, Trav Le Bleu said:

Are you one of those people who enjoy a "golden shower"?

 

Genuinely good service, they arrive to unblock drains within 8 hours when requested, 24 hours worst case.

[Free Falling Foxes]

Bloody RAF.

 

Just nodding off in my garden hammock when I hear an almighty racket.

 

The Red Arrows then flew right over my garden

 

Fantastic site and sound. 

 

Certainly stirred me from my slumbers.

 

Edited Saturday at 14:41 by Free Falling Foxes

[worthosoriginals]

On 26/05/2026 at 14:34, davieG said:

Anyone who's enjoying plus 30 degrees of heat is not naturally British their genes must be from countries nearer to the equator.

 

I really struggle with it I was even sweating in the supermarket which is obviously cooled

Stop shoplifting then

[CornwallFox]

5 hours ago, Free Falling Foxes said:

Bloody RAF.

 

Just nodding off in my garden hammock when I hear an almighty racket.

 

The Red Arrows then flew right over my garden

 

Fantastic site and sound. 

 

Certainly stirred me from my slumbers.

 

You Torbay way?

[Free Falling Foxes]

1 hour ago, CornwallFox said:

You Torbay way?

No, West Leicester.

Checking their schedule today, they were at a show down in Torbay, then flew up to East Midlands Airport - which is when they passed over our area.

What I didn't realise, was later on they then flew down to Ragley Hall in Worcestershire to do another show. They then flew back over us again at 6ish. I shot outside to see them again but they were gone in an instant.

I checked on Flightradar24 and they were at just 1100 feet when they went over.

Awesome!

They are doing the same shows again tomorrow so I'll be hoping they come over again. This time I'll be waiting. 

 

[FoyleFox]

I saw a notice yesterday they were due over NW Leics at 18:20, I thought it said tomorrow so, was a bit gutted we missed them when I saw a few comments about them on SM. Glad to hear it's tomorrow as well. 

[Free Falling Foxes]

10 minutes ago, FoyleFox said:

I saw a notice yesterday they were due over NW Leics at 18:20, I thought it said tomorrow so, was a bit gutted we missed them when I saw a few comments about them on SM. Glad to hear it's tomorrow as well. 

 

 

 

Edited Saturday at 22:23 by Free Falling Foxes

[DJW1]

On 30/05/2026 at 01:18, Trav Le Bleu said:

I was tempted to start a thread for this, but maybe it can be discussed here.

 

Privatisation.

 

It doesn't seem to work.

 

I get the thinking behind it. Competition between companies should reduce the waste associated with publicly owned institutions, thereby saving the tax payer money.

 

However, corporate and individual greed usually ends in a race to the bottom as cost cutting spirals out of control or the private companies acting as a cabal to keep prices inflated.

 

Let's look at companies once publicly owned, but now private. I'll start with the obvious ones.

 

Water utilities - underinvested for years, paying out dividends to shareholders, at the cost of maintaining it's infrastructure, so that now we're all paying through the nose for a very poor service. What is more, you can't choose your water company, which somewhat defeats the point of privatisation.

 

Royal Mail - steadily gone downhill since privatisation. Competing with courier companies who don't have to also deliver letters, it can't possibly do two things at the same time. The pandemic only accelerated the decline as recruitment and change of practice hasn't kept up with modern trends.

 

Energy companies - often accused of acting as a cabal, there's little difference between any of them bar perhaps which has the least worse customer service.

 

Trains - successfully run for over 100 years as private companies, but nationalised post WW2, have been a nightmare since being privatised again. Pretty much every complaint that was levelled at British Rail can be levelled at them, but much more expensive. It's got to the point where some rail networks have been taken back into public ownership.

 

I'll end with the only positive sector I can think of, in the interest of balance.

 

Telecommunications - using a phone has never been easier or cheaper. Competition is healthy and switching fairly simple. Much better than BT.

 

So, if privatisation so rarely works, why do so many people right of centre want it? In principle, yes it should work, but there's very little actual history you can point out to validate that.

I´m centre-left politically and agree with most of your statement. 

There are certain areas where there is no competition, only a monopoly guaranteed for 5 years or more (railways, utilities etc.), so the competition effect is small or non-existent.

 

Any competition effect will be off-set by the fact the private operators want to make a profit. So, if a service costs 1 billion quid a year to run, then a company will want to take in say 1.1 billion per year (resulting in higher fares/bills) whereas the government/council only needs 1 billion, to break even. 

 

On the Leicester-Sheffield line the service is more frequent and quicker than pre-privatisation, but the prices are  too high and illogical (10 quid single, 11 quid return!), over the whole network.

 

There is no "patriotic" argument in favour in most cases: the profits from Arriva buses and trains go to Germany, to subsidise state train fares!

 

Perhaps the worst example is that a few years ago the company running the visits to the Houses of Parliament was reprimanded for excess profiteering. So the UK government is unable/unwilling to organise visits to its own parliament (booze up, brewery....)

[Stadt]

Like a lot of the shitty services the rail industry in Britain is not a particularly free market. EMR are the only operator so there is no competition and there’s a lack of capacity for more operators. The state won’t build anymore.

[DJW1]

The government's gradual re-nationalisation of the railways must continue.

Then perhaps they'll restart the Mystery Trips of my childhood in the 70s and 80s. You bought the tickets without knowing where you were going to spend the day (I think it was always the seaside). What a great (or bizarre) idea 😃

[Corky]

A lot of big club fans are totally humourless. I hope we never lose the ability to have a laugh (see the Photoshop and AI images in the Anniversary thread) in amongst the genuine and understandable anger towards this club.

 

I suppose when your worst thing is finishing 8th in the Premier League then there isn't a lot to relate to with most other supporters.

[DJW1]

22 minutes ago, Corky said:

A lot of big club fans are totally humourless. I hope we never lose the ability to have a laugh (see the Photoshop and AI images in the Anniversary thread) in amongst the genuine and understandable anger towards this club.

 

I suppose when your worst thing is finishing 8th in the Premier League then there isn't a lot to relate to with most other supporters.

Well said.

I don´t like to see people on Foxes Talk swearing and using words like "hate" and "despise" when talking about the club, its owners and certain players. We are all bitterly disappointed with the events of the last 2 years, but let´s stay classy.

[HighPeakFox]

2 hours ago, DJW1 said:

Well said.

I don´t like to see people on Foxes Talk swearing and using words like "hate" and "despise" when talking about the club, its owners and certain players. We are all bitterly disappointed with the events of the last 2 years, but let´s stay classy.

Trouble is, a percentage of fans (ours, and in fact all teams' fans) never had a shred of class to speak of.

[Unabomber]

Just watching soccer aid and it’s very poor, serious lack of press and the officials are not good at all. England goal clearly offside yet not given.