This was written by my son, Thomas, aged 9, this morning, unbidden. I thought it well worth sharing:
THE NHS
The N.H.S needs your help. The government is taking money away from this service. They need you to help.
Have you ever had to go to hospital?
Was it because of a bad illness?
Was it because of a broken bone?
If so think about how you felt when it happened or when you were told you could go home. Because in 2013 the N.H.S might not be around. We take it for granted but if one day the N.H.S. isn't around who will be there to help us?
Also millions of people would loose their jobs.
By Thomas Murphy 18.11.11
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At this rate it won’t be too long before you can retire and hand over to the next generation!
Brilliant Thomas, your dad must be exceptionally proud of you…… hope you don’t mind I am going to link this and let the people out there know our children care as much as we adults do… Thankyou.
How exactly is a sick person going to qualify for Job Seekers? You have to be available for work and if you are sick, you aren’t.
Except the NHS is getting real terms increases in spending so he is wrong. The only parties who failed to support increased NHS spending at the last election were Labour and Lib Dems.
This is completely wrong.
First massive reorganisation costs have been imposed on NHS to come out of a budget that per capita is falling with substantial new admin costs added whilst medical inflation runs much higher than increase in funding.
If the best you can do is just look at the £ sign then you’re not in the debate.
Thomas however is: he’s engaged with meaning and realises that this drives decision making on the £s. In terms of perception that puts his argument a long way ahead of yours.
How will mllions lose their jobs?
Is NHS spending reduced compared with the inherited Labour budget?
Will Thomas grow up in an environment where he can make up his own mind from objective data?
It would seem to me Thomas is making up his own mind. I’m proud of him for doing that.
Why does he think people will lose their jobs? Two reasons I suspect. One is he hears his mum – a GP – discussing the reality of cuts.
Second, he hears and reads the news – and knows that cuts in spending means people out of work. Id Thomas entirely sure what a million is? I’m not sure. I haven’t asked him whether he knows precisely how many people work for the NHS – but then most people couldn’t answer that question. What I do know is he realises, quite accurately as it turns out, that cuts mean increasing unemployment, and that seems to be wholly objective assessment of the facts.
Now, my question’s a simple one? Have you alternative evidence that shows a different picture? I have not seen it.
Thanks Thomas, its great to know some people are aware of how disastrous it would be for us to not have our NHS. thanks for posting 🙂