This week has provided telling evidence that when all else fails people expect government to work.
I've not noted the presence of the private sector in dealing with flood problems.
Nor, come to that, have I yet heard mention of its role in any solution (though I suspect it will, very soon, be a good time to be a plasterer).
The fact is that when it comes down to it this suggests that my theory of the Cappuccino economy has much going for it.
The foundation of a cappuccino is strong black coffee. That, in my metaphor, is the state. It is the foundation on which the private sector economy - the hot frothy milk - can be built. And right on the top, whether chocolate or nutmeg, is the topping that is used to persuade us that all the exciting things in life come from the frippery only the private sector delivers, and which does, therefore, apparently justify the view that only it adds value.
Actually, as the cappuccino proves, to be successful this lot have to be found in combination, but that's a fact that we often ignore until crisis arrives. And then we resort to a black Americano, or even a double espresso, as we are right now.
There's more on this idea in Chapter 5 of The Courageous State.
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Yes I’ve heard for calls for the government to intervene and the troops to be sent in.
Given that the private sector is suppose to be so wonderfully efficient and effective, just why is that?
The answer is that in a crisis the pivate sector may help, but it can not command the organisation and resources that a well run state is able to do. The organisation and resources being made up of people all striving for a common cause
Psssst!
Wanna buy a sandbag?
This is in no way intended to demean the situation in which so many find themselves, but merely to parody the spivs who will move in with various flavours of snake oil when what’s required is a full-scale transformation of the derogatory approach to all state-provided services.
Just in case you may not have realised.
Sorry to be a little cynical, but I suspect that if it had been left to private landowners, there would have been little or no flooding…..
….don’t forget HMG decided that rivers and drainage channels didn’t need dredging and clearing and didn’t the former boss of the EA once also say, “…just add water…” when it came to favouring wetlands over the requirements of people…..
I’ll leave it to others to deal with the logic of that comment
I am a little upset about all the flooding victims. Iam sorry t say this, if posted, people might be upset with me.
However, there are a number of companies in the UK who can and will help. Simple defences can help save the house from most flood damage. Google flood defences, windows that stop water coming in etc.
Houses built on flood areas don’t have them included. Is it a builder problem, a government problem where the regs don’t force them to do it, or someone else.
The same with modern environment help. Not the right words. Solar panels are STILL not being included on new builds. They work in the UK, they save people money. Yet the government gives grants that people pay for, however on new builds it still isn’t there.
People need a little push sometimes, to help save themselves. Even if no one believes in climate change, we can still do our bit for the planet.
Better we do it collectively
The private sector takes to long to respond to these issues. Phillip Mirowski has argued that the basis for anti-climate change rhetoric is to allow time for the ‘market’ to get its act together on climate change which causes great delays.
A sad irony to see aerial views of those large mansions and swimming pools in Surrey flooded out who have made their money from a private sector that leaves them swimming!
But the private sector isn’t responsible for flood defences, the public sector in it’s various guises (EA, local council etc) is.
If is responsible because the market would fail
I’ve not noted the presence of the private sector in dealing with flood problems
Where do you think the majority of the hundreds of design and construction engineers working hard to solve the problems come from? The public sector does not have the numbers or the skills required to deal with something of this magnitude and who do you think advises the Army? All you see is those working hard at the coal-face not the brains behind the engineering solutions.
The public sector can have all the brains it wants
It hires them
The fact is they have work no other way
Actually luvvy, the private sector bleeds the EA of money. Doing jobs on ¨day work¨ rates (long time = lottsa money)….each contractor hires other contractors, who hire others..the list is long and endless: Costly, time-consuming and a money drain.
Putting up, for instance, Kee-clamp fitting along landing stages, which got stoled practically overnight (they were told by the staff at the park they´d be lifted…but money talks). And not just once. They finally welded the fittings on.
Everywhere you go to that the EA is having work done, the contractors are idle…but then..day work rates!!
The EA is filled to the brim with people who know which jobs they want doing, it´s just that keeping water flowing seems far down the list of competences. They are also totally useless at overseeing work.
I have no idea of this us fair
I suspect it isn’t
Almost all the practical support for the farmers in the Levels is coming from other farmers from outside the area.
Indeed -it reminds us that we need to support each other rather than follow myths about everybody looking after their own corner producing collective wealth and wellbeing. cameron was able to utter the words ‘money is no object’ in relation to the floods-suddenly austerity is no longer an issue!
Fair?
I could be more critical.
People further up the comment list said something about farmers doing the dredging/clearing of the waterways.
Where would they put the material dredged?
They can only spread it along the river bank, not over the rest of the land. The disposal of the waste cleared is regulated quite stringently, and expensively if it has to go to landfill.
This blog is quite obviously anti-EU, but the owner of the blog puts his work in:
http://www.eureferendum.com/blogview.aspx?blogno=84683
So we have two organisations responsible for the environment. DEFRA (department for environment food and rural affairs) and The Environment Agency (an Executive Non-departmental Public Body (QUANGO))
They are FREQUENTLY at each others throats……
In fact, I LOATHE the EA so much that I gave up angling because paying them money to fish was too much. Hopefully, the government will see, at last, and after being told by people who KNOW about flood control, that the EA should be dismantled entirely. It is moribund, wasteful, and inept.
I think that lacks objectivity
I also suspect reform is needed