CAMPAIGNERS ON THE STREET AGAIN

Dalton Road, Barrow, Saturday 27th August 2011 

PREPARING TO SELL OFF OUR NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE          
Health Secretary Lansley's new Health Bill will have its third and final reading over the 6th and 7th September when it will then be put to a vote by members of parliament.


Eight NHS services worth £1 billion are up for grabs by the private companies. Services such as treatment for back pain, wheelchair services for children and psychological therapies for adults will be on offer to businesses to run them to generate private profit.  These services will then no longer be part of the National Health Service.


The British Medical Association council is campaigning for the bill to be withdrawn and accuses the government of misleading the public when government continues to state there will be no privatisation of the NHS.


SATURDAY'S TOWN CENTRE ANTI-CUTS CAMPAIGN
Three members of Barrow & Furness Pensioners' Association were present to hand out pensioner leaflets and talk to members of the public. In addition, a GMB member, a Unison member and an NUT member gave their full support to the general campaign that morning despite having no anti-cuts literature that ought to be provided by their respective local organisations.  The member of the Public and Commercial Services union had been absent from work and was unable to attend the stall that day and two further supporters were absent owing to being at work.  


Several people signed up to the anti-cuts campaign on Saturday and many willingly accepted a leaflet but it would be a gross exaggeration to claim we were 'beseiged' by people demanding literature or 'queuing up' to support the campaign.  Most people in Barrow currently do not want to know about the government's assault on the Welfare State, the National Health Service or even of that on their own personal standard of living. (You'd think that self-interest alone would at least provide some motivation, wouldn't you?)  


Meeting such a wall of pure apathy is sometimes disheartening and may sap the morale of an individual campaigner - and this is why it is important for group members to be constantly kept up to date with robust campaigns throughout the northern region and the rest of the country and, together with other local campaigners, celebrate their successes and achievements.


"WE'RE BUSY DOING NOTHING ALL OF THE WHOLE DAY THROUGH..." **
It is my view that those organisations receiving money to protect and help members of the public (such as trade unions, trades union councils, charities, community associations, and churches) which have as yet made no effort to do so, be challenged to explain why they continue to remain indifferent.  


It has been suggested this might upset these organisations and dissuade them from joining or supporting the campaign - so what, then, has been dissuading them for the past sixteen months?  No, if they are upset, offended or angered by a simple and, in my opinion, perfectly legitimate question then it is because they want to cover their guilt by feigning indignation. It's a very old and familiar technique employed by worthless people from all walks of life e.g.
"How dare you call me a hypocrite!"
"How? Because you're always saying one thing and doing exactly the opposite, that's how!"
Now, if there is something I can't stand its a hypocrite, a thief, a liar or an opportunist and on some occasions, I've met all of these traits in one person!


** From 'A Conneticut Yankee in the Court of King Arthur' by Mark Twain.
and the song contiues....
"TRYING TO FIND LOTS OF THINGS NOT TO DO."
 Now, is that appropriate - or what!