University College Dublin Economics professor Karl Whelan knows nationalised infrastructure of national importance is normal – and his respondents point out where else it is, too
A Dublin university economics professor has reacted with bewilderment at the attempts by the Tories, their media allies and Conservative think-tanks to paint Labour’s plans to renationalise vital indsutries as outlandish and unrealistic.
Professor Karl Whelan tweeted in response that those things are nationalised in Ireland – and nobody thinks Ireland is ‘some kind of radical socialist republic’:
Prof Whelan’s respondents in the thread agreed – and some pointed out others among the UK’s neighbours whose crucial infrastructure is also nationalised:
Some added that much of the UK’s infrastructure is owned by government – just not the UK’s:
Another economics professor pointed out how disingenuous the think-tanks and commentators are being in their comments – and just how small an impact the supposedly vast amounts in Labour’s plan would have on its place in the OECD’s league table of government spending relative to GDP:
Two things are clear. The Establishment’s response is seriously misleading the UK public – and it is able to do so only because the media have been complicit for decades in allowing privatisation and cuts to be presented as normal.
In fact it is the UK’s privatisation, cuts and austerity that have been extreme – and Labour is only trying to correct that twisted situation.
The SKWAWKBOX needs your support. This blog is provided free of charge but depends on the generosity of its readers to be viable. If you can afford to, please click here to arrange a one-off or modest monthly donation via PayPal or here for a monthly donation via GoCardless. Thanks for your solidarity so this blog can keep bringing you information the Establishment would prefer you not to know about.
If you wish to reblog this post for non-commercial use, you are welcome to do so – see here for more.