Protecting the Welfare State: A Cautionary Tale from the UK to Iceland Ian McDonald skrifar 25. júlí 2023 10:01 I write the following as a response to Bjarni Benediktsson stating that he wants to continue the sale of Íslandsbanki, in addition to the privatisation of many other state-owned institutions. As a concerned citizen who fled the UK seven years ago to escape the tragic consequences of rampant privatisation, I feel compelled to raise the alarm as I witness a familiar pattern emerging in Iceland. Privatisation, with its potential to devastate once-strong welfare states, is a deeply concerning issue that must be addressed and rectified before it's too late. The lessons learned from my home country's mistakes should serve as a stark warning to Iceland and other nations tempted by the siren song of profit-driven governance. The United Kingdom, once renowned for its robust welfare state, found itself in the clutches of an ideology that prioritized profit over people. The relentless push for privatisation stripped vital public services, such as healthcare, education, and transportation, from the hands of the government and placed them into the control of private entities, often to disastrous effect. The consequences were felt deeply by the most vulnerable members of society, as these changes disproportionately impacted low-income families and the marginalized. The British experience with privatisation revealed that when essential services are subject to the whims of the free market, the primary focus becomes maximizing shareholder returns rather than ensuring the well-being and happiness of the population. The human cost of this shift was nothing short of devastating. Critical services, once considered sacrosanct, were plagued by inefficiencies, reduced accessibility, and inflated costs. Privatised institutions became less accountable to the public and more beholden to shareholders, leaving citizens voiceless and at the mercy of profit-driven motives. I am filled with apprehension as I see Iceland seemingly falling into the same trap. If the same pattern of privatisation is repeating itself in this country, there is a real danger of witnessing the erosion of the strong welfare state that has long been a source of pride for Icelanders. The cherished social safety net, which has provided care and support to those in need, is at risk of being torn apart and auctioned off to the highest bidder. It is essential for Icelanders to heed the warnings from across the ocean and reflect on the mistakes made in the UK. Consider who stands to benefit from these changes, and who will be left behind? Can we guarantee that essential services will remain accessible and affordable for all citizens? How can we ensure that profit motives do not supersede the public interest? Rather than blindly following the path of privatisation, Iceland has the opportunity to take a different route—one that prioritises collective well-being, inclusivity, and a commitment to strengthening its welfare state. This means exploring innovative ways to improve public services, enhancing efficiency, and seeking alternative solutions that place people rather than profit at the heart of decision-making. As an outsider looking in, I implore Icelanders not to let history repeat itself. Learn from the mistakes of others, stand together to protect the foundations of the country, and ensure that the interests of the people remain at the forefront of any policy decision. Only through unity and a commitment to shared values can Iceland forge a path that leads to a brighter, fairer, and more prosperous future for all its citizens. Let us avoid the nightmare that comes with the ruins of privatisation, and instead, build a society where compassion, solidarity, and a strong welfare state are cherished and preserved. Sjálfstæðisflokkurin, and Bjarni Benediktsson more specifically, are fully, idealogically comitted to the privatisation and sale of as many cherished and important Icelandic institutions as possible, in as short a time as possible. The recent interview in which Bjarni Benediktsson laid out his hopes and plans was not accidental. It was perfectly calculated. If this goes to pass, he gets what he wants and privatises huge swathes of Iceland, he will point to this interview and say "...well I did warn you..." Do not ignore this warning, or forget about it in the next news cycle. An ideological project is ongoing, and it is the duty of Icelanders to stop it. I just hope that they do before it is too late. The author is a member of Efling Union. Viltu birta grein á Vísi? Sendu okkur póst. Senda grein Mest lesið Halldór 19.10.24 Halldór Óásættanleg staða fyrir fimleikadeild Keflavíkur: Loforð svikin og framtíð starfseminnar í hættu Berglind Ragnarsdóttir Skoðun Kæru vinir og stuðningsfólk Halla Hrund Logadóttir Skoðun Að taka réttindi af einum til að selja öðrum Vala Árnadóttir Skoðun Ekki lofa einhverju sem þú ætlar ekki að standa við. Ágústa Árnadóttir Skoðun Sögur ísraelska hermannsins Hjálmtýr Heiðdal Skoðun Goðsögnin um að fara áfram Matthildur Björnsdóttir Skoðun Kennarastarfið Ragnheiður Lilja Bjarnadóttir Skoðun Hið rándýra bil milli borgar og byggðar - lygileg sjúkrasaga úr sveitinni Jakob Frímann Magnússon Skoðun Að halda niðri launum og lifa á loftinu Þóranna Rósa Ólafsdóttir Skoðun Skoðun Skoðun Sögur ísraelska hermannsins Hjálmtýr Heiðdal skrifar Skoðun Að taka réttindi af einum til að selja öðrum Vala Árnadóttir skrifar Skoðun Kæru vinir og stuðningsfólk Halla Hrund Logadóttir skrifar Skoðun Goðsögnin um að fara áfram Matthildur Björnsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Ekki lofa einhverju sem þú ætlar ekki að standa við. Ágústa Árnadóttir skrifar Skoðun Óásættanleg staða fyrir fimleikadeild Keflavíkur: Loforð svikin og framtíð starfseminnar í hættu Berglind Ragnarsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Yfirlýsing kennara eftir fund með borgarstjóra Andrea Sigurjónsdóttir,Eygló Friðriksdóttir,Guðrún Gunnarsdóttir,Jónína Einarsdóttir,Kristín Björnsdóttir,Lilja Margrét Möller,Linda Ósk Sigurðardóttir,Þóranna Rósa Ólafsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Hið rándýra bil milli borgar og byggðar - lygileg sjúkrasaga úr sveitinni Jakob Frímann Magnússon skrifar Skoðun Kennarastarfið Ragnheiður Lilja Bjarnadóttir skrifar Skoðun Fullveldi Þorsteinn Sæmundsson skrifar Skoðun Að halda niðri launum og lifa á loftinu Þóranna Rósa Ólafsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Vá! Benedikta Guðrún Svavarsdóttir skrifar Skoðun „Hver sagði þér að heimurinn væri réttlátur?“ Davíð Bergmann skrifar Skoðun Ert þú ég eða verð ég þú Júlíus Birgir Jóhannsson skrifar Skoðun Ákall um annars konar hagkerfi Gísli Rafn Ólafsson skrifar Skoðun Lögbrot íslenskrar stjórnsýslu og dómstóla Huginn Þór Grétarsson skrifar Skoðun Háskóli Íslands styður þjóðarmorð Elí Hörpu og Önundarbur skrifar Skoðun Stjórnvöld bregðist við eggjaskorti með afnámi tolla Ólafur Stephensen skrifar Skoðun Í hvernig samfélagi viljum við búa í? Ólafur H. Ólafsson skrifar Skoðun Endurhugsum íslenskt skólakerfi: Ný sýn á nám og kennslu Inga Sigrún Atladóttir skrifar Skoðun Þankar um framtíð landsins okkar Árný Björg Blandon skrifar Skoðun Er Landsvirkjun til sölu? Reynir Böðvarsson skrifar Skoðun Þegar pólitík hindrar framför Hjörtur Sveinsson skrifar Skoðun Nú á lýðræðið næsta leik Sigurður Páll Jónsson skrifar Skoðun Skólinn, sem við kjósum að muna. Samfélagsrýni með rjómabragði Ragnar Þór Pétursson skrifar Skoðun Fær þitt barn kennslu í fjármálalæsi? Heiðrún Jónsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Dagur í grunnskóla Hulda María Magnúsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Áskorun - Þingmenn, sýnið kjósendum stórhug skrifar Skoðun TikTok, upplýsingaóreiða og stjórnvöld Jóhann Óli Eiðsson skrifar Skoðun Taktu þátt í lýðræðinu með okkur Þórhildur Sunna Ævarsdóttir skrifar Sjá meira
I write the following as a response to Bjarni Benediktsson stating that he wants to continue the sale of Íslandsbanki, in addition to the privatisation of many other state-owned institutions. As a concerned citizen who fled the UK seven years ago to escape the tragic consequences of rampant privatisation, I feel compelled to raise the alarm as I witness a familiar pattern emerging in Iceland. Privatisation, with its potential to devastate once-strong welfare states, is a deeply concerning issue that must be addressed and rectified before it's too late. The lessons learned from my home country's mistakes should serve as a stark warning to Iceland and other nations tempted by the siren song of profit-driven governance. The United Kingdom, once renowned for its robust welfare state, found itself in the clutches of an ideology that prioritized profit over people. The relentless push for privatisation stripped vital public services, such as healthcare, education, and transportation, from the hands of the government and placed them into the control of private entities, often to disastrous effect. The consequences were felt deeply by the most vulnerable members of society, as these changes disproportionately impacted low-income families and the marginalized. The British experience with privatisation revealed that when essential services are subject to the whims of the free market, the primary focus becomes maximizing shareholder returns rather than ensuring the well-being and happiness of the population. The human cost of this shift was nothing short of devastating. Critical services, once considered sacrosanct, were plagued by inefficiencies, reduced accessibility, and inflated costs. Privatised institutions became less accountable to the public and more beholden to shareholders, leaving citizens voiceless and at the mercy of profit-driven motives. I am filled with apprehension as I see Iceland seemingly falling into the same trap. If the same pattern of privatisation is repeating itself in this country, there is a real danger of witnessing the erosion of the strong welfare state that has long been a source of pride for Icelanders. The cherished social safety net, which has provided care and support to those in need, is at risk of being torn apart and auctioned off to the highest bidder. It is essential for Icelanders to heed the warnings from across the ocean and reflect on the mistakes made in the UK. Consider who stands to benefit from these changes, and who will be left behind? Can we guarantee that essential services will remain accessible and affordable for all citizens? How can we ensure that profit motives do not supersede the public interest? Rather than blindly following the path of privatisation, Iceland has the opportunity to take a different route—one that prioritises collective well-being, inclusivity, and a commitment to strengthening its welfare state. This means exploring innovative ways to improve public services, enhancing efficiency, and seeking alternative solutions that place people rather than profit at the heart of decision-making. As an outsider looking in, I implore Icelanders not to let history repeat itself. Learn from the mistakes of others, stand together to protect the foundations of the country, and ensure that the interests of the people remain at the forefront of any policy decision. Only through unity and a commitment to shared values can Iceland forge a path that leads to a brighter, fairer, and more prosperous future for all its citizens. Let us avoid the nightmare that comes with the ruins of privatisation, and instead, build a society where compassion, solidarity, and a strong welfare state are cherished and preserved. Sjálfstæðisflokkurin, and Bjarni Benediktsson more specifically, are fully, idealogically comitted to the privatisation and sale of as many cherished and important Icelandic institutions as possible, in as short a time as possible. The recent interview in which Bjarni Benediktsson laid out his hopes and plans was not accidental. It was perfectly calculated. If this goes to pass, he gets what he wants and privatises huge swathes of Iceland, he will point to this interview and say "...well I did warn you..." Do not ignore this warning, or forget about it in the next news cycle. An ideological project is ongoing, and it is the duty of Icelanders to stop it. I just hope that they do before it is too late. The author is a member of Efling Union.
Óásættanleg staða fyrir fimleikadeild Keflavíkur: Loforð svikin og framtíð starfseminnar í hættu Berglind Ragnarsdóttir Skoðun
Hið rándýra bil milli borgar og byggðar - lygileg sjúkrasaga úr sveitinni Jakob Frímann Magnússon Skoðun
Skoðun Óásættanleg staða fyrir fimleikadeild Keflavíkur: Loforð svikin og framtíð starfseminnar í hættu Berglind Ragnarsdóttir skrifar
Skoðun Yfirlýsing kennara eftir fund með borgarstjóra Andrea Sigurjónsdóttir,Eygló Friðriksdóttir,Guðrún Gunnarsdóttir,Jónína Einarsdóttir,Kristín Björnsdóttir,Lilja Margrét Möller,Linda Ósk Sigurðardóttir,Þóranna Rósa Ólafsdóttir skrifar
Skoðun Hið rándýra bil milli borgar og byggðar - lygileg sjúkrasaga úr sveitinni Jakob Frímann Magnússon skrifar
Skoðun Skólinn, sem við kjósum að muna. Samfélagsrýni með rjómabragði Ragnar Þór Pétursson skrifar
Óásættanleg staða fyrir fimleikadeild Keflavíkur: Loforð svikin og framtíð starfseminnar í hættu Berglind Ragnarsdóttir Skoðun
Hið rándýra bil milli borgar og byggðar - lygileg sjúkrasaga úr sveitinni Jakob Frímann Magnússon Skoðun