Saying Thank You to the NHS, Using Clojure • Hacker News Board

Re: Saying Thank You to the NHS, Using Clojure

#11

Post by netsharc » Mon, May 04, 2020, 4:03 PM UTC

esotericn wrote: post #9

The NHS needs funding, not our "thanks". The Government's current drive to propagandise their ongoing failure to fund essential public service should not be tolerated. (For those who are unaware, in the UK we are currently being asked by the powers that be to take part in a "clapping session" on the streets weekly).

I've been wondering how much they "exploited" the recently-turned-100 Captain who was walking up and down his garden 100 times to raise money for the NHS. He or his family probably came up with the idea themselves, but I wonder if some individuals working in the government helped it "go viral". The same government that's been slowly stripping the NHS, when suddenly, a free 100 million pounds (and counting) to spend! And a nice old man that the nation can cheer on. Feel good story, distraction, etc, etc.

Another cynical look about the hero worship of the NHS is that heroes often die, if I were running a government that failed to supply PPE to doctors and nurses, I'd cheer on the idea of making them heroes because then their deaths would become something honourable and somewhat acceptable...

Re: Saying Thank You to the NHS, Using Clojure

#12

Post by DaveWM » Mon, May 04, 2020, 4:09 PM UTC

esotericn wrote: post #9

The NHS needs funding, not our "thanks". The Government's current drive to propagandise their ongoing failure to fund essential public service should not be tolerated. (For those who are unaware, in the UK we are currently being asked by the powers that be to take part in a "clapping session" on the streets weekly).

I meant this article as a "thank you" to the brave doctors and nurses putting in extra time and effort to look after everyone else. Regardless of the state of NHS funding, it's just basic human decency to say thank you to them. I didn't mean it as any kind of political statement.

Re: Saying Thank You to the NHS, Using Clojure

#13

Post by growlist » Mon, May 04, 2020, 4:13 PM UTC

Symbiote wrote: post #3

rvz wrote: post #2

Or you could donate directly [0] to the NHS instead: [0] https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ClapForOurCarers

There's some irony in doing so through Virgin Money. Virgin is seeking to privatize the NHS, and the group has Virgin Care, which is one of the largest private care providers contracted by the NHS. Naturally, Virgin Care pays no corporation tax -- Richard Branson has an allergy to tax, and doctors and politicians have so far not found a cure.

Well as a counterpoint, I'm personally now thoroughly bored of the left's ongoing campaign of 'weaponising the NHS', to quote former Labour leader Ed Miliband. The left would rather see patients suffer in a vast, unmanageable, outdated institution than contemplate the horror of a successfully reformed NHS incorporating a significant private component.

Re: Saying Thank You to the NHS, Using Clojure

#14

Post by kitd » Mon, May 04, 2020, 4:13 PM UTC

esotericn wrote: post #9

The NHS needs funding, not our "thanks". The Government's current drive to propagandise their ongoing failure to fund essential public service should not be tolerated. (For those who are unaware, in the UK we are currently being asked by the powers that be to take part in a "clapping session" on the streets weekly).

The NHS needs funding, not our "thanks".

I didn't realise it was either/or.

Re: Saying Thank You to the NHS, Using Clojure

#15

Post by kitd » Mon, May 04, 2020, 4:16 PM UTC

DaveWM wrote: post #12

esotericn wrote: post #9

The NHS needs funding, not our "thanks". The Government's current drive to propagandise their ongoing failure to fund essential public service should not be tolerated. (For those who are unaware, in the UK we are currently being asked by the powers that be to take part in a "clapping session" on the streets weekly).

I meant this article as a "thank you" to the brave doctors and nurses putting in extra time and effort to look after everyone else. Regardless of the state of NHS funding, it's just basic human decency to say thank you to them. I didn't mean it as any kind of political statement.

I see OP's attitude a lot on Reddit and (sadly) a few times here too. It seems common decency is a dirty word when there's political point scoring to be had. Rebranding it as "virtue signalling" is another one.

Re: Saying Thank You to the NHS, Using Clojure

#16

Post by room271 » Mon, May 04, 2020, 4:32 PM UTC

rvz wrote: post #2

Or you could donate directly [0] to the NHS instead: [0] https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ClapForOurCarers

The intention is good, but if the NHS needs more money (which it almost certainly does), for wages or otherwise, increased taxation seems like the better choice.

Re: Saying Thank You to the NHS, Using Clojure

#17

Post by room271 » Mon, May 04, 2020, 4:33 PM UTC

esotericn wrote: post #9

The NHS needs funding, not our "thanks". The Government's current drive to propagandise their ongoing failure to fund essential public service should not be tolerated. (For those who are unaware, in the UK we are currently being asked by the powers that be to take part in a "clapping session" on the streets weekly).

I appreciate the point, but surely both are possible!?

Re: Saying Thank You to the NHS, Using Clojure

#18

Post by simonh » Mon, May 04, 2020, 4:34 PM UTC

netsharc wrote: post #11

esotericn wrote: post #9

The NHS needs funding, not our "thanks". The Government's current drive to propagandise their ongoing failure to fund essential public service should not be tolerated. (For those who are unaware, in the UK we are currently being asked by the powers that be to take part in a "clapping session" on the streets weekly).

I've been wondering how much they "exploited" the recently-turned-100 Captain who was walking up and down his garden 100 times to raise money for the NHS. He or his family probably came up with the idea themselves, but I wonder if some individuals working in the government helped it "go viral". The same government that's been slowly stripping the NHS, when suddenly, a free 100 million pounds (and counting) to spend!…

>I wonder if some individuals working in the government helped it "go viral"

He did the walk in support of NHS Charities Together, an umbrella organisation of independent charities that support the NHS, and their publicity team contacted the media.

Re: Saying Thank You to the NHS, Using Clojure

#19

Post by erk__ » Mon, May 04, 2020, 4:36 PM UTC

netsharc wrote: post #11

esotericn wrote: post #9

The NHS needs funding, not our "thanks". The Government's current drive to propagandise their ongoing failure to fund essential public service should not be tolerated. (For those who are unaware, in the UK we are currently being asked by the powers that be to take part in a "clapping session" on the streets weekly).

I've been wondering how much they "exploited" the recently-turned-100 Captain who was walking up and down his garden 100 times to raise money for the NHS. He or his family probably came up with the idea themselves, but I wonder if some individuals working in the government helped it "go viral". The same government that's been slowly stripping the NHS, when suddenly, a free 100 million pounds (and counting) to spend!…

You do know that the yearly budget of the NHS is around £140 billion. So the captain would only have collected enough for a few hours. But that does not matter as the money he gathers does not go to the state, but goes to a large number of charities which are connected to the NHS. https://www.nhscharitiestogether.co.uk/meet-our-members/

Though I do agree that the NHS should be better funded.

Re: Saying Thank You to the NHS, Using Clojure

#20

Post by Ididntdothis » Mon, May 04, 2020, 4:38 PM UTC

kitd wrote: post #15

DaveWM wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I meant this article as a "thank you" to the brave doctors and nurses putting in extra time and effort to look after everyone else. Regardless of the state of NHS funding, it's just basic human decency to say thank you to them. I didn't mean it as any kind of political statement.

I see OP's attitude a lot on Reddit and (sadly) a few times here too. It seems common decency is a dirty word when there's political point scoring to be had. Rebranding it as "virtue signalling" is another one.

In the US I often see saying publicly “thanks” as a cheap (and cynical) alternative to actually funding things properly. So with me it leaves a bad taste if it’s not accompanied by a call for proper funding or other action to rectify things.