Live data from Hacker News

The strange case of Britain’s demise

economist.com

581–584 of 584 posts

Re: The strange case of Britain’s demise

#581
post #485
post #308

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you expand on “supply-side problems”, “economic reform” and “structural issues” without filtering it through euphemisms?

Supply side: * We do not have enough houses in economically productive areas - look at the OxCam arc, London. NIMBYs keep sapping every attempt at building more houses. * Terrible childcare - we have to pay about 1-2k per kid for childcare. Go figure out how to have children in a climate where it's cheaper for a parent not to work (if you're on the average income). * Healthcare - as a naturalised brit I will never un…

> Most folks who have money I know always tend to go private rather than dealing with a 6 month wait for a routine check up.

I don't get this - if it's a routine check up you'll have one per year, so your GP will be booking it in for you, and they are paid money to do so.

If you're talking about a routine check-up for the worried well who don't have any health problems but who just want a doctor to tell them that they don't have any health problems, well, those checks cause harm and do not prolong life so you'd want to delay them as much as possible.

Re: The strange case of Britain’s demise

#582
post #411

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At this point UK government services don’t need reform, they need funding. Austerity has absolutely crippled everything.

The NHS is the largest employer in Europe. 1.7 million employees for 141,000 beds. I believe it is fundamentally irreformable, but clearly it needs reform.

The vast majority of healthcare is provided to outpatients so numbers of staff to beds is a fucking weird ratio to look at.

Re: The strange case of Britain’s demise

#583
post #555

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So your basic math has no explanation for Western domination over the last ~250 years. Got it.

I’m not going to continue a conversation with someone being intentionally dense.

Ah, the “I’m too smart for this conversation” line. You should look up the Dunning-Kruger effect.

Re: The strange case of Britain’s demise

#584
post #582
post #411

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The NHS is the largest employer in Europe. 1.7 million employees for 141,000 beds. I believe it is fundamentally irreformable, but clearly it needs reform.

The vast majority of healthcare is provided to outpatients so numbers of staff to beds is a fucking weird ratio to look at.

You’re absolutely correct, the largest bureaucracy in Europe definitely doesn’t waste any money. What ratio would be less fucking weird?
Post reply on HN