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 Ian McDonald Mest lesið Konur sem stinga hvor aðra í bakið Sigríður Svanborgardóttir Skoðun Það er list að lifa með krabbameini Hlíf Steingrímsdóttir Skoðun Um kynjafræði og pólítík Hanna Björg Vilhjálmsdóttir Skoðun Sameining sem eflir íslenskan landbúnað Egill Gautason Skoðun Fjölbreytileiki er styrkleiki Guðmundur Ingi Kristinsson Skoðun Mega einhverf hverfa? Ármann Pálsson,Björg Torfadóttir,Sigrún Ósk,Sigurjón Már,Halldóra Hafsteins,Guðlaug Svala Kristjánsdóttir,Mamiko Dís Ragnarsdóttir Skoðun Ef þið bara hefðuð séð heiminn út frá mínum augum: Börn & ADHD Stefán Þorri Helgason Skoðun Konur á örorku Sigríður Ingibjörg Ingadóttir,Steinunn Bragadóttir Skoðun Við fylgjum þér frá getnaði til grafar Benedikt S. Benediktsson Skoðun Ekki sama hvaðan gott kemur Magnea Gná Jóhannsdóttir Skoðun Skoðun Skoðun Sameining sem eflir íslenskan landbúnað Egill Gautason skrifar Skoðun Konur sem stinga hvor aðra í bakið Sigríður Svanborgardóttir skrifar Skoðun Fjölbreytileiki er styrkleiki Guðmundur Ingi Kristinsson skrifar Skoðun Það er list að lifa með krabbameini Hlíf Steingrímsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Um kynjafræði og pólítík Hanna Björg Vilhjálmsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Við fylgjum þér frá getnaði til grafar Benedikt S. Benediktsson skrifar Skoðun Mega einhverf hverfa? Ármann Pálsson,Björg Torfadóttir,Sigrún Ósk,Sigurjón Már,Halldóra Hafsteins,Guðlaug Svala Kristjánsdóttir,Mamiko Dís Ragnarsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Ef þið bara hefðuð séð heiminn út frá mínum augum: Börn & ADHD Stefán Þorri Helgason skrifar Skoðun 112. liðurinn í aðgerðaáætlun í menntamálum? Ingólfur Ásgeir Jóhannesson skrifar Skoðun Konur á örorku Sigríður Ingibjörg Ingadóttir,Steinunn Bragadóttir skrifar Skoðun Drambið okkar Júlíus Valsson skrifar Skoðun Við vitum Guðrún Jónsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Ekki sama hvaðan gott kemur Magnea Gná Jóhannsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Börn í meðferð eiga rétt á fagfólki orð duga ekki lengur! Steindór Þórarinsson skrifar Skoðun Greindarskerðing eða ofurgáfur með gervigreind Björgmundur Örn Guðmundsson skrifar Skoðun Að hafa hemil á nýjum ófjármögnuðum útgjöldum er lykillinn að sjálfbærum rekstri sveitarfélaga Jón Ingi Hákonarson skrifar Skoðun Homo sapiens að öðrum toga: Af hverju ætti ég eiginlega að mæta á PIFF-kvikmyndhátíðina? Ólafur Guðsteinn Kristjánsson skrifar Skoðun Stöndum saman gegn fjölþáttaógnum Bryndís Haraldsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Hagræðing á kostnað fjölbreytni og gæðamenntunar Ida Marguerite Semey skrifar Skoðun Umbúðir en ekkert innihald í Hafnarfirði Einar Geir Þorsteinsson skrifar Skoðun Við viljum tala íslensku, en hvernig Ólafur Guðsteinn Kristjánsson skrifar Skoðun Mansalsmál á Íslandi Kristján Þórður Snæbjarnarson skrifar Skoðun Hættur heimsins virða engin landamæri Tótla I. Sæmundsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Tímamót í sjálfsvígsforvörnum Ingibjörg Isaksen skrifar Skoðun Yfirgangur, yfirlæti og endastöð Strætó Axel Hall skrifar Skoðun Hugsum fíknivanda upp á nýtt - Ný nálgun í meðhöndlun fíknivanda og áhættuhegðunar Svala Jóhannesdóttir,Lilja Sif Þorsteinsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Háskólinn á Bifröst – Öflugur og sjálfstæður fjarnámsskóli Sólveig Hallsteinsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Það eru fleiri fiskar í sjónum og fleiri sjónarmið í hafstjórn Guðbjörg Ásta Ólafsdóttir skrifar Skoðun Skapandi menntun skilar raunverulegum árangri Bryngeir Valdimarsson skrifar Skoðun Sex ára sáttmáli Davíð Þorláksson 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.
Mega einhverf hverfa? Ármann Pálsson,Björg Torfadóttir,Sigrún Ósk,Sigurjón Már,Halldóra Hafsteins,Guðlaug Svala Kristjánsdóttir,Mamiko Dís Ragnarsdóttir Skoðun
Skoðun Mega einhverf hverfa? Ármann Pálsson,Björg Torfadóttir,Sigrún Ósk,Sigurjón Már,Halldóra Hafsteins,Guðlaug Svala Kristjánsdóttir,Mamiko Dís Ragnarsdóttir skrifar
Skoðun Að hafa hemil á nýjum ófjármögnuðum útgjöldum er lykillinn að sjálfbærum rekstri sveitarfélaga Jón Ingi Hákonarson skrifar
Skoðun Homo sapiens að öðrum toga: Af hverju ætti ég eiginlega að mæta á PIFF-kvikmyndhátíðina? Ólafur Guðsteinn Kristjánsson skrifar
Skoðun Hugsum fíknivanda upp á nýtt - Ný nálgun í meðhöndlun fíknivanda og áhættuhegðunar Svala Jóhannesdóttir,Lilja Sif Þorsteinsdóttir skrifar
Skoðun Háskólinn á Bifröst – Öflugur og sjálfstæður fjarnámsskóli Sólveig Hallsteinsdóttir skrifar
Skoðun Það eru fleiri fiskar í sjónum og fleiri sjónarmið í hafstjórn Guðbjörg Ásta Ólafsdóttir skrifar
Mega einhverf hverfa? Ármann Pálsson,Björg Torfadóttir,Sigrún Ósk,Sigurjón Már,Halldóra Hafsteins,Guðlaug Svala Kristjánsdóttir,Mamiko Dís Ragnarsdóttir Skoðun