Blog archive - April 2011

This is a free blogging space for LRC members. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the LRC.

John Mcdonnell is brilliant

Lesley Whiting
20th April 2011 at 12:02
0 comments
Whenever I feel demoralised about the way our Country is going, how unprincipled the Labour Party have become, or how apathetic the working class often are, I read or listen to John for an uplift.
i have just watched John’s speech about the cuts, and there was not a single word I disagreed with.
It saddens me that people have bought into this idea that private is best/ don’t want a nanny state etc. When I grew up in the 1950’s, we had full employment. in London, a lot of this was provided in the Docks (which have long since become overpriced homes for yuppies). There was also a huge amount of manufacturing, because Britain had it’s own car industry, aeronautical / aviation / shipbuilding/ mining/ textiles /utilities etc, etc, - you name it we had it (the public sector was not the only employer, as some think). Because we had these large manufacturing industries, we also had strong trade unions, and the majority of working people were politically aware. We also provided Council property, so that those unable to buy their own homes, would not be forced to live in slums. We also had a health and education system, that was run with the object of helping people, who again could not pay for their own healthcare/education.
Slowly, but surely global capitalism shifted these industries elsewhere, and left us dependent on the financial sector. Slowly but surely, as manufacturing disappeared, and was replaced by the finance and service sector, so trade union membership declined, and with it class consciousness  
In consequence, we now have a situation where we believe that bailing out the banks was essential, and that bearing the cost of this is somehow a joint responsibility - so much so that we are now sacrificing the last vestige of what we had to pay off the debt. We are also allowing ourselves to be held to ransom by financiers who say they will go abroad, if we attempt to tax them.
So please remind me how the private sector has helped us again?
I think this Country would do well to tell the financiers, if you want to leave the Country, please do, but we’ll have your assets thank you. I also think we need to re-establish a mixed economy - not just an economy based on the financial sector.
Sadly, as I have stage 4 Breast Cancer, I probably won’t live to see these changes, and I so fear for my children’s future. I’m so lucky to have lived at a time when governments were concerned with people’s welfare, and the majority of working people were politically aware.  [continue/comment...]

This is a free blogging space for LRC members. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the LRC.

Please see link to Telegraph article about my fight to end the Cyberknife Funding ban, and sign my p

Lesley Whiting
3rd April 2011 at 22:14
0 comments
Please see link below to article which appeared in today’s Sunday Telegraph, about my fight to end the ban that has been imposed by Primary Care Trusts in the South East to fund Cyberknife Stereotactic Radiotherapy.
Three NHS Hospitals in the South East of England have spent £9 million to buy Cyberknife, but not a single cancer patient can use it because PCT’s refuse to fund treatment. This means only private patients, can use equipment owned by the NHS.
Please read the article at the link below, and then sign our petition, at the lower link. Also, any politicians that can help with the campaign would be greatly appreciated. [continue/comment...]
Tags: http:www.gopetition.competition42313.html, http:www.gopetition.competition42313.html

This is a free blogging space for LRC members. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the LRC.

Please see link to Telegraph article about my fight to end the Cyberknife Funding ban, and sign my p

Lesley Whiting
3rd April 2011 at 22:14
0 comments
Please see link below to article which appeared in today’s Sunday Telegraph, about my fight to end the ban that has been imposed by Primary Care Trusts in the South East to fund Cyberknife Stereotactic Radiotherapy.
Three NHS Hospitals in the South East of England have spent £9 million to buy Cyberknife, but not a single cancer patient can use it because PCT’s refuse to fund treatment. This means only private patients, can use equipment owned by the NHS.
Please read the article at the link below, and then sign our petition, at the lower link. Also, any politicians that can help with the campaign would be greatly appreciated. [continue/comment...]
Tags: http:www.gopetition.competition42313.html

This is a free blogging space for LRC members. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the LRC.

Please see link to Telegraph article about my fight to end the Cyberknife Funding ban, and sign my p

Lesley Whiting
3rd April 2011 at 22:13
0 comments
Please see link below to article which appeared in today’s Sunday Telegraph, about my fight to end the ban that has been imposed by Primary Care Trusts in the South East to fund Cyberknife Stereotactic Radiotherapy.
Three NHS Hospitals in the South East of England have spent £9 million to buy Cyberknife, but not a single cancer patient can use it because PCT’s refuse to fund treatment. This means only private patients, can use equipment owned by the NHS.
Please read the article at the link below, and then sign our petition, at the lower link. Also, any politicians that can help with the campaign would be greatly appreciated. [continue/comment...]
Tags: http:www.gopetition.competition42313.html