Simply Smith

Their standard of living should be much higher and the expectation of a civilised society should be realised for many more of us.

Billions of hard-earned pounds are being ripped off the folk of this land by greed, inefficiency and down-right bad management.

The priorities of government, big business and vested interests seemingly are all-important these days.

Increasingly, we hear stories of people being swindled out of their money on a regular and organised basis. Statistically speaking, I have heard more is spent per capita on the health service in Bosnia than on the British National Health Service.

Of course statistics can prove anything, but it doesn't take a genius to work out that you often have to be on death's door to be admitted to an NHS hospital.

I heard the other day of a patient who was told he would have to wait sixty-six weeks to see an eye consultant - and that was before going onto a waiting list for any necessary treatment. Someone else I know has had to wait over twelve months for necessary surgery.

Some banks are trying to charge their customers every time they use a cash machine: access to their own money could cost them between £1 and £1.50 a time.

This is being investigated by the banking watchdog. We've all heard stories about cars being double the price in this country.

One national newspaper assessed the cost of one particular model: In this country £11,000, in Denmark £5,800.

Now the car manufacturers are promising all sorts of incentives to lure unsuspecting motorists into buying their overpriced products.

I read only last week of a phone company which has charged thousands of its subscribers up to £50 for the use of its 0901 service. That's OK you might say.

However, they were charged even when the number was engaged. The company is trying to distance itself from the matter, giving it over to computer error.

But if the affair had not been brought to light would the company, of its own volition, have refunded the cash? Of course it would, wouldn't it?

Accuse me of being cynical if you like.

The last thing I would wish to do is to deny the rights of business to enterprise.

But, really? Profit is one thing but to try and justify downright extortion must be unacceptable.

Now the Millennium Dome is being propped up to the tune of an extra £60 million.

Certainly the Dome company states that the loan will be repaid when additional visitors turn up in the summer.

What happens, though, if these people stay away?

That money could have enriched the lives of this country's citizenry: new hospitals, extra nurses, etc.

When the Millennium thingy has finally closed its owners will probably be desperately trying to figure out what it could be used for.

I tell you what, convert it into a nursing Dome, or a dog's Dome, or even a retirement Dome for former Lottery directors and bank executives.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.