Selling themselves out of power

THE NSW Government’s quiet move to privatise hospitals is again confirming public suspicion that ruling politicians are more interested in money than the good of the public.

Reports that the government wants private operators to develop and run Shellharbour, Maitland and Wyong hospitals falls hard on the heels of other botched privatisations i.e. power and the land registry.

This government has a problem. One of its own making.

Like a lot of other neoliberal governments around the world, it sees private operators as the best equipped to run services that are or were previously the responsibility of governments. It is a view that is increasingly disconnected from the view, or even the experience, that the greater community (otherwise known as “voters”) has.

The NSW Government’s eagerness to do everything to help big business like miners (the anti-protest laws), developers (the planning “reforms”) and power (privatisation) is starting to offend a great many people across the wider political spectrum.

At a time when jobs are disappearing, the cost of living is going up while wages are not, and life seems to be picking up speed, people are becoming increasingly disenchanted with the democratic system. This can best be seen in the rise of extremist parties like One Nation here in Australia and Donald Trump in the US.

Health is one issue that the government cannot afford to treat like another cash cow. Everyone gets sick or injured; everyone will need health care. Yet it’s obvious that the politicians on Macquarie Street (and in Canberra, for that matter) are treating it like a wonderful revenue-generating opportunity to be exploited.

The NSW Government has, once again, failed to endear itself to the one group it should value the most: the electorate. Opponents are calling this an Americanisation of the health system.

The government should pay heed. People are now asking a very simple question: if the government is going to sell off all its services than what do they need politicians for? Does the government really want voters to answer that question for themselves? They may not like the answer.                    Editor in Chief