bobmac
Major Champion
My pension fund has shares in these companies. The dividends pay my pension.
So?
No-one is asking you to take a drop in your pension
My pension fund has shares in these companies. The dividends pay my pension.
Why aren't people demanding that the Government be in charge of Energy, as in Ministry of Power etc as it was. Then the nation had someone to demand action from.
Now, it is morally difficult to demand the government control, in effect run, a privately owned company. In the final analysis the government can say it cannot force the situation.
The Poll tax pressure worked because it was the Government you were( not) paying.?
Trying to walk a fine line. By stating facts Not political opinion. In 1979, the conservatives under Margaret Thatcher sold a 5% share in BP. That took the governments/ public share in ownership of BP to 49%. it obviously then became a minor shareholder with a view to privatisation of BP. That happened in 1987 ish. The point of privatisation was that as a consumer (Me and you) could shop around for the cheapest deals. That was not just BP/ Energy But water, electricity etc etc. Turned out well didn’t it. ?
Profits go down. Dividends go down. Pension fund income goes down. No working contributors to fund. Fund can't pay pension. Skint.So?
No-one is asking you to take a drop in your pension
We can't shop around for water.
Profits go down. Dividends go down. Pension fund income goes down. No working contributors to fund. Fund can't pay pension. Skint.
Swing low and slow nailed it.? When “ privatisation “ was sold to the public at the time one of the strong selling points was private sector meant lesser bills and the fact that the taxpayer would not be paying for nationalised company losses. A quick look in Wikipedia shows how many companies were privatised. And how much money we are saving ?sarcasm again ??We can't shop around for water.
The two sentences hits the nail on the head. An example, The coal mine that is creating a lot of discussion in Cumbria produces coal that is important for the steel industry, we don’t have our own supply and once more we are at the mercy of other countries.Exactly. Nor, in reality, for the others. (BTW, I think Tashy is being a bit sarcy ?)
But it isn't just about prices.( though that is important). It's about control of utilities vital to the security and vital functionality of a Country. They should not be under the control,of private companies, some of whom are foreign.
And of course annuities rates paid do not vary according as to how the underlying investments perform. If they do well then the insurance company paying the annuity benefits, not the annuient. With current annuity rates, I cannot see how anyone would be better off long term converting their pension fund to one.
The issue is the size of profit increase during a time when people's energy prices are trebling.My pension fund has shares in these companies. The dividends pay my pension.
The issue is the size of profit increase during a time when people's energy prices are trebling.
It's fair enough for share holders to receive dividends but not at the expense of families being fleeced.
Do you agree?
Public protest by large numbers tends to be a powerful lobbying force with Governments. There are very large numbers of people who just don't have the money to pay the proposed increases so what do they have to lose. If many millions protest then the energy companies will find it very difficult to do anything.I can't see this actually happening. It's easy to add your name to an internet petition claiming that you're going to do this and cancel the direct debit, but when it comes to the crunch how many of those people are going to be willing to take the hit to their credit rating and also potentially have a more expensive pre-payment meter fitted when they stop paying their bill? It will be purely a waiting game for the energy companies. They're going to end up getting their money, one way or another, whether that's through those that cancel the direct debit keeping the money aside to pay later or by setting people up on payment plans. Something needs to be done as the current price rises are unsustainable but I don't think that this is what's going to make the change.
At least we're a sovereign nation again ?
For many of the poorest in work and on benefits it will be Can’t Pay UK. Why it is that those who just don’t have the wherewithal or any savings can’t get specific directed support I do not know, though I suppose we who are much more fortunate and able to pay, even though it might hurt or require some sacrifice, can all hazard a guess.