Blogroll Me!
Celebrating The 65th Anniversary Of Britain's 'Beveridge Report' Revolution ...
*
Shown below is one of This Old Brit's favourite (best of the bulldog breed), old Brits -- Lord William Beveridge.
And to think that so many still believe this country's last real revolutionary was old Oliver Cromwell, eh?
Though those who do certainly shouldn't feel too bad about it, since Beveridge's brilliant victory for the common people is without doubt 'the forgotten revolution'. In fact, many millions worldwide still haven't heard of it.
So, self confessed old rebs that we are, today we're endeavouring to further the education of any & all of those who believe (as we always have), that one's never too old to learn. At least, not while one wants to.
Right then, sit up straight, pin back your lugholes, quit the claptrap at the back of class and pay attention, since here's where the lesson starts.
Then what are you waiting for?
Click on this link.
( Cross posted at the (American) Appletree blog - where, we're pleased to say we've been invited to write on a regular basis.)
*
Shown below is one of This Old Brit's favourite (best of the bulldog breed), old Brits -- Lord William Beveridge.
And to think that so many still believe this country's last real revolutionary was old Oliver Cromwell, eh?
Though those who do certainly shouldn't feel too bad about it, since Beveridge's brilliant victory for the common people is without doubt 'the forgotten revolution'. In fact, many millions worldwide still haven't heard of it.
So, self confessed old rebs that we are, today we're endeavouring to further the education of any & all of those who believe (as we always have), that one's never too old to learn. At least, not while one wants to.
Right then, sit up straight, pin back your lugholes, quit the claptrap at the back of class and pay attention, since here's where the lesson starts.
December 1st 1942: Beveridge lays welfare foundationsLooking to learn more?
The coalition British Government has unveiled plans for a welfare state offering care to all from the cradle to the grave.
The Beveridge report proposes a far-reaching series of changes designed to provide a financial safety net to ensure a "freedom from want" after the war is over.
Everyone of working age would be expected to pay a weekly national insurance contribution.
In return benefits would be paid to the sick, widowed, retired, unemployed and there would also be an allowance for families.
(snip)
Medical provision was not [at that time] universally available to all and Britain's achievement, in his words, "fell seriously short" compared with other countries of the world.
(snip)
A national health service would be provided offering free medical treatment and post-medical rehabilitation for all.
(snip)
... the National Insurance Act was introduced in 1946, offering a state contributory pension for all, and the National Health Service founded in 1948, offering free medical care for all.
Then what are you waiting for?
Click on this link.
( Cross posted at the (American) Appletree blog - where, we're pleased to say we've been invited to write on a regular basis.)
*
Labels: Beveridge Report, Great Britain, National Health Service, welfare state, William Beveridge
posted by Richard at Saturday, December 01, 2007
9 Comments:
An era when politicians and civil servants (well, certainly Labour and Liberal politicians) worked for the people, not the corporates they are now in bed with.
Speaking of statesmen... December's Vanity Fair-When Washington Was Fun describes in vivid cringe-worthy detail the high-society gaffes of George and Laura Bush. Apparently the Bush's can't pull off a dinner party for a head of state if their lives depended on it.
Last spring, George and Laura Bush’s state dinner for Queen Elizabeth II raised eyebrows all over Washington, because the guest list was not only mediocre but also heavily sprinkled with people who had contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to Bush or the Republican Party. The event was only the fifth state dinner the Bushes had had since he took office, almost seven years ago. “They do the bare minimum, and they do it glumly,” one former member of Bush’s staff told me.
Buffy Cafritz, member of the Kennedy Center board and noted Republican hostess: I have never seen a worse guest list than that of the state dinner for the Queen. Arnold Palmer? He won the British Open in 1962! Peyton Manning? And all the corporate people they had. Then someone said, “How dumb can you be, Buffy? It’s the library. He has to fund the [George Bush presidential] library.”
Liz Stevens, Democratic hostess married to George Stevens Jr., co-producer of the Kennedy Center Honors: Do you think the Queen had fun? I didn’t know she was such a jock.
Lea Berman, former social secretary to George and Laura Bush and wife of lobbyist Wayne Berman: We stopped using finger bowls at all but the fanciest dinners, because people don’t know what to do with them. Mrs. Bush said, “Don’t use them.”
Bwahahaha, nothing but trailer trash in the Whitehouse these days.
Jesus H! Will you look at this.
Medical provision was not [at that time] universally available to all and Britain's achievement, in his words, "fell seriously short" compared with other countries of the world.
I hope any American readers here realise what that actually means. That as far back as 65 years ago the UK went way ahead of the US as far as national healthcare for it's people is concerned.
AND .. that other countries (not named but referred to by Beveridge) .. leave the US even further behind.
other countries (not named but referred to by Beveridge) .. leave the US even further behind.
So who's to blame for that? The US rulers for so many years have been so busy butting their noses in and "helping" {whether asked to or not} all over the world, that they don't have either the time {or inclination} to put their own house in order.
I honestly don't know whether to laugh at or cry for America sometimes. {And I'm NOT being snarky}
And to think that Blair, a supposed socialist, was only too eager to pick up where Thatcher left off in trying to sabotage the whole system and make it more American - ie:privatized.
Great Britain? Try has=been Britain.
United Kingdom? Try Blighted Kindom.
National Health Service? Try National Shambles Service.
Rick, thanks for that reminder of a good guy of the old school.
We shouldn't foget that another good guy, Aneurin (Nye) Bevan though. He was the one who took on the job of actually getting Beveridge's ideas off the gound and up and running.
Bless them both. Neither one of them is remembered with as much fondness as they both truly desrve to be. And that's the fault of all our schools' education programmes - excep for some of our universities.
The two mentioned should be feted regulary as real British heroes. I'd go so far as to say we should introduce special anniversary days in their names. Beveridge Day and Bevin Day. But I'm just a bleeding heart lefty of course, eh?
So what? Where would this country be today without us? I'll tell you where - stuck in the same 21st century Dickensian timewarp as most ordinary, everyday, lied to regularly Americans still are.
Oops. Here's a Nye Bevan link I meant to include.
Thanks for reminding us that politics doesn't HAVE to be a dirty, self-seeking, racket, Richard.
I'll pop in a word also for David Lloyd George, who I believe was responsible for the introduction in Britain of old age pensions, unemployment benefit, and financial help for the sick and needy.
American politicians could learn a lot if they'd read a little history.... and get rid of the idea that "socialisation" is a dirty word. But they are too busy lining their own pockets to be doing the job they are elected and paid to do. Grrrrrr!
Post a Comment
<< Home