Writing To Your MP

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FourPart
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Writing To Your MP

Post by FourPart »

How many of you out there have written to your MP & what did you write about?

I imagine that most of the time it would be to complain about something or another, demanding that more be spent on something or another. The problem is that so many people make these demands but with never a thought as to where the money's going to come from & even expecting to pay less for it.

But how many of you have thought of some sort of positive input & put it forward? Who knows - it might help everyone concerned.

As you may already know I regularly keep in touch with my MP (John Denham) with some of my ideas, many of which he has taken on board, and I have just sent him another.

I've just signed another Petition from 38 Degrees, regarding the funding of the NHS. Ed Milliband is saying (quite rightly, in my opinion) that in order to save the NHS then an extra penny will have to be put on taxes, while the Sahdow Chancellor, Ed Balls is concerned about the prospect of raising taxes would be a vote loser. Both of which are probably true. The question is, which is more important?

This set me thinking. What other solutions might there be?

Obviously there is no Magic Wand (if only there was), but I couldn't help wondering about how Private Pension Plans are operating. As most of us are aware (mainly due to good media promotion) there is the option to subscribe to a Private Pension Plan, to which your employer pays a share & by taking this option you get a reduction in what you pay to the Government, which seems a pretty good idea to me.

My idea, though, seems so glaringly obvious that I can't help feeling it must already exist, and that is to put a similar plan into effect with NHS funding.

Now, I'm not talking about Private Health Care, such as BUPA. Such plans are all very well & good in their own way, but despite the fact that they pay more than their way to use the NHS resources, the fact remains that when they do so, these are resources that are then made unavailable to NHS patients - but that's another matter. My suggestion is an alternative to the funding of NHS Treatment. The customer / patient (whatever you choose to call the 'unit') opts to go for a Private Health Plan Insurer. In so doing, just as with Pension Plans, the employer pays a minimum percentage, the government allows a certain discount, and the insurance companies compete to offer the best deal - perhaps even offering a 'no-claims bonus' - maybe even offering different premiums according to the customer's lifestyle & medical background. This could benefit the customer by possibly offering a lower rate, overall, of what they already pay. The Government would still be taking a partial premium, although the lion's share of the expenditure will be paid by the Insurance Company. The Government would also receive additional revenue in tax from the added profits of the insurance companies. It may even encourage additional specialized Insurance Companies to start up new businesses, thus benefiting employment problems & consequentially, more taxes (small potatoes, but a potential benefit, nonetheless).

As I said, it's probably such a glaringly obvious notion that there just has to be something like this already available, but I, for one, haven't heard of such a thing & the question must surely be asked, if it does exist, then why isn't it publicized in the same way that Private Pension Plans are?
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Oscar Namechange
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Writing To Your MP

Post by Oscar Namechange »

I don't need to write to mine... we socialise with him and he talks to me via Skype.

We socialise because we are grown up's In this neck of the woods.... none of this ' oh she's with them' nonsence.

In fact, I've just won a minor battle with our council with the help of a Labour Councillor....

That's the way It should be.

I think what people overlook, Is that your local MP was elected on local Issue's. Yet as soon as they are elected, the electorate expect them to put right the entire country.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
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FourPart
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Writing To Your MP

Post by FourPart »

Oscar Namechange;1464382 wrote: I think what people overlook, Is that your local MP was elected on local Issue's. Yet as soon as they are elected, the electorate expect them to put right the entire country.
Exactly. And before they can represent your needs, they first need to know what your needs are. Plus no-one can expect to have all the answers, so any suggestions are always made welcome (at least, I've always found it so with John Denham).

I actually feel sorry for them being the brunt of everyone's discontent most of the time. As part of 38 Degrees campaign against the Bedroom Tax I asked that he voted in support of the amendments & after he did so, I made a point to write & thank him.
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kazalala
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Writing To Your MP

Post by kazalala »

I wrote to mine out of sheer desperation and in dire need of help. She was quick in replying and amazingly efficient in being instrumental to my cause, especially as I had not given a lot of notice and something needed done before a deadline looming up. It was a double edged sword as it was help needed for something not particularly nice but she did it and i say to this day, it was her input that moved things on and got the result needed.

I have after then agreed to help out if needed in future with a leaflet drop, and i fill in surveys sent me, and read the occasional email sent me too. :)




FOC THREAD PART1

In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

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Bruv
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Writing To Your MP

Post by Bruv »

Oscar Namechange;1464382 wrote: I think what people overlook, Is that your local MP was elected on local Issue's. Yet as soon as they are elected, the electorate expect them to put right the entire country.


Begging everybodies pardon but......is the MP not to represent you on national interests that affect you locally and also on a National level?

What is the role of Local Councilors if they are not for Local affairs affecting local people.

MPs role is over reaching that local perspective.

But to answer the topic, NO we don't need more privatisation, fund the NHS from taxes if need be, but keep it as a publicly funded and run as possible.....please.
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FourPart
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Post by FourPart »

Bruv;1464397 wrote: Begging everybodies pardon but......is the MP not to represent you on national interests that affect you locally and also on a National level?

What is the role of Local Councilors if they are not for Local affairs affecting local people.

MPs role is over reaching that local perspective.
I don't see that anyone's said anything to the contrary. Oscar commented that MPs tend to get voted in on Local Issues. Well, rightly or wrongly, that's true. People see things most on issues that affect them directly - which are usually Local Issues.



But to answer the topic, NO we don't need more privatisation, fund the NHS from taxes if need be, but keep it as a publicly funded and run as possible.....please.
To an extent I agree with you, but I'm not talking about providing privatised services - only the funding - and even then it would be an optional thing for anyone who felt they could get a better deal with a private insurance company. The company would still pay for the NHS fees for their policy holders. In a sense, it's just a form of underwriting.

As things are, a great deal of the NHS services are being hired out to Private Health Companies, such as BUPA who, as I said, pay more than their fair share for the use of these resources, but they're still making the services unavailable to NHS Patients. This is what I believe to be wrong. The only thing I'm putting forward is an option to give the public a choice - not compulsory.
Bruv
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Writing To Your MP

Post by Bruv »

FourPart;1464406 wrote:

As things are, a great deal of the NHS services are being hired out to Private Health Companies, such as BUPA who, as I said, pay more than their fair share for the use of these resources, but they're still making the services unavailable to NHS Patients. This is what I believe to be wrong. The only thing I'm putting forward is an option to give the public a choice - not compulsory.


The way I understand it, you can choose to see 'Privately' an NHS Doctor in a NHS Hospital using NHS facilities but on private time, which is paid for from private insurance.

I think this is totally wrong, if somebody feels the need to go private, why should they piggyback on the back of publicly owned facilities ?

You cannot stop people going private, but the rate for such a privilege should reflect the actual costs involved and not subsidised by people paying into the public kitty for public use. The argument that these private patients are paying over the odds, doesn't wash with me, the Doctors time is a resource too, and they are employed mainly by the NHS, splitting their time between private and public practice is debatable whether they are still able to give their best. A lorry driver wouldn't be allowed to moonlight in his employers vehicle, and the law limits the time he can safely drive too, how are Doctors any different ?
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FourPart
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Post by FourPart »

Bruv;1464414 wrote: The way I understand it, you can choose to see 'Privately' an NHS Doctor in a NHS Hospital using NHS facilities but on private time, which is paid for from private insurance.

I think this is totally wrong, if somebody feels the need to go private, why should they piggyback on the back of publicly owned facilities ?

You cannot stop people going private, but the rate for such a privilege should reflect the actual costs involved and not subsidised by people paying into the public kitty for public use. The argument that these private patients are paying over the odds, doesn't wash with me, the Doctors time is a resource too, and they are employed mainly by the NHS, splitting their time between private and public practice is debatable whether they are still able to give their best. A lorry driver wouldn't be allowed to moonlight in his employers vehicle, and the law limits the time he can safely drive too, how are Doctors any different ?
No, that's not what I mean at all. That already happens to BUPA Patients, and I'm totally opposed to that.

My proposal is more like choosing who your electricity supplier is. In the end the money all goes to the same source & you get the same quality of supply. You just get to choose who offers you the best tariff.

As things stand, everyone pays a set rate as their contribution towards the NHS, which is set by the Government. When you use the NHS the Government pays. What I'm saying is that if they made it possible for you to choose who to pay those contributions to you could shop around for the best deal. Then, when you use the NHS you would still be a regular patient - no special privileges, only the insurance company / provider would foot the bill. If you look after yourself & live a healthy lifestyle then you might even earn a 'No-Claims Bonus'.
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Oscar Namechange
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Post by Oscar Namechange »

As much as I like my local MP, I can see him losing many votes In May. My area Is up In arms over the Badger Cull In Somerset and Gloucester. He's failed to stop the Cull.... It will cost him dear I feel.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
Bruv
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Writing To Your MP

Post by Bruv »

FourPart;1464415 wrote: No, that's not what I mean at all. That already happens to BUPA Patients, and I'm totally opposed to that.

My proposal is more like choosing who your electricity supplier is. In the end the money all goes to the same source & you get the same quality of supply. You just get to choose who offers you the best tariff.

As things stand, everyone pays a set rate as their contribution towards the NHS, which is set by the Government. When you use the NHS the Government pays. What I'm saying is that if they made it possible for you to choose who to pay those contributions to you could shop around for the best deal. Then, when you use the NHS you would still be a regular patient - no special privileges, only the insurance company / provider would foot the bill. If you look after yourself & live a healthy lifestyle then you might even earn a 'No-Claims Bonus'.
You have just described Privatation.........

People get older and not surprisingly their need for medical services increases with age so.......I no longer pay National Insurance but my need for it's services is at it's greatest, I am now reaping my No Claims bonus.

I understand NI is a graduated contribution based on your earnings just like tax, the bigger the pot makes for the best way of running a National Health Service where ill people get the best attention and where nobody is jockeying for financial investment on the basis of peoples health.........and that to me is the civilised way to use public funding.
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Oscar Namechange
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Writing To Your MP

Post by Oscar Namechange »

kazalala;1464395 wrote: I wrote to mine out of sheer desperation and in dire need of help. She was quick in replying and amazingly efficient in being instrumental to my cause, especially as I had not given a lot of notice and something needed done before a deadline looming up. It was a double edged sword as it was help needed for something not particularly nice but she did it and i say to this day, it was her input that moved things on and got the result needed.

I have after then agreed to help out if needed in future with a leaflet drop, and i fill in surveys sent me, and read the occasional email sent me too. :)


I've delivered leaflets for my Tory MP also. I can't forget his support during my arrest and trial.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. R.L. Binyon
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LarsMac
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Post by LarsMac »

I have written to my congressman, and to my senator a number of times.

The only replies I have ever received were solicitations for campaign contributions.

I guess that says it all.
The home of the soul is the Open Road.
- DH Lawrence
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