Air Ambulance

[mrmcfister]

These attend one incident every 10 minutes in the Uk yet are largely dependant on charitable donations.Does anyone here know why the government does not pay for this? Are we not one of the richest countries in the world? Why do people have to shake tins in supermarkets to get finance for this?I know we have Trident etc to pay for but in the great scheme of things anyone know the answer? I could go on about the Lifeboats too but that may seem churlish!

[JonnyHungwell]

Does not pay for this? - because foolish people like to donate.

Are we not one of the richest countries in the world? - Not any more.

Why do people have to shake tins in supermarkets to get finance for this? - because they're stupid. If they didn't it would get funded out of general taxation.

[Lizard]

As far as the Lifeboat goes, I have spoken to many, the concensus seems to be -- they prefer things as they are, donations, legacy's etc, the thinking behind this seems to be that if they relied on Government funding, they would be subject to cuts, stations closing etc, left in the hands of this Government, many people would probably drown.

[Dave Wells]

If we are paying for Trident then use the fucking things on Binladenland !

[JonnyHungwell]

Buying trident is stupid - it's just letting the US put their missiles here, but we pay for them - while they plan to put missiles in Poland for free! We could never use them without their permission, so why waste our money on them? I think it's more the US want us to have them, to keep their arms industry rolling, and our government just likes to lick ass and pretend there's a special relationship. I suppose there is a special relationship - we give the US money and they laugh at us for being a bunch of ass wipes.

[Flat_Eric]

Because the government thinks that it's much sexier to throw money at countries like Pakistan and India (who are so poor that they can afford their own space programmes and nuclear arsenals) and African banana republics (whose despots simply siphon most of it off into Swiss bank accounts, or use it to build palaces for themselves and their 26 wives) than it is to actually do something worthwhile for their own people.

- Eric

[andy at handiwork]

They are not publicly funded because they are not considered, as harsh as it may seem, to be cost effective. The money is thought to be better spent saving many more lives elsewhere in the health system. Tough if you need one, say after a car crash, good news if you are one of the thousands who might benefit from the extra acute help for your cancer.

[andy at handiwork]

We are updating Trident because it gives us an undeserved place at the big boys table and no British politician dare get rid of nuclear weapons because of the flak they'll get from the D Mail etc. Its a virility thing.

[Flat_Eric]

andy at handiwork wrote:

>>


You mean "cost effective" and "better spent" like this, Andy?



- Eric

[andy at handiwork]

Thats irrelevant. Helicopters are disproportionately expensive for the benefits they give and the money is far better spent on other things.