Compensation Culture - we need more of it
This piece in the Telegraph is pretty useless. Simon Carr at first acknowledges that 'compensation culture' probably isn't the problem he wishes to make out, but then argues it anyway. I had something to say about this back in 2004, and I think it stands the test of time well. When you look at the numbers the majority of the compensation claims, which in total are equal to about 0.6% of GDP per year (and that of course isn't the 'cost' of them to the country, as it is mostly a transfer payment), are for injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents.More strangely Carr decides to illustrate his point about "compensation culture" gone mad with the Aberfan tragedy, and the fact the parents didn't sue the National Coal Board. Yet of course they should have. Carr himself notes that the Coal Board demanded most of the money made available to move the slag heaps, Wikipedia suggests that they subtracted the public appeal money off their compensation (£500 per child). So an uncaring and unresponsive public authority (the official report found the NCB were guilty of "ignorance, ineptitude and a failure of communication), whose negligence led to the deaths of 144 people, 116 of whom were children - is there a better example of why a "compensation culture" is necessary?
posted by Matthew @ 10/22/2006 10:22:00 AM
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