Just popping in to this thread a little late after being away for some days...

What doesn't seem to have been referred to directly so far in the thread - and apologies if I've missed it - is the manipulation of things like Education and the NHS for mainly political purposes. Note I say political and not idealogical. We have a situation where politicians pay excessive attention to the media - which constantly plays up defects in the "system" and the products of the system with a view to making headlines (and selling papers). Politicians - often overly concerned with staying power at any price - dream up what they think are answers to the headlines, regardless of the sense, practicality or effectiveness of these answers.

An over-simplification, perhaps, but you can see this trend in ever-increasing action over the last few years, with the result that Education (and the NHS) are subject to constant, undermining interference from governments who are only concerned about looking good and staying in power.

Where are the R.A. Butlers of today (the 1944 Education Act), the Aneurin Bevans (the NHS)? Gone - all gone - replaced by selfishness, greed and immediacy.

End of Rant.