It seems American interests aren't the only ones beholden to their corporate masters.

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It seems American interests aren't the only ones beholden to their corporate masters.

Due to his age, a WWII seaman can't get insured by the parade organizers and is forced to relinquish his role as parade marshall, a role he has filled for 38 years.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/443425/Royal-Navy-hero-tells-how-Hitler-couldn-t-stop-him-but-health-and-safety-zealots-have

Comments

Cassius Wright said…
BOOOOOOOOO

David Cameron FIX THIS NOW
November 18, 2013 at 3:19 PM
Chris Moore said…
It's a shame, and the way it played out was pretty shitty, but the Royal British Legion has a policy of insuring its representatives (which is sensible) and can't get coverage for the guy. It's sad, but it's an unfortunate case of a system designed to protect people coming to restrict one particular person rather than a moustache-twirling bureaucrat's arbitrary decision. I'm more disgusted (although hardly surprised) that the Express and its scummy brethren have chosen to exploit this story in order to continue their grubby little crusade against the whole concept of health and safety regulations. And they would be the first people to run a "elderly veteran in hospital after performing as Parade Marshall" story, were such a thing to happen. It would be brimming with outrage over the fact that they'd let him go out even though they hadn't been able to insure him, and replete with quotes from other family members ("dad has been doing it for nearly 40 years, but he's not as young as he used to be. Why couldn't the legion have found someone else to take up the reins so that he could enjoy the parade in warmth and comfort? He's served his country enough.").

As I say, my sympathies are with the guy - it genuinely is a shame - but this story stinks. The Express is written for eye-rolling curtain-twitchers who have all the necessary xenophobia and blinkeredness to read the Daily Mail, but can't manage all the big words.
November 19, 2013 at 8:38 AM
Cassius Wright said…
I promise you if you ask the old guy he'd waive the insurance. Off there were ever a rule that needed cruises against its this. I note that they covered him past the age of 85 before readily
November 19, 2013 at 5:36 PM
Chris Moore said…
Cassius Wright He's not been insured for the past four years, apparently. I mean, this is the problem - they can't insure him because of his age. I don't know if he's been able to do it anyway in the past because they turned a blind eye in order to allow him to continue (I suspect that this was the case - the legion is obviously pretty sympathetic to tough old veterans -  but I've no way of knowing for sure) or whether it was just in error.

I think he specifically says that he'd forego insurance. I also think that, once you get to that age, you should be able to do pretty much whatever you want to complete your bucket list or just live life while you can. But you can't ignore the fact that the legion has responsibilities and liabilities which it ought to take seriously, nor that tough old veterans like this guy are going to be saying "I'm fine to do this, I'm in great shape" whether they are or not. From a purely practical perspective, if there's a risk that the marshall's going to be taken ill during the parade, then that's a problem irrespective of whether the guy himself is prepared to take the risk.

As I said, my main beef with this is that the scumbags at the Express are taking a giant dump on the RBL in order to further the "Immigrants! Political correctness! Health and safety! House prices falling!" riff that they've been banging out for the entertainment of the irredeemably selfish since time immemorial.
November 20, 2013 at 3:00 AM
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