Karl Marx wrote a lot about the contradictions in the system. About how capitalism creates its own gravediggers. How prescient he was. The current turmoil in the world’s stock markets has been described as ‘trailer trash bringing down Mayfair’. As I understand the situation, it’s been caused by banks lending money to people who don’t really have any money at high rates of interest which …er, they can’t pay back. Crunch.

Now, of course if the local hospital can’t make the books balance (whatever that means in terms of health care) then we are told that market forces mean that wards have to close, operations cancelled and the ‘private sector’ brought in (cue large consultancies charging £2,500 per day for their ’services’).

Bizarrely, when banks follow sharp practices and get in a terrible mess, then central governments step in to ‘bolster the market’. So…the market applies to hospitals, but not to banking. Mmmmm funny that.

And while reading through the online versions of the papers today I came across this gem; an article explaining how this crisis could go on for a long time and statements from very powerful financiers who have been predicting it was going to happen for some time.

If you don’t have time to read the article, at least flick through to the foot of the page. There you will find an advert for various banks and agencies offering unsecured loans from 2,000 to 2 million pounds - no accounts needed, former bankrupts can apply and don’t worry about any other outstanding debts. Contradictions in the system indeed.

Karl Marx must be glowing in his grave.