"Imagine living in a Tesco house, sending your child to a Tesco school..."

[ed miliband]

well, now you don't need to imagine:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/may/05/urban-development-tesco-towns

[Foldered]

This is scary. The privatization of a town is an ultimate success of capitalism. Considering the outrage, however, this may be beneficial for the left; it could result in people not only flocking to the left, but actually be willing to do something.

[AK]

This is scary. The privatization of a town is an ultimate success of capitalism.
Been there, done that:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pullman_Company#Company_town
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pullman,_Chicago

[ed miliband]

In addition, all British schools can now become 'academies'. This is being presented as some sort of devolution of power, handing the control of schools back to the people who use and work for them, but the reality is these 'academies' will likely be owned and controlled by businesses and/or religious groups.

[bricolage]

It mentions Streatham in that article. What they are doing there is building a whole new development that involves doing up the ice rink, however in the meantime they are dumping a temporary one in the middle of Streatham Common ruining one of the few open green spaces in the area. A lot of people are pissed off but the councilors have done shit and fobbed everyone off with half-hearted replies. Is fucked up.

[nuisance]

Isn't this the done thing in Holland- companies owning housing complexes to house their workers?

[RebelDog]

Presumably once the kids finish their last day of schooling they will line up and be assigned jobs like stacking shelves, manning tills, collecting trolleys etc. They will not be happy until every area of life is commercialised.

[ed miliband]

Isn't this the done thing in Holland- companies owning housing complexes to house their workers?

No, that sort of thing is common across the world and has happened for a long time.

This 'Tesco Town' thing basically allows Tesco to buy up large chunks of land and develop housing estates, gyms, schools, etc. instead of local councils doing so.

[RadioRaheem84]

What about the town bought by Disney in the Corporation documentary?