# Physician heal thyself

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2008/12/01/physician-heal-thyself/
- Published: 2008-12-01T16:21:11+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

Apparently, charitable giving is going to decrease by some 5% in 2009 then fall 
another 3% the following year. It’s expected to recover in 2011.

At least, and I use the words advisedly, that’s the view of an economist called 
Neil Parker, currently with the Royal Bank of Scotland.

But wait.

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Is this the same Royal Bank of Scotland that got the price of its recent rights 
issue so hideously wrong that it could flog only 0.24% of the new shares to existing
shareholders?

The same Royal Bank of Scotland that’s consequently gone cap-in-hand to the government
for funds after making a paper loss on the issue of £2.4bn?

The same Royal Bank of Scotland we tax-payers have been forced to bail-out to the
tune of £20bn? The same Royal Bank of Scotland of which we now own 57.9% as a result?

Pardon me for being sceptical, cynical or just a tad world-weary of economists, 
but in all honesty I’d rather put my trust into runes, numbles or Mystic-bloody-
Meg than some RBS banker.

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