Page 4 | To think we’re lucky to be in Britain?

BooomShakeTheRoom · 2025-02-22T13:52:55+00:00

- Temperate climate with distinct seasons, all the more important and enjoyable as we see other areas of the world suffer with annual fires, floods, hurricanes etc. - Basic protection of human rights and freedom. Yes, politically we’re in a strange place globally and nationally (yes, looking at you Reform and Trump voters 😑) but - generally - you can be who you are with minimal risks. That really isn’t the case in many parts of the world still. - NHS - again, yes it’s stretched and not perfect but it’s still far better provision than most other people have in the world. I have friends and neighbours who have moved back to the UK just for the healthcare. - Fantastic school system. We have it VERY good compared to many countries. Again, some of my friends have moved back to the UK to access our free school system. I feel very lucky to be able to send my kids. - Pretty decent benefits and state support system. A LOT of people are housed and fed by the system who would otherwise be destitute. - World class maternity rights. - Good life/work balance for most. 35-40hrs per week is a lot less than many other countries expect. - Beautiful coastlines, national parks, vibrant cities, shops, parks, kids entertainment. Again, lots of communities around the world don’t have all of that accessible. We hear a lot of doom and gloom, but for me at least, I feel very blessed to have won the postcode lottery to have been born here. Could things be better? Of course, certainly. And life can throw us problems regardless. But it could also be a whole lot worse and I’m really thankful for everything I have access to. Just wanted to post this as media plays a big role in depressing people and I hope this post prompts people to think about what they do have, rather than what they don’t. (I appreciate people feel differently, just wanted to see a positive post!)

Snoken · 23/02/2025 07:14

@ImmigrationLawyer sure if you compare the UK to the absolute poorest and corrupt countries in the world you will feel lucky to live there but I think the comparison can only be made if you compare UK to countries with similar wealth and belief systems.

ImmigrationLawyer · 23/02/2025 00:16

YANBU. I spend all day every day with people who have experienced the absolute worst of humanity.

Here you can disagree with the government and not get locked up indefinitely.

You can protest and not get your arms broken by the police.

You can be gay and not get thrown off a high building.

You can have an extramarital affair and the local police won't look the other way while the aggrieved partner and their family beat you to death.

You can have a religion that is not the state religion, and you won't have your place of worship set on fire by government goons.

You can lock your door at night and be fairly confident that a rebel group won't kick your door in and force you to watch while they rape your children.

If we go to war, you can be sure that your primary age children won't be forcibly recruited and if you are a conscientious objector you will have the right to alternative service even in the event of conscription.

If you are disabled, you won't be accused of witchcraft.

If you have severe mental health problems you will not be chained to a wall or subjected to exorcisms.

If you are accused of a crime you won't be tortured in detention, and if you are the victim of a crime you won't have to pay the police to get them to investigate.

If you have children you won't need to take them out of school and get them into work to support the family.

If you own your own home it won't be taken over by a hostile militia.

If you're living in the UK in 2025 as a British citizen you're doing pretty well.

OrangeYaGlad · 22/02/2025 23:05

TheMoment · 22/02/2025 21:01

France has far less provision than the Uk and society there is culturally a lot more negative and has far less empathy for parents/guardians/families of send children in general. Just a look on here: families sharing horror stories of taking their autistic child to France on holiday etc and being scolded and judged etc. We are kind and supportive.

Yes, Nordic countries have more provision but their numbers are far far smaller for the amount of sen children living there AND they pay more tax than us AND have completely different cultural attitudes to many aspects of life, society, tax systems than us. Cannot compare. We seem to want to pay very little tax, minimum NI and then demand first rate services for everyone all the time. It’s surely not possible.

Someone on here a few months back had disability figures in uk vs Germany and France and was striking the difference. I’ll try hunt out the data/figures on my watch list.

Anyhow, it’s my lived experience many with disabled children seek to come to the uk due to the send education, provision and support offered. We do a lot to support Children with learning disabilities in this country and have always been proud of this.

like anything at the moment due to lack of money - there isn’t enough for everyone to have everything all the time but it’s still all free to us all as most don’t contribute much to the services they receive.

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France has provision. I'm waiting to hear what European country has no special schools at all,.as previously asserted.

UK provision is not impressive and it's getting worse.

Booksaresick · 22/02/2025 23:03

coldcallerbaiter · 22/02/2025 22:56

What are you paying, if you don’t mind me asking?

I just think I will pay out of pocket, and take the risk, the premiums were so high, I cancelled as everything we had was never covered as under the excess amount.

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DH, myself, adult child, 3 under 18s, just under 200£ per month.
expect it to increase significantly every year but still worth it.

HotPotatoesies · 22/02/2025 23:00

Our neighbour had a suspected heart attack and the ambulance said they'd be there in 6 hours, despite being told over the phone by a passer-by that the guy was no longer breathing. He died within minutes, so not feeling particularly in love with the NHS lately. He was 52 years old.

Maddy70 · 22/02/2025 22:58

I would love to agree with you but ..
I left the UK several years ago my adoptive country while not perfect has
Superior state healthcare , genuinely fantastic
A really lovely all year climate yet still seasonal
Real protection of human rights
I was a teacher in the UK it was bloody awful. Hopefully this new government will make the necessary changes

Amazing benefits system , higher pensions longer maternity leave

Protected work life balance
Beautiful towns, cities and landscape

I don't mean to run the UK down but it's only when you're outside if it you see it more clearly.

There are much worse places to live

coldcallerbaiter · 22/02/2025 22:56

Booksaresick · 22/02/2025 22:49

I have three very senior healthcare professionals in my family. We are all insured privately with the highest level of cover for all family members. I would prioritise it over a monthly car payment or sky tv in terms of how important it is now to be covered.
When you actually know what goes on in the NHS it’s shocking. The NHS is so horrific it is actually dangerous now and likely to get worse. Those with good experiences are now mostly lucky exceptions.

What are you paying, if you don’t mind me asking?

I just think I will pay out of pocket, and take the risk, the premiums were so high, I cancelled as everything we had was never covered as under the excess amount.

Lessexpected · 22/02/2025 22:54

XWKD · 22/02/2025 13:58

I agree apart from the NHS. There has always been this "envy of the world" bollocks surrounding the NHS, as if it's unique or special in the world. For a wealthy first world country it's not good enough.

Agree with this. NHS is killing people off

Booksaresick · 22/02/2025 22:49

I have three very senior healthcare professionals in my family. We are all insured privately with the highest level of cover for all family members. I would prioritise it over a monthly car payment or sky tv in terms of how important it is now to be covered.
When you actually know what goes on in the NHS it’s shocking. The NHS is so horrific it is actually dangerous now and likely to get worse. Those with good experiences are now mostly lucky exceptions.

OnaMatUpHere · 22/02/2025 22:38

Kendodd · 22/02/2025 21:48

YANBU OP
I think there are better places to live with better public services but there are many more worse places in the world. The world is a scary place right now and a lot of working people in the UK are very, very poor. Me and my family though, in our little bubble, we're living in a Hallmark movie.

@Kendodd are you saying (like other pps) that because you and your family are alright that it is a good place to live?? Even you acknowledge that a lot of people are very very poor, is it a good place for them? What's that saying about judging a society by the way they treat their most vulnerable? We are not doing very well by that standard (I'm wondering if your post was sarcastic? It was very "I'm alright Jack", it's hard to tell on here)

I presume the posters going on about having a positive attitude making life better don't have disabilities or chronic illness or a precarious housing situation etc and have enough money to pay their bills.

All these anecdotes don't mean anything, look at the statistics: we are shit in many different ways. We shouldn't be, we are a rich country but nobody seems to mind that the money is being Syphoned out of our pockets by oligarchs and their pals

Kendodd · 22/02/2025 21:48

YANBU OP
I think there are better places to live with better public services but there are many more worse places in the world. The world is a scary place right now and a lot of working people in the UK are very, very poor. Me and my family though, in our little bubble, we're living in a Hallmark movie.

Pairymoppins · 22/02/2025 21:38

Your post is a wake up call OP and actually I agree with you. I have had some pretty ropey experiences with the NHS over the years, but also plenty of good ones. My kids state comprehensive school is amazing. And I live and work in a multicultural area which has crime and problems but where, despite all the noise to the contrary, people coexist peacefully and respectfully.

Meadowland · 22/02/2025 21:33

@BooomShakeTheRoom
Thank you for posting this thread.
UK is not perfect, but what country is ? And relatively speaking we are very fortunate.
The one thing we really could do without is the people who constantly moan about living here.
That would make it an even better place to live😉

Simonjt · 22/02/2025 21:10

BooomShakeTheRoom · 22/02/2025 20:10

@ByQuaintAzureWasp I don’t think I articulated it properly - I was referring to being able to have 12 months off work, which is rare and a privilege. Now having the option of shared parental leave too.

In America it’s not uncommon for women to be back in 12 weeks. In lots of the developing world, women can’t have time off work.

Cost of childcare is ridiculous here, but having protected rights and having so much time off is a luxury I feel grateful to have.

480 days here, and about £120 a month for fulltime childcare.

CuteOrangeElephant · 22/02/2025 21:07

The Netherlands is also not a scandi country and has a tad more than 12 people.

Simonjt · 22/02/2025 21:03

Planetmonster · 22/02/2025 14:50

Agree OP and on the whole, if you work cleverly and work hard you can be successful, you don’t have to bribe people for jobs or qualifications.

Everyone is always blah blah Sweden and the Netherlands. There is frikking about 12 people in the Scandi countries and they pay a fuck tonne of tax. There’s 70 million here, it’s a lot of people in a small space.

We live in Sweden, we pay less tax than we did in the UK. Numbers is just economies of scale, theres no reason it can’t work for bigger or smaller populations.

TheMoment · 22/02/2025 21:01

OrangeYaGlad · 22/02/2025 20:06

Which European country has no special education schools or support for children with additional needs?

Show quote history

France has far less provision than the Uk and society there is culturally a lot more negative and has far less empathy for parents/guardians/families of send children in general. Just a look on here: families sharing horror stories of taking their autistic child to France on holiday etc and being scolded and judged etc. We are kind and supportive.

Yes, Nordic countries have more provision but their numbers are far far smaller for the amount of sen children living there AND they pay more tax than us AND have completely different cultural attitudes to many aspects of life, society, tax systems than us. Cannot compare. We seem to want to pay very little tax, minimum NI and then demand first rate services for everyone all the time. It’s surely not possible.

Someone on here a few months back had disability figures in uk vs Germany and France and was striking the difference. I’ll try hunt out the data/figures on my watch list.

Anyhow, it’s my lived experience many with disabled children seek to come to the uk due to the send education, provision and support offered. We do a lot to support Children with learning disabilities in this country and have always been proud of this.

like anything at the moment due to lack of money - there isn’t enough for everyone to have everything all the time but it’s still all free to us all as most don’t contribute much to the services they receive.

cato40 · 22/02/2025 20:58

Have left the UK for Italy 6 months ago and have been more depressed than whem my ex left me for another woman.
I think weathwr food and the NHS in the UK are really bad actually. I came back for a weekend d and couldn't understand how I lived so long with such bad quality food.
Having said that I think the UK has an excellent school system and the reason why there is such a liberal society is partly due to education. The BBC is brilliant and miss it hugely and the arts society and mentality. I have no family left in the UK but it feels like home and I miss it loads.

Original poster

BooomShakeTheRoom · 22/02/2025 20:47

@OrangeYaGlad well, everything I put in my original post. I feel very grateful for the opportunities I’ve had and have and for those my kids have too.

Im sorry you don’t feel happy where you live or in what life’s offered you - I do appreciate that some people luck out more than others, despite where we live.

Faking til you make it works - it’s not a fad. If you think positively, you will feel better. If you think negatively and feel pessimistic and down trodden, it’s not surprising to know you’ll feel worse. For me, I choose to be gracious and it’s probably the most important quality I’m instilling in my children. To feel grateful, fortunate and humble. But we’re all different and if you don’t want to look at the world optimistically that’s absolutely your choice.

I hope all the youngsters out there feel an element of hope for the world and our country, like we did growing up.

OP posts:

OrangeYaGlad · 22/02/2025 20:32

BooomShakeTheRoom · 22/02/2025 20:13

Exactly. Us Brits are very good at self deprivation and collective pessimism. We’re not great at celebrating success. And any sign of patriotism is made out to be akin to racism - it’s just crazy.

The “we’re all in it together” doesn’t exist here anymore. Let’s bring back optimism and gratitude! If not for us, then for our kids.

Edited

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But what success? Things are, objectively, much worse. How about doing better for your kids, rather than fake optimism and celebrating the deterioration of the country?

Firebird83 · 22/02/2025 20:26

I’ve lived in a few different countries in Europe and travelled quite a bit too, yet I chose to move back to the UK. It could do with being a bit warmer and sunnier but honestly there isn’t any country I’d rather live in.

Original poster

BooomShakeTheRoom · 22/02/2025 20:13

Dontlletmedownbruce · 22/02/2025 18:52

I think that's exactly the point. It's very unusual for a younger generation to have it harder than the previous, and to see life and services slowly slip to a lower standard. This makes people really angry and unable to accept it as a norm whereas another generation or people in another place would just accept and get on with it.

I don't live in the UK so can't have an opinion on it, but from an outsider perspective it seems that this is the problem, people didn't realise how incredibly lucky they were. Relatively, of course. Poverty always exists in some form. And now they no longer are so lucky, they are just like anywhere else. Plus and minuses depending on your circumstances.

I think the biggest hurdle British people face right now is pessimism. People sometime underestimate the effect of a collective optimism, the general psyche of the public is a major factor in our general well-being and MH.

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Exactly. Us Brits are very good at self deprivation and collective pessimism. We’re not great at celebrating success. And any sign of patriotism is made out to be akin to racism - it’s just crazy.

The “we’re all in it together” doesn’t exist here anymore. Let’s bring back optimism and gratitude! If not for us, then for our kids.

OP posts:

Original poster

BooomShakeTheRoom · 22/02/2025 20:10

@ByQuaintAzureWasp I don’t think I articulated it properly - I was referring to being able to have 12 months off work, which is rare and a privilege. Now having the option of shared parental leave too.

In America it’s not uncommon for women to be back in 12 weeks. In lots of the developing world, women can’t have time off work.

Cost of childcare is ridiculous here, but having protected rights and having so much time off is a luxury I feel grateful to have.

OP posts:

OrangeYaGlad · 22/02/2025 20:06

TheMoment · 22/02/2025 19:09

In many countries there is no support at all for sen children though. European countries too - not just Arab nations either. Many are shamed and have zero support for their children born with profound learning disabilities. No DLA, no special schools nothing.

As OP says UK is not perfect but many are deluded as to what is available or what they are “entitled to” in other countries.

I also have no idea where anyone thinks the money is coming from to pay for all this provision? We have fewer tax payers than ever, no growth and increasingly many of the population have no incentive to work more hours or be ambitious or and “try to get on” as they culturally did a few decades ago as we all receive the same state support regardless and cannot improve lifestyle through a well paid job alone anymore and need bank of mum and dad gifts and or inheritance anyhow.

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Which European country has no special education schools or support for children with additional needs?

Frowningprovidence · 22/02/2025 19:27

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 22/02/2025 18:51

World class maternity rights .... really? How so?

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If you look globally, the average maternity leaves (paid and unpaid) are quite short. The uk isn't the only one with good maternity leave and some places have better but it is up there.