Does the UK suck?

[123LiveLaughLove123]

So I have been watching Channel 4 New Life in the Sun.

And it has really been an eye opener.

It made me think...does the UK actually suck? And we are too institutionalised/subject to propaganda to realise?

Here are the reasons the UK sucks:

1. Weather sucks and the country looks dark and grey all the time


2. Roads are narrow, unpleasant to use, and crowded everywhere


3. Houses are small and full of mould everywhere you look. There is nothing romantic about the Cotswolds: it's ancient peasant housing that should be knocked down


4. People look pale and miserable


5. NHS only useful when you reach 65+


6. Rate of tax is astronomically high (I am two years into a graduate job pays marginal tax is 60%)


7. There is crime and general decrepitude everywhere you look


8. Idiots in charge of the country with no critical thinking ability


9. National caste system as a derivative of Norman invaders


10. Opportunities for young people suck because they can't earn enough to buy houses to offers stable family life


11. Low-level drug dealing in every city/town/village if you know what to look out for


12. Private school now astronomically expensive


13. Every business transaction is in some way a scam in the UK. Low-level scamming each other is the basis of the British economy


14. Legacy of colonialism, sexism, institutional racism, caste system derived from royals. It's basically just awful.

What do you think?

No I don't think it sucks. I don't think it's perfect either though- both can be true.

A lot of what you mention is either subjective (ie liking the weather) or happens everywhere. I don't know where this low tax paying crime free utopia is you seem to be comparing to. Lots of people here take the country for granted I think.

I still can't believe we were all conditioned to clap on a Thursday night for members of society who are (mostly ) on shocking wages in extremely stressful jobs risking their lives to save ours. Whilst our government partied, continued to receive pay increases and generally took the piss. It's disgusting, fucking clapping they must have been laughing at us. 😢

It depends on your starting point.

When you've lived in a war zone, UK is unimaginably safe and with an abundance of goods and services.

Comparison can be the thief of joy. But in those circs, it's the bringer

There is a great deal I love about the U.K., but I feel as if I’m losing it to a morally corrupt political monster and the fools who vote for it.

And that we, or perhaps more likely my children will one day have to take up arms to get it back. We said never again😢

What do I think? I disagree with you on most points entirely, though the government is definitely crap.

Where's better?
If I had a lot more money I would have a second home in Spain to retire to for the winter months. But I wouldn't want to live there permanently.

Everywhere has its own issues.

Is this linked to your earlier point, eg the government and people who vote for it? Who are you envisaging your dc taking up arms against?

Interesting no one's mentioned the food:)

My SIL is Australian. Came over 16 years ago and now has British citizenship. She is in regular touch with her family but would never ever go back.
DIL is American. She has no intention of ever going back. She is generally horrified by her home country.

Move then??? Spain and all their Del Boys will love you there xx

I don't agree with many of your points...but are you doing to make it better ?

Hi Marsha, yes it is. I think we will end up with a civil war, essentially between the two sides of the Brexit debate. Or perhaps those that have beliefs shaped by the Daily Mail and related press, and socialists.

Some of those points are true to some extent, but what countries are overall better? I don’t think there are many. Perhaps a handful of European countries, that is it. On a global scale, it is definitely one of the best countries to live in in the world and most people in the world would give an arm and a leg to be born in the UK.
There is a lot of freedom in the UK in many ways, and for many people that will always be the most important thing. There is less judgement from others than in most other countries too. Some cities in UK are now incredibly diverse and creative and there is lots of innovation. Lots of places are still improving and growing (granted, many are not, on the flip side).
Every country has its issues.

We are a country in decline in terms of economy, democratic standards and world influence. That sucks. It does feel fairly dysfunctional here at the moment, but of course all countries have their issues.

So irritating when people say "just go if you don't like it" - especially when (as is often the case) those people voted to remove freedom of movement!

I do agree with you @123LiveLaughLove123

But I'm in Scotland and i love Scotland. Its got the most beautiful countryside. And most of the people are friendly.

Yep, this (my) country has a lot of things very wrong with it at the moment but that really is due to the corruption in the Government and the horrific inequalities that could be solved if psychopathic billionaires gave a shit.

However, yesterday we went for a walk in the countryside near us - which we are privileged to have near us - and all I could see was the greenery, the expanse of nature and somehow that made everything ok for a while. We, as a family have been through some horrific hard times but, without sounding too Pollyanna, the odd hour or two just noticing how beautiful this place is, made me understand there is more to life sometimes.

And being pissed off about paying 60% tax and the price of private school, plus a few more of the daily mail esque bollocks in the first post just makes you look ridiculous

I love the U.K. and love living here. I genuinely think it is one of the best countries in the world and london one of the best cities. Other opinions are available so I have no problem if others disagree 😊

Interesting.
Could you tell us more about this forthcoming ‘civil war’?
Since you say it will involve ‘taking up arms’, what sort of arms? Guns and bombs? Or, since few have access to such things maybe staves and pitchforks?
Will you be actually fighting - or just encouraging your children?

There are many good points to living in the Uk, but also many negatives.

Those living their best life on Bargain loving brits abroad are mainly retired so have a pension income.

Massive negatives to Uk living is child poverty. We should never have this.

I think the education system is flawed as mentioned previously.
It is tough to be a young person today unless your from a more affluent area.

I also don't think NHS maternity services are good either. You shouldn't have to beg for pain relief & then most likely be refused anyway.

London is absolutely the best city in the world and Londoners the best people in the world, except for the hideous expense of it all. But there are so many free and wonderful things to do.

Jesus - what a feel good post 🙄. There are many things I dislike about the UK and many things I love. I've lived abroad several times and each country has good and bad things. It's only when you soebd extended time in a country that you see all sides.

Talk of civil war is bonkers. Brexit is over , literally no one I know ever mentions it anymore. It’s a battle still taking place in a small corner of Twitter ime.

Really? do you live near the channel because i'm ooop no'th and no one discusses Brexit.

Perhaps you live in a particularly miserable place OP or perhaps it’s people around you that can’t handle your sunny disposition. What contribution are you making to changing any of these things?