AIBU to feel that Great Britain isn't 'Great' anymore? I think I want to move abroad!

[Whatawaytomakealiving]

I don't want to live in a country that treats people as it does. I work damned hard to serve the public, but I am so disillusioned.

For me it is not so much about what a country offers you but the ethos of the country. I have always felt proud of being British - for me British values mean fair play, free speech and a willingness and openness to help those fleeing persecution - these values seem to be pretty much out of fashion at the moment and I am not sure what we are meant to be proud of anymore.

We moved to Portugal last year. Came back for the anti Brexit march and were dismayed by how grey and grimy everything looked.Also haven't heard such open racism since Birmingham in the sixties.

I agree Mission. I feel much safer in Britain than many other countries.

What is the OP's point then? If the OP wants to go - then fine (hence the OK fuck off reactions).

I don't really get how this has been extrapolated to suggest dissent isn't allowed.

If you don't like the way the country is - then do what you can to change it, or if you honestly think you can't and would rather go somewhere else then - fuck off and try it.

Just don't be all "wahhhh unless things go my way I'm off" - because that is very likely to get the "fuck off then" reaction.

I lived through the Thatcher years when almost everything I treasured about living here was destroyed - but I didn't go about making "threats" that I'd leave, because I thought it was worth staying - as a poster above wrote, I was born here and it's my home.

Well said Mission

The other thing about the tube being 50p is that's great if you are earning your money in the U.K. But maybe not so great if you are earning it in Russia. What is the average income of non-oligarchs there, does anyone know?

for me British values mean fair play, free speech and a willingness and openness to help those fleeing persecution

I don't think those values have changed.

I agree with what you are saying OP but don't think leaving is the solution as all countries have issues. Things are certainly in a flux at the moment and it seems that there is little to be positive about.

I haven't read the whole thread but I get really annoyed when people say things like ''Oh but it's worse in (insert 3rd world country here)". The fallacy of relative privation: http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Notasbad_as

I emigrated to Australia last year OP for the same reasons. I have no regrets at all.

Obviously I do miss my family...but they're pleased that we're all happy and doing well. They're proud we managed it. We've made new friends, have a lovely house and the DC go to a great school.

The lack of pressure is wonderful...it's more play based and relaxed.

UppityHumpty

We moved to the USA, we personally prefer it to the UK we would never move back.

OP every country has good and bad bits, you just need to find one which fits your values well.

I feel safe here in Australia. I go to the doctors and yes...we have to pay here, but if you earn below a certain amount, then you don't have to pay for everything. They have a thing called bulk billing and then your tax pays for it and you don't get a bill.

The doctors seem to have a lot more time here to talk to you too. The clothes are awful though, as are the home furnishings! Ugly! But nowhere's perfect.

Thats' literally my only complaint. That clothing is generally much uglier and poorer quality than you can get in the UK.

291 US dollars is the average monthly wage in Russia. So tube fares are really not comparable to here

Who'd move to Russia anyway?

MissionItsPossible do we not have the EDL and BNP here, marching outside mosques and generally spreading hate and intolerance? It's hard to be a minority in a lot of countries, here being no exception. I've seen a lot of it.

I'd move to Russia, none of my family have any complaints other than the usual stuff about the economy, weather etc. Yes corruption is a problem admittedly.

user149

You can change your name on here. It would make life so much easier

I know but I can't remember my password....

Who'd move to Russia anyway?

Quite. Look how Russia treats countries that want to break away. War.

Look hiw we treat Scotland. Sadness but ultimately their decision.

Probably a tangent, but I'm rather relieved to hear some good old British moaning again. I found to hard to stomach the boosterish Great British Whatever - not quite as bad as Cool Britannia, but still, ugh. Having a good old moan that things aren't what they used to be and isn't the weather awful - how much more traditional can you get?

I was born in the UK and live here now, but I've lived over half my life elsewhere. Quite a lot of other places feel a bit greyer and grimmer than they were a decade or two ago. In retrospect, it sometimes feels like there were a few shiny years in the late 90s, but the promise of a brighter future wasn't sustainable.

On the whole, I still like it here. It's not the 1930s and 1940s.

Kursk I agree. I moved to the States which most of the world sees as awful right now but where I live is lovely.

There's such a huge sense of community, much more safety and freedom for children, lots of local bartering.

You just need to find your people op, wherever they may be.

FreeNiki look how US/UK treat sovereign countries that don't agree to build pipelines through them/try to start their own currency/don't cosy up to Western leaders. War.

Iraq, Lybia, Syria, Somalia, Vietnam, current situation in Yemen. The saddest thing is no-one cares. Look how easily Blair/Bush did 1 speech, wave some washing powder at the UN saying "weapons of mass destruction" and 1 million people die. I hardly think we're in a position to be judging the actions of other countries, when UK gets involved in all sorts of conflicts for the wrong reasons. People in the UK seem to be in such denial as to what our goverment actually get involved in and for what reasons.

MrsFloppy

Yes the community feel is great, the US is just how the UK used to feel.

Kursk - that's how I feel. People do meal trains for families that have babies or are ill.

And pretty much everyone can do their own sewing, baking, canning, carpentry etc. There's still a real pioneer, can-do attitude here I mocked when I first arrived but now I'm extremely proud to be part of.

Still reading, still interested in your experiences and views. Beginning to think my discontent isn't about 'things', (weather, houses,) but more about attitudes, beliefs and pressures.
I work long hours, do I make a difference? Not in an education system that disregards the expertise of its professionals.
Do I want to be swamped by rules and paper work, limitations and lack of funding, a system that is being dismantled?
Do I want children to think for themselves and be capable of making decisions; to take risks, to explore and have fun?
Do I want my own children to have opportunities and freedoms, to be appreciated and valued, to have a say?

Have we as a nation become more selfish? Do we all just look after ourselves? Do we listen to others and adapt? Do we feel divided?

I'm not sure I would ever know all of that about another country, certainly not as I know here. Lots of thinking to do.

I've lived in 5 different countries.

Certainly looking to leave Britain again.

Without any doubt in my mind, my home; London, is by far the finest city in the world. And actually I think overall Brits are a caring considerate open-minded and tolerant bunch.