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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think this godforsaken country is a shambles?

325 replies

Toysintheattic29 · 04/01/2018 08:48

THIS IS WHAT’S ON MY MIND: this country is in shambles. I’ve never seen so many homeless people on the streets; social care services unable to cope with overflowing caseloads; our precious NHS struggling to care for anyone at all (forget it if you have non life-threatening surgical needs or are elderly); train fares continually getting jacked up; rising costs; roads cracking up; broadband speeds laughably slow and the biggest con of all, BREXIT. Even in the austerity of the 1950s things were not as grim as they are now - at least we had a reliable health service and publicly owned transport systems and many members of the public didn’t have to rely on food banks.

OP posts:
BarbarianMum · 04/01/2018 14:17

I think it would be quite easy (and much cheaper) to go back to the NHS of the 1950s if we are prepared to go back to the life expectancies of the 1950s and limit ourselves to the drugs and treatments available then. Any takers?

Davros · 04/01/2018 14:19

As well as many other things, I love the weather here and I'm NOT being sarcastic!

Snowdrop18 · 04/01/2018 14:25

Mimpi "I know it's primarily council cuts but it's also society's acceptance of those cuts."

oh I see

yes, I'm amazed there hasn't been a massive riot yet tbh. But it looks like people are okay with things....it's a bit confusing. Well, I'm confused anyway.

SleepFreeZone · 04/01/2018 14:25

The only reason that the standard of living was better in the 1950s was because we lost a huge amount of people in the 1st and 2nd world wars and we had very small amount of immigration.

We now have a situation where all resources are being stretched due to a large abs mainly aging population.

MadgeMidgerson · 04/01/2018 14:28

Small immigration in the 50s? This country imported all manner of people from its colonies to fill jobs and rebuild the nation

This is really ahistorical nonsense, some posters are typing with their bumcheeks I reckon

Read a book why don’t you, when you’re not busy wanking over Farage

makeourfuture · 04/01/2018 14:31

yes, I'm amazed there hasn't been a massive riot yet tbh. But it looks like people are okay with things....it's a bit confusing.

"I'm alright" covers it.

Cath2907 · 04/01/2018 14:37

I rang a GP this morning, got an appointment for 2 hrs later, took my daughter in got her inspected, a prescription for antibiotics issued and collected those (free of charge in Wales) from the neighboring chemist. Total cost - 50p for the car park.

My daughter goes to a warm and well run school 5 days per week where she is taught to a good standard by adults who care for her well-being. She is not forbidden access to education by virtue of her social caste or her sex.

I have heating, clean running water, electric, gas and no-one has recently taken pot shots at my home or bombed our town.

I am allowed to drive, wear what clothes I like, fail to attend any form of religious service, say (within the bounds of common decency) what I like, divorce my sorry ass husband as required and do any job I want.

I am grateful to live here - there are many infinitely worse places I could have been born.

ConferencePear · 04/01/2018 14:37

The under funding of the NHS are political decisions. How many of us would be willing to pay more tax to put things right ?

SparklyLights · 04/01/2018 14:45

Also, look at the community spirit present. The charitable events on tv bring in millions from donations from ordinary people. Complete strangers donate to those funding accounts for people they’ve never met.

A lot depends which part of the country you live in and the social problems they have. Same as any country?

MissionItsPossible · 04/01/2018 14:55

Oh look, another thread slagging off the UK and the OP hasn't bothered to come back (to be fair, they might be at the airport waiting to depart with no wifi).

RhiannonOHara · 04/01/2018 14:57

Sparkly, I think a lot of people would agree that on an individual level most people are nice/good/mean well (like the poster whose neighbour came out to help her grit her street.)

The problem is with those running the country.

midnightmisssuki · 04/01/2018 15:01

Do some research before sprouting nonsense - you cannot think the 50’s was a better time. And move if the UK is so terrible.

KathArtic · 04/01/2018 15:08

Make your report also stated the majority of deaths occurred in the over 60's/care homes, of which many are privately run.

SparklyLights · 04/01/2018 15:10

Rhiannon- yes you’re right. I just feel the need to say that this country has so much to be positive about/grateful for. I couldn’t describe it as “godforsaken”. Especially compared to developing countries for example.

I think our expectations are so much higher than they used to be. Because medicine has moved on (and the expense along with that) people expect a higher level of healthcare (for example) but at the same diets of taxes. But for a much larger population. It just doesn’t work out mathematically. I’m not sure it’s all to do with the people running it. I think there more need/expectations/population than there are finances to deal with it. The government would be majorly unpopular if they put up taxes to deal with the shortfall in line with exidcstiobs/population increase etc. How can they make resources stretch without making cuts and/or choices? To my mind there is mismanagement, of course, but also a sense that they are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

taratill · 04/01/2018 15:10

I think the NHS is excellent especially if you ever need emergency care.

However pop over to the SN boards and you'll find that for access to services for mental health and other disability issues for children either in or out of schools are woefully inadequate in this country and our children are being failed by terrible cuts to services.

The worst thing is that even if you can afford to pay, finding professionals trained to deliver services privately is also next to impossible.

There are many many great things about our country but so many of our children are being let down in this area. It's a disgrace.

RoseWhiteTips · 04/01/2018 15:12

How many more times do UK-bashing threads like like this one have to pop up? Zzzzzzzzzzzzz

JanetsPlain · 04/01/2018 15:14

Erm you obviously weren't around in Victorian times then.

Rebeccaslicker · 04/01/2018 15:16

Isn't the lead researcher behind the "45,000 deaths "may" have been caused so far by austerity and "we predict this will rise to 145,000" report the same academic from UCL who founded a social care company that doesn't exactly provide free services? Or are they different Dr Marathappus?

ceracare.co.uk/services

RoseWhiteTips · 04/01/2018 15:19

For the record, I think the UK is great for reasons too numerous to list.

To cite but one example: travelling abroad regularly allows you to compare our attributes with the shortcomings of many many other countries.

I am always struck by the reasonably pleasant demeanour of Arrivals staff - and even Customs staff - at UK airports. This is in stark contrast to the scowls of so many officials abroad.

elisaveta · 04/01/2018 15:20

I would definitely like to pay more tax for improved public services. I would want, first of all, for tax avoidance laws to be brought in and for billions to be recouped in that way. But then - yes. High taxes - but the security of knowing that you won't have to wait months for your operation, that if things go wrong and you lose your job, there'll be help when you need it until you are back on your feet, that your children will be taught by properly qualified teachers of the subject, that the elderly will be well looked after in good homes if that's what they need, that the homeless will be looked after and given the help they need. I'd pay a hell of a lot of tax for that and happily. It's an investment in a happier society, which means a safer society. The UK is a wonderful country in so many ways, but the gap between rich and poor is horrifying, and I think for the really poor in our society life is dreadfully tough. The inequality is appalling and in desperate need of being addressed.

makeourfuture · 04/01/2018 15:24

Isn't the lead researcher behind the "45,000 deaths "may" have been caused so far by austerity and "we predict this will rise to 145,000" report the same academic from UCL who founded a social care company that doesn't exactly provide free services? Or are they different Dr Marathappus?

When you got nothing else: Ad hominem.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 04/01/2018 15:27

makeourfuture

So give us your definitive proof then from an unbiased source, rather than sound bites or biased info that you usually do.

elisaveta · 04/01/2018 15:27

Why on earth should the OP have had to live through Victorian style poverty before commenting on the fact that the country's in a shambles now? God - no wonder the Tories get away with so much. Until the referendum we were the fifth richest country in the world, with thousands needing food-banks, a woefully underfunded education system, and an attitude to the disabled that has drawn criticism from the United Nations, but we shouldn't complain because things were worse 150 years ago?! Unbelievable.

elisaveta · 04/01/2018 15:37

To be fair there was tremendous community spirit in the middle of the last century. Look at the way in which people took in evacuees, and welcomed the refugee children.

Snowdrop18 · 04/01/2018 15:39

elisaveta "Why on earth should the OP have had to live through Victorian style poverty before commenting on the fact that the country's in a shambles now? "

this is a good point. I guess OP didn't do herself any favours comparing things to the 50s but if she'd compared things to about 20 years ago, 15 years ago, there'd have been some valid points.