What does this country have going for it? UK

[Haveagentlechristmas]

Sorry if this is a goady thread, but with the awful weather we have had for weeks, the astronomical electricity prices, the uncaring and mismanaging government, an NHS that is absolutely crumbling despite those working in it giving their body and soul to the job, locked down borders where we can no longer as easily work, travel and live in 20 something countries, could people please help with positives of this country. I'm feeling like all my pride and patriotism has vanished.

Country walks and the right to roam: PPs are correct about the limitations in much of western Europe and America

Proper butchers and fishmongers

Good cheeses (but not as many since the effects of Brexit are being felt)

Scones

Multicultural food

Pubs

Theatre

Museums

The music scene

The British Library

The weather

The football

Loads of my friends have been looking at emigrating since Brexit. Some of them are properly in the process of doing it.

But the thing is ten or eleven years ago this was a great country.

We just need a government of decent grown ups who aren't funnelling billions of our money to their mates, and actually want to govern, and to reverse Brexit - and things in the U.K. will be looking up.

Country walks and the right to roam: PPs are correct about the limitations in much of western Europe and America

We have some of the most restrictive (and enforced) rights to roam of any where in Europe, about 8% of the countryside, with all upland rivers in England barred to water craft ie kayaking unless private agreement sought.

92% of the countryside and 97% of rivers are off limits to the public. In all but one tenth of the English landscape, to wander off the footpath, to swim in a river, to explore and educate ourselves about our countryside, can leave us branded a trespasser and expelled from the land

That’s interesting, @user12345678213 . The countryside in the UK feels much more accessible than any other country I’ve lived in, in practical terms. Continental Europe and America. Others on the thread have remarked similarly

I hate it when people slag off the UK.

You can turn a lot of what you said around.

Weather - we have great weather, nothing extreme. 4 different seasons. Yes it can be cold and rainy but in a hot country it's holiday weather, too hot to carry out day to day activities or go walking/cycling.

We have mostly excellent human rights compared with a lot of countries. Excellent holiday/maternity entitlement.

We are generally a very safe country.

We have beautiful beaches and countryside.

It's not perfect and yes we are going through difficult times but that has always been the case over the decades.

Find it bizarre that people really think there's nothing positive:

Comparably decent infrastructure (roads generally maintained)
Free schools of varying but ok quality
Generous benefits systems (though I think too generous but that's another story)
Free NHS (even with its flaws, still completely free at point of service)
Beautiful countryside
Year round mild weather
Time zone is useful for doing global business
Ok funding for disabled / SEN (albeit could be better)
Things broadly work compared to many countries
U.K. has historically stolen a lot wealth from other countries, but means baseline level of wealth is better than many countries

I could think of a few things but Roads? NHS? Education? SENs? no, none of these, we are terrible at providing most public services.

Things work compared to many countries? true but compare us to G7 G20 countries and its not so rosy.

I would say countryside in Wales and Scotland is stunning, world beating but in much of England, its very heavily farmed and rather false, national parks aside but the coast line on the west side of the country is fantastic.

English language is a plus, we have an excellent HE sector, science and a great wealth creating financial services..

We have a lot going for us, unfortunately we have a government supported by a significant number of the public that want to dismantle what we have for the benefit of a tiny minority.

People are miserable because we are looking at a second decade of economic stagnation, reducing living standards and increased wealth inequality. We are an objectively worse place to live for working people than we were 15 years ago. Injecting attempts at toxic positivity into this is simply not helpful.

I think many seem to be comparing to countries with a lot of issues- a bit of a race to the bottom. The Uk has lots going for it but unless you are loaded and in a secure affordable housing position then it's a bit like the Wild West under this government. yes we have a free NHS but the quality of service within it is very very hit and miss at the moment - we have lovely coast and beaches but being pumped full of shit etc. everywhere has ups and downs but at the moment the many ups are tempered by the fact that so much has gone to shit

Our music
Buildings
Sense of humour
Afternoon tea
Our tolerant and easy-going nature
Freedom of speech
Our police force is unarmed apart from the firearms division

Every country has its positives and negatives OP. I would rather live here where gun culture isn't really a thing, there have been no mass shootings for many years and you don't end up being made homeless because of unaffordable medical bills, to name a few positives.

You are right that it is a low bar.

However, consider how much of the world’s population cannot even reach this low bar.

I am very grateful there is a bar at all and will work my ass off to raise it across the world. We all have to start somewhere.

this thread had some really lovely things in it

freedom of speech (you don’t fully appreciate that until you don’t have it)
employment law (as above)
stable government
freedom of religion
architecture
history, history, history
Monster Munch
cream teas
temperate climate
Shakespeare
theatre
free museums
really nice ready meals and meal deals from supermarkets
unarmed police
security
good infrastructure
indoor plumbing
free education
politeness

I don't live in UK but miss politeness in shops, pubs, decent curry, fish and chips, cheddar cheese! I don't miss not being able to get a drs apt, insular people who refuse to speak foreign languages, the whole Brexit nightmare!

your post has made my day! 🤣🤣🤣

My colleagues come from all over the place - Germany, Portugal, Italy, India, Poland, Algeria, Switzerland. They've all chosen to live in the UK long term.

When I find myself unhappy with the state the UK is, I remind myself that people in other countries are much worse off, that is why everyone else seems desperate to move here. Even "civilized" places like France - people are so desperate to leave they try to come across the channel in dangerous small boats. I think the point is that although the UK is a shadow of its former self, most if not all of the rest of the world is similarly worse than it used to be.

I think we’ll come back up

I can’t speak for other areas as not close knowledge but London feels resilient

It was hammered in the pandemic when all the things that make it special shut

But it’s busy, thriving, loads of tourist

We come back and reorganise

@Tiggy321 when we were in Copenhagen these would have been on my list too along with M&S , TK Maxx, Boots , Uber and good ready meals -

Free healthcare /education at point of delivery. Social service safety net. Almost every household has clean running water

Forgot behalf a PP said - climate not given to extremes

I remember feeling so inadequate in the fashion shops in the swanky part of Barcelona. Every shop assistant sneering at me and looking up and down at my appearance (which is absolutely normal). But every single one of those shops was blaring out British music. Same in Italy.

I might not be a sun-kissed continental wafting about on coffee and air, but I come from a rich culture that can't be replicated by any other country.

May
The leaves are new everything is green, the sky is a perfect blue with white fluffy clouds bobbing along.. the swallows are flying above and whistling. It's 24° a gentle breeze fills the air with aromas of fresh cut grass, roses and wisteria.

That is what I love about england, that perfect spring day

Put it this way - I've heard that when you arrive in Haiti, just to quote one example of a country, all you can is electricity generators !

My brother's been living in the Netherlands for the last three years after Brexit made his business unviable. When I visit him I just find the pace of life, community cohesion, public spaces, public services, infrastructure, etc all just seems more considered and more personal than in the UK. There's little I'd miss. They even get BBC 1&2 as standard.

I think I could live abroad most of the year, returning only to visit the British countryside and coast, and family and friends.