Page 18 | To think the uk is on its knees

Ilovemycatalot · 2023-02-02T13:43:21+00:00

Just this. Every day negativity. No one is happy with life or working conditions. The country is at an all time low. Living standards getting worse by the day people getting poorer. I know we are not in poverty like some countries but honestly can’t see us ever returning to decent living standards unless you’re the few top percent earners. Tell me I’m being dramatic perhaps I am but can’t see much of a way back from this .

MarshaBradyo · 03/02/2023 20:16

beautifulpaintings · 03/02/2023 19:43

@Clavinova obviously people are individuals as I mentioned myself and I also said to you that Europe is a big place so you can't lump everyone in together!

But in our area, using one of your examples, I know two people who work in a local shop (similar to a supermarket, but smaller), they both live in detached houses in a beautiful countryside area, and do their lovely hobbies at weekends. Because you can live on a basic wage here and still have a lovely life as the public services are so great. Old people are very well looked after by the state and everyone gets child benefit without it being a weird or 'on benefits' kind of feeling. Both their kids are at uni with no money worries as unis are free here.

As you say, everyone and every place is different but honestly can you imagine them having that life in the UK? There's no point pretending everywhere in Europe is bad because a lot of Europe is great! And UK would be greater if it was still a part of it.

Show quote history

I’m sure there are good and not so good, even bad things about any country. I was surprised at the rate of youth unemployment in the countries mentioned just below - Spain appears to be pretty high. Granted I have a teen just entering working age so I’d be more interested than others

GPTec1 · 03/02/2023 20:24

I've just looked at opinion polling for 1990 - 1992. There's hope yet!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_1992_United_Kingdom_general_election

Polls gave Lab a very slight lead, they were out by a small amount.

This time round, 20pts plus and a Tory wipe out.

But of course the polling you should have quoted is that of 2013, labour had a 12pt lead and we all know what happened 2 years later.

No one but a fool would write off the Tory party, so far out from a GE, i feel sure the Tory media will come up with some story about Starmer or a hidden recording.

@shropshire11 i quoted your post on 100k nurse salaries, you wrote it.

Blossomtoes · 03/02/2023 20:42

i feel sure the Tory media will come up with some story about Starmer or a hidden recording.

I feel sure you’re clutching at straws. We have no idea how far away a GE will be. This looks like a government longing to be put out of its misery.

Rumcoco · 03/02/2023 20:49

YANBU.
We moved back to our home country (France) last year after over 25 years in the UK and not looking back.
We had the most amazing time before Brexit but things have never been the same since.

Emotionalstorm · 03/02/2023 20:55

Iceicebaby1969 · 03/02/2023 19:04

I really agree with you, pretty much the whole world is struggling but no one likes the TORIES so it’s all their fault. I’m praying that Labour won’t get in because I actually care about women’s rights.

I still hope the Tories get in for the same reason. And I think they are still better for business and the economy.

Blip · 03/02/2023 20:58

Royal Mail stoped accepting international post for most of January.
Nothing works properly in the UK any more.

Justellingthetruth · 03/02/2023 20:58

@Ilovemycatalot

caused by Brexit and then liz truss.
anyone who says difference is economically stupid and ethically bankrupt

Shanda5 · 03/02/2023 21:07

Times are tough but I thing the media (social and mainstream) are blowing things out of proportion.

I live in a fairly middle of the road city. Resteraunts are always busy, even mid week, shops are packed, everyone is talking about their holidays.

I know some are really struggling but I think plenty of others are jumping in the bandwagon.

EffortlessDesmond · 03/02/2023 21:07

Could a teacher with better tech/typing skills than me, please explain the difference between bear (meaning to carry a load) and bare, meaning to reveal. Just please. It is sending my OCD in to overdrive. Sorry for the derail.

Lovely13 · 03/02/2023 21:09

Sweden is a nice country but also has its problems. As does ROI. Drugs, violence etc. Britain is having a chaotic time. We have a lot of rot at the top. Been gaslit by the likes of Johnson, Cummings and Farage. And too much of the media is right-wing and pursing its own agenda. But there’s a lot to like about Britain. We will persist and get better!

Blossomtoes · 03/02/2023 21:09

EffortlessDesmond · 03/02/2023 21:07

Could a teacher with better tech/typing skills than me, please explain the difference between bear (meaning to carry a load) and bare, meaning to reveal. Just please. It is sending my OCD in to overdrive. Sorry for the derail.

Thank you. So glad it’s not just me.

Blossomtoes · 03/02/2023 21:12

Shanda5 · 03/02/2023 21:07

Times are tough but I thing the media (social and mainstream) are blowing things out of proportion.

I live in a fairly middle of the road city. Resteraunts are always busy, even mid week, shops are packed, everyone is talking about their holidays.

I know some are really struggling but I think plenty of others are jumping in the bandwagon.

Here are some stats. I find them more reliable than anecdote.

www.statista.com/statistics/382695/uk-foodbank-users/

AVY3 · 03/02/2023 21:13

I just wish the trains would run on time and not be cancelled…..we can’t even get that right as a country….😡

Emotionalstorm · 03/02/2023 21:14

Shanda5 · 03/02/2023 21:07

Times are tough but I thing the media (social and mainstream) are blowing things out of proportion.

I live in a fairly middle of the road city. Resteraunts are always busy, even mid week, shops are packed, everyone is talking about their holidays.

I know some are really struggling but I think plenty of others are jumping in the bandwagon.

I don't personally know of anyone who is struggling but I don't doubt that there are. But I think that the news haven't put it into perspective. There have been people struggling across the world and at all times in history. I do not believe that we are worse than usual or that it has anything to do with the government.

My main experience ovrr the past two years is that there are shortages of builders due to everyone renovating their houses, having to book restaurants way in advance due to scale of demand and tough competition when buy property or booking holiday homes.

EffortlessDesmond · 03/02/2023 21:21

I have not read the last 50 or so posts, but the words of the sex-pest President Clinton some to mind. It's about the economy, stupid. And, it always is.

EffortlessDesmond · 03/02/2023 21:27

Love you @Blossomtoes . I know we cross swords regularly, but we disagree amiably.

Blossomtoes · 03/02/2023 21:31

EffortlessDesmond · 03/02/2023 21:27

Love you @Blossomtoes . I know we cross swords regularly, but we disagree amiably.

It’s a pleasure crossing swords with you, I’m all for amiable disagreement. 😉

Iceicebaby1969 · 03/02/2023 22:02

Me too god help us if Labour get in, we will wish for anyone but them. If you can’t keep women and girls safe then you don’t get my vote.

Shanda5 · 03/02/2023 22:03

Blossomtoes · 03/02/2023 21:12

Here are some stats. I find them more reliable than anecdote.

www.statista.com/statistics/382695/uk-foodbank-users/

Show quote history

I think everyone is aware of the massive increase of those using foodbanks.

I'd put a caveat on those figures however.

I work for an organisation which can issue vouchers. We verify income for all applicants which know not all organisations do.

we see large numbers of people applying for vouchers when they have very healthy bank balances and even large savings.

I think the lack of verification is totally wrong because this resource should be kept safe for those in genuine need.

If verification was done as standard I believe there would still be a significant increase in numbers but not to the level those stats show.

LexMitior · 03/02/2023 22:11

Food banks are about making eating a matter of charity. A society that has them is on the slide. We are a very rich country but the issue about people who deserve vouchers or not to eat is absolutely Victorian. They only appeared as part of the "Big Society" which was all about the state not ensuring the safety net it had always provided.

I want to see an end to them and a return a proper safety net for people.

AllOutofEverything · 03/02/2023 22:19

Emotionalstorm · 03/02/2023 21:14

I don't personally know of anyone who is struggling but I don't doubt that there are. But I think that the news haven't put it into perspective. There have been people struggling across the world and at all times in history. I do not believe that we are worse than usual or that it has anything to do with the government.

My main experience ovrr the past two years is that there are shortages of builders due to everyone renovating their houses, having to book restaurants way in advance due to scale of demand and tough competition when buy property or booking holiday homes.

Show quote history

The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. If you are in the circles of buying holiday homes you will be fine. And people who buy holiday homes tend to live in wealthy areas where the restaurants will be full and builders renovating homes.

user1487768885 · 03/02/2023 22:38

Everyone I know in the uk (no billionaires) is happy & doing well. The easyjet earning recently also showed people are definitely not cutting back on spending on holidays.

The news outlets are just milking it. I truly believe we are doing a lot better than what the media & the rest of the world are saying.

I spend substantial amount the time in continental Europe. Stuff like inflation are just so much worse than the uk but they are just not moaners like us.

DaughterofZion · 03/02/2023 22:42

BREXIT is ‘working’
half the working population is underemployed/on benefits
how on earth is the country supposed to thrive?
The NHS, interest rates, mortgages, energy costs, food/grocery costs/ the problems are endless. Sad state of affairs

AllOutofEverything · 03/02/2023 22:58

@user1487768885 Everyone I know complains about not being able to put the heating on enough. All working but not well off.

TooBigForMyBoots · 03/02/2023 23:05

BenCoopersSupportWren · 03/02/2023 13:07

It’s a big issue for anyone who believes you can’t address maternity provision without being able to define who is a mother. You can’t tackle the issue that benefits sanctions disproportionately affect women if you can no longer define what a woman is. You can’t have a functioning prison service if male sex offenders can be locked up in the female prison estate. You can’t have an accessible health service if female patients can be raped on a “women-only” ward and then gaslit that the male who used his penis to commit that rape is really a woman. You can’t provide care that respects clients’ privacy and dignity if they aren’t allowed to request a carer of a particular biological sex to attend to their intimate care needs. You can’t address the sex pay gap if a couple of senior male executives can identify as a woman and skew the figures.

I could never vote Tory with their ideology that poverty is a moral failing, but neither can I vote for any party that would deny the reality of what a woman is. I’m politically homeless.

Show quote history

It was the Conservatives who wrote genderwoo into the Maternity Bill. www.spectator.co.uk/article/penny-mordaunt-is-wrong-to-repeat-the-trans-allies-mantra/