To think that there is no hope here?

[Taxed]

52.6% of UK individuals are reliant on the State (that is 35 million people). Only 47.4% are net contributors. How did we get here?

AIBU to think that the UK is now a declining economy that will never recover if this continues to be the case?

I am 49 and a high earner (just shy of the top 1%). My husband is also a high earner and we are thinking of leaving. We don't know where but we know we have to as the situation in the UK is getting worse not better. The only thing that is keeping us here is our son, who is still in secondary school. I am actively encouraging him to consider a future outside of the UK.

I genuinely feel that being ambitious and successful is not worth it in the UK. People hate you for it and want to see you penalised. They think that whatever you do to earn the money it must be easy and a breeze. That you are greedy and need to be made to pay for doing well. Just last week, I heard that the government might be thinking of implementing a charge, payable by high earners, to access the NHS. Everything is about taxing the already heavily taxed even more and few want to face up to the fact that this is unsustainable when you have most of your people relying on the State to live.

People complain about the immigrants but they make up a tiny proportion of 35 million.

I feel disliked for doing well and just can't see a future here and it is making me angry and sad. I believe in having a welfare state, in helping those who are in need but 52.6%? The country is on its knees when most of its people are in need. That is like a developing country not a developed and thriving economy.

Sorry for the long rant. I'm just tired, sad and have just about lost hope of enjoying life in the UK.

Spot on.

No. I just wondered why you were commenting. Thank you for your negative comments about the UK weather which I think we all enjoyed. Lovely that NZ is so nice. You should start a thread about it.

So true. But Starmer is moving on to interfering in Gaza now. Which is so relevant and helpful to the issues facing most people in the UK.

This I don't get ..why is he getting involved in their business..he will only make things worse for them .he is PM of UK .he needs to sort out the shit show at his feet ,not medal in matters he has no control over ..it's just a distraction technique.trying to make himself seem more important than he is , especially after the telling of from trump

It's incredible how disconnected he is from most of the people of this country. Standing making portentous announcements about involving himself in another foreign conflict that doesn't and never will affect the majority here. And actually what we want to hear from him is something relevant, useful and good that will make the lives of the people of the UK better. But no. He knows he won't win there so he's going to carry on swanning about on the world do-gooder stage making things worse on an international basis as well as at home.

I'm sorry, but let's be honest, when people want to go for a holiday where they know they are going to get great weather the UK is hardly top on the list. People go to the UK for lots of reasons, but the weather is not one of them. However, you keep deluding yourself .....

Ok but maybe start your own thread if you want to talk about the weather in a country almost as far away from you in the world as possible? Rather off topic here perhaps.

Starmer is making announcements about Gaza to retain the vote of Muslim communities, who typically vote Labour.

When they don’t vote Labour, they vote for fringe independents who…oh yes, campaign on Gaza rather than the UK.

That is his motivation for grandstanding about Gaza.

Well you are missing out. Some part of the UK are lovely and do actually get nice weather but perhaps I would prefer they stayed secret and keep the likes of you out.

I was simply replying to a poster who said the UK had 'terrific weather'. You and others then decided to derail the thread by commenting on my post, and apparently I have no right of reply.

How am I 'missing out' when I live in a country with far better weather? As I have already said, people's idea of 'nice weather' differs. I can assure you I won't be visiting any of these places you would prefer to remain secret so you can relax.

I just felt that the PP was trying to be positive about the UK in a thread that is about "no hope" and said that the weather wasnt so bad and it's a good place and she wouldn't want to emigrate. Which was good and cheering. And you jump in (not being British or living in the UK) saying actually btw the weather is shit too!

We can slag our own weather off. But we don't need other people to do it thanks very much.

Look. You live in Knock-Off Norway. I wouldn't be so smug. Norway does fjords far better.

Eh? New Zealand has very similar weather to the UK so not sure what you have to crow about? Personally I quite like the different weathers we get. Currently in the park feeling very warm.

There are such things as domestic policy and foreign.

HTH.

And you know this how?

Starmer is on the back foot with Corbyn who has always supported the Muslims including Hamas. His new party had 140k followers in 24 hours. Then he's got reform to deal with. I can follow his reasoning

Agree. I think a bit more on the domestic policy and less on the foreign policy relating to foreign conflicts that aren't our business wouldn't go amiss.

HTH😉

It doesn’t need to be independents who take the vote. Corbyn’s party has over 400k signed up already.

Well you demonstrated very nicely upthread that you know zero about motability and disability benefits. Weren’t you the poster on another benefit thread who wanted motability cars to be marked as such, so that disabled drivers on the scheme could be easily identified ? Why is that I wonder ?

Just out of interest, are you intimidated by people who are more articulate than yourself? Because your continual use of 'word salad' certainly gives that impression.

Regardless of opinion being intimidated by others is not something to be ashamed of and intimidating others should be avoided.

Articulate? Embarrassing more like.

I know plenty about a gravy train that has got totally out of control.

And no I wasn’t. But do tell, why is that you wonder.

You are describing an unequal society where many millions don't earn enough to live comfortably (despite many working very hard) and a select few earn far more than they will ever need in their lifetime. After a certain point, earning more money doesn't make you any happier. I'm not a top earner but we are very comfortable and I have no problem with paying more tax and that tax going to others less well off than me. A more equal society is a happier safer society. Higher earnings do not equate to moral merit it's an arbitrary societal ranking that often bears no relation to how hard people work and is much more likely to reflect their societal privilege.