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Original poster

How do you feel about the state of the UK?

173 replies

CharlotteACavatica · 27/10/2006 11:06

I rarely come accross anyone that doesnt have ALOT to say about how bad its all getting, me and dp are planning to move abroad to get away from this fast declining country - but how do all of you people here feel about it? My sister thinks this country is great and its getting better if anything!!!

OP posts:
southeastastra · 27/10/2006 11:07

there's always something 'wrong' with the uk, but wouldn't say it was fast declining.

saadia · 27/10/2006 11:13

I'm worried about crime and the NHS, other than that I think it's OK.

Original poster
CharlotteACavatica · 27/10/2006 11:23

Gun crimes are on the up, unemployment is up, i live in an area where there is the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in the country, and it is classed as one of the most expensive country's to live in! The NHS is getting worse, and has gotten to a point where its beyond ever recovering, my other sister is a nurse at our local hospital and knows of many NHS issues that never get made public knowledge - and its BAD!

OP posts:
Pruni · 27/10/2006 11:26

Message withdrawn

QuootieSpookypie · 27/10/2006 11:30

in some ways its great... free healthcare, all the social security, but, thats just an insight on how good this country could be... its going downhill, fast.

expatinscotland · 27/10/2006 11:31

The grass is always greener . . .

No place is perfect.

DominiConnor · 27/10/2006 11:31

The NHS, contrary to what so many Brits believe is a success story. Most other countries have very big holes for you to fall into.

Unemployment is on the way up, yes, but it's still much lower than most other countries.

We have less long term problems with pensions that other countries, that that doesn't make it all the way to good.

The government has finally woken up from the hippy politics of energy where we were supposed to heat our houses by wishful thinking and two windmills in Dorset, and has decide to build grown up nuclear power.

There are problems, there is widespread pandering to any religious group that threatens violence, and our education system is divisive and of low quality, but you will have to pick the country you move to with considerable care.

Greensleeves · 27/10/2006 11:32

Those who think it's "fast declining" - show me a time in our history when things have actually been better for ordinary people.

I agree with expat - the grass is always greener.

Greensleeves · 27/10/2006 11:34

Oh, and although I think the NHS is unwieldy, badly run and rather corrupt in places, I have to grudgingly agree with Keith Miller - sorry, DominiConnor - that on the whole, compared to what's available elsewhere, it is something to be proud of. Which is why we should all be fighting to improve and safeguard it.

phantomrantum · 27/10/2006 11:39

Have lived in different countries growing up including the UK and believe that there are aspects of every "society" that I have lived in that are negative and those that are positive. I think that it is partly a question of considering what your priorities are - because no matter where you go there are bound to be trade-offs. What do you think is getting bad about the UK? Which countries do you believe do not have the same issues and WHY do you think that they don't?

soapbox · 27/10/2006 12:08

I am incredibly grateful to live in a country which gives it's citizens an extremely good standard of living, where housing (although not always wonderful), food, water, healthcare and education is available to all.

Where we have freedom to express ourselves, do not live in a military state, and are not oppressed. Women are on the whole treated as valued members of society. Children have a childhood free from war, hunger and drought.

This is a wonderful country and those of you who think otherwise might usefully have a spell in parts of the world where they only dream of the life that we live here!

phantomrantum · 27/10/2006 12:26

Well said soapbox!

I do think that, on the whole, we are unbelieveably lucky. Nonetheless, this does not mean that we should be ignorant of issues that do exist in our own country (not saying that you are soapbox), but homelessness, poverty, crime and other social problems DO exist in UK, and it is our job (perhaps our responsibility?) as citizens of the UK to address them. What I was trying (perhaps badly) to say is that all so-called "developed" countries have these problems, it is not ONLY the UK. So where in the world can you go that is exempt Charlotte?

expatinscotland · 27/10/2006 12:30

I am sick to the back teeth of all this complaining about the UK.

Don't like it? Do something to change it, STFU or f*ck off.

phantomrantum · 27/10/2006 12:34

You may have gathered that I am in the "do something about it" camp. In order to do this, though, the probs ought to be discussed, and what better venue than MN?

moaningpaper · 27/10/2006 12:35

lol I have friends who have moved to Spain because Britain is "going to the dogs"

So now they live in wired-off compounds surrounded by 20-foot high electrified fencing (to keep off the burglars), have generators in their basements because of power failure, spend a fortune on bottled water because the tap water is undrinkable, have suffered horribly at the hands of incomptent dentists, have to wait six weeks to see a Doctor and then pay through the nose, and when burgled or mugged - which is frequent because of extreme poverty because the lack our welfare state - report it to the police who do nothing, because it's just accepted that that's what happens.

I think they are crazy.

moaningpaper · 27/10/2006 12:36

and of course they get together in the evenings in their electrified compounds so that they can drink cheap wine and talk about how Britain is crap

mad

phantomrantum · 27/10/2006 12:37

People ARE strange...

Original poster
CharlotteACavatica · 27/10/2006 12:39

Ok soapbox i dont think there much need to start ranting about other peoples opinions!! there are alot worse places to live then this country nobody ever said otherwise, but there are also alot better places to live, and i for one am fed-up with the immense cost of living here, im gald you find this country great, and if your happy here and can find little fault im genuinly pleased for you, but not everybody is, for there own personal reasons, and you should learn to accept everyone is different and has there own views, they shouldnt be ranted at because they dont feel what you do!!

OP posts:
moaningpaper · 27/10/2006 12:40

so, where ARE you off to?

moaningpaper · 27/10/2006 12:40
expatinscotland · 27/10/2006 12:42

Ah, MP, sounds like my parents' life in South African whilst I was at university.

Being driven from expat compound to expat compound in your amoured vehicle.

Katymac · 27/10/2006 12:42

DH & I considered moving to the caribean

We decided not to because of having to live in an enclave with armed guards - with everywhere we were llowed to go (shops/dr/etc) being on that enclave

The decider for us was the number of children kidnapped for ransome....and this is for families on a typical UK wage

So we stayed here

moaningpaper · 27/10/2006 12:43

Yes expat it is similar I agree

moaningpaper · 27/10/2006 12:44

Yes I think having your children kidnapped all the time would be rather tedious

So we'll tick that off the list of fabulous countries to live in

expatinscotland · 27/10/2006 12:45

When we lived in some places in S. America, our school was under helicopter security coverage b/c of the kidnapping risks.

My father worked on his Mexican passport there.

He wouldn't let us come w/him to Brazil at all.

Or Angola.