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I was talking to a friend last, to whom I haven't spoken for ages. Naturally we set the world to rights. This made me think about how I felt about the current political situation and others things. So I set out it down. I warn you it's a long post and you may get bored. Say what you want! It won't upset me. If I like that you say, I'm pleased. If not, I don't care. So here goes:
I was thinking about what I wanted for Britain as a whole and here is my wish list:
I want everyone to be proud of being British.
I want the NHS to be the best. This is not going to happen as long as we allow illegal immigrants and others, who have paid no taxes or insurance to come here and claim benefits. This does not help anyone as the service is under severe strain. If you are sick in a European country, you have to pay and then claim back the money on your return to the UK. Why don’t we do that here? Look at the mistakes you keep reading about – children sent home and told ‘it’s only a virus’ and then die of something more serious. Cancers not caught in time because the symptoms have been missed as ‘nothing’. It’s can’t go on.
We can’t allow unrestricted immigration as we are a small island and there must be a tipping point. It may have already been reached. Services and infrastructure suffer because of too many people claiming benefits. I have no objection to people coming here working and paying their taxes.
The same goes for education. The standard needs to be raised considerably and not dumbed down to the lowest level. The problem in many schools is that English is not the first language and therefore children whose first language is English are held back by the rest of the classes. The problem lies with parents who come here and don’t make an effort to learn English and therefore their children have problems. I like cultural diversity but not to the detriment of Britain.
Justice needs to be toughened up! Stopping using the European Human Rights Act as an excuse not to punish or deport foreign criminals. People should serve the full sentence they are handed down and not let out after about a quarter of time served. I believe in the death penalty for crimes such as those where children are raped, tortured and killed. And if anyone did that to one of my children or grandchildren, I would happily throw the switch.
Religion – I think all religions should be tolerant of other religions. People are entitled to believe what they want, even if they list Jedi as their religion!
Politics – I am a Conservative and would never vote anything else, but I’m disappointed with David Cameron. I think he’s favours the Lib Dums too much. I know it’s hard for him in a coalition government, but he does need to stand up and be counted. UKIP is a little too much for me, although I agree with some of their policies (leaving the EU for instance). I suppose I’m somewhere between David Cameron and UKIP.
That's it!! 
I agree Stansgran that often pops up on GN and other places. There has been plenty of time to right any 'wrongs' she may have been responsible for. Recently I had a conversation with someone who used to work in HR in the NHS and she blamed the currrent situation on Mrs T adding a layer of management. When I asked her what should be done about it she said it was too late to do anything! What a mentality. 
Sorry Ariadne he is not a polemicist - that word describes someone skilled in the art of debating polemics! Not just throwing out wild accusations and claims
In the ether? 
Ivanhoe I know you don't debate but perhaps you'd do me the courtesy of replying.
I'm confused - in your email that was broadcast across the airwaves you say:
" In my view we British are now a pampered nation ......."
But then you go on to say that we are low-waged, insecure, no council house building, etc.
Doesn't sound very pampered to me - or is there another meaning to the word pampered that I'm not aware of?
And, as for the British "expecting the French to bow and scrape" - have you ever lived in France, or is this one of your sweeping generalisations or dubious claims?
Moved on the Korean thing .... are you sure about the highest population outside Korea?
There are millions of Koreans in the US, especially in LA - I've been to Korea Town there, can't imagine New Malden is the same!
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