Everything is wrong in this country

We have some of the richest people in the world, but we are not one of the richest countries. That's my thoughts. This country is now one of the laughing stocks in the world, because of what government has done.

As far as the NHS is concerned I think we should provide free training to British nurses and doctors (because we need so many) which includes a contract that they must work here for five years after completing their training (so they don't immediately run off to another country).

Anniezzz09 - seems to me that that massive influx of people has ended up working in our hospitals, care homes, agriculture and all manner of service type jobs and doing those jobs with good grace and hard work. How will those posts be filled now?
That is something that needs to be managed, how to cope without an endless stream of people entering the country. Everyone entering the country needs a home, schools for their children and health care. They may be supplying our needs but creating more needs at the same time. I would argue that one person working in the NHS is probably creating more need overall than they are supplying.

Since you are obviously so unhappy living here WWM2 I have been trying to think of a Socialist utopia where you might be happy.

I have come up with the perfect place - Venezuela!

Corbyn approves of their regime so you would feel completely at home there.

We may not have reached Dickensian levels of poverty yet (and I have read Bleak House, Hard Times and most of Dicken's work) though I think he would have a great deal to say about poverty in the UK today. None of it approving...

But we certainly have some Dickensian levels of thought in the responses on this thread...

I'm not doubting that Whitewave; not at all; I fully understand that other, poorer countries have far more refugees than us. But it doesn't address my query. Most of the people who are risking their lives in the back of refrigerated lorries and tiny boats across the channel are from African countries. They've travelled through many other european countries on their search for safety and freedom; Germany, France, Sweden etc. But they've still chosen to continue their journey until they can get to Britain.
If the UK is known for being such an inhospitable, debt ravaged, uncaring nation, why would they want to risk their lives still further to get here? Could it be that they see Britain as a kinder, more hospitable country? More supportive? Less racism than they might experience elsewhere?

"Everything that is currently wrong in this country (and there's still a lot that's right) is down not just to the Tories but the government before that, and the one before that, and before that etc etc..... In other words, it's been going on for decades now regardless of which party is in control."

It has been going on since the 80s when Thatcher changed the economic rules to what is now called neo-liberalism. She closed most of our industry and sold the rest overseas. And brought in the idea that anyone not making money was not really trying!
In 1997 New Labour got elected and kept on with the same economic model.
In 2008 the bankers with their sub-prime loans and hedge funds crashed the global economy. Every country suffered, but in the UK we got 10 years of austerity, which has dragged us down even more, when others have mostly recovered.
In 2016 we had a non-binding referendum, which was marginally in favour of Brexit. What people were really voting against was what the Tory Govt had been doing, but due to lies they were encouraged to make things worse.
Now we are a few days off another GE, and it looks like it will be more of the same.
I am deeply depressed.

I think some of you live in a parallel universe, or is it simply a comfortable bubble which protects you from the horrors and struggles of everyday life for so many in this country?

It only takes one illness, redundancy, accident, or perhaps being subjected to a fraud, to burst that comfortable bubble and leave you and your family in dire straits, at the mercy of the uncaring state. There you will discover that you are expected to perform impossible tasks eg apply for benefits on-line when you have neither laptop nor charged up smart phone and the local library, with its public use computers has closed. Or perhaps walk 5 miles to the nearest food bank and if you are lucky, walk 5 miles back carrying your precious food parcel. Where your self employed DD has to take an unpaid day off work, to drive you to a hospital appointment because there is no direct public transport and you could not get on and off it anyway.

'Minor"
things impinge too. e.g. The local High School, with a new Heedie, completely changed the school uniform and imposed stringent rules for those 'improperly" dressed. This meant that there was no chance of passing clothes down to younger children or smaller friends. Also, all the serviceable clothing was of no use to the School Uniform Bank, nor did it have any second hand stock of the new Uniform for struggling families, who had to resort to accruing debts to ensure that their child/children could attend school. This Granny, who would normally go halfs with DDs for new uniforms was unable to contribute much, as now cash strapped due to care home fees.

I could go on all day but doubt if any of these thoughts/facts would impinge on the I'm all right Jacks.

anniezzz09 Conservatism is all about aspirations.

Labour want you all to be “indebted” to the State.

Maybe there are all sorts of things wrong with this country but a film crew would still have trouble recreating the films of the 1920's and 30's, people may feel poor but it is in a different way. Certainly those sitting at Calais seem to want to come here, what's wrong with France, Italy, Spain etc that makes us look so good.

And this Country is giving billions of pounds away abroad to countries who have space programmes and do not need our continued help. We mustn’t let our ridiculous guilt of the past continue to make this acceptable!

the people with the majority in parliament have the right to spend our taxes and the Tories/Libdems have spent not spent it on public services and the result is there for all to see. I have had to rely on benefits and am more than happy to pay more tax so others can do the same. I'm voting Labour, I don't mind who is in charge, its the policies I want.

chewbacca

The top 10 countries with the highest level of refugees/immigrants

Tunisia
Jordan
Turkey
Uganda
Chad
Sweden
South Sudan
Sudan
Malta
Djibouti

Those classed as economic migrants are naturally attracted to the worlds richest countries. They are more or less evenly spread throughout these wealthy nations, the U.K. is no more attractive than other wealthy nations.

It is a myth that has been put out just like so much surrounding immigration.

The unemployed anniezzz09?

It’s extraordinary isn’t it GrannyLaine ? What a sad person she sounds.

Day after day for months now this same poster spouts the same old anti Tory rhetoric.

Yes this country isn’t perfect but there are enormous opportunities to have a great life here. We all know this is true.

Those unfortunate enough to be ill or disabled are helped by the welfare state and then encouraged to return to work.

I am sure I am not alone in saying I hate the constant knocking of our great country on here.

Genuine question.... if the UK is such a shit hole; why do so many people, from all over the world, risks their lives trying to get here to live?

Sorry missed : after “the war”

Chestnut seems to me that that massive influx of people has ended up working in our hospitals, care homes, agriculture and all manner of service type jobs and doing those jobs with good grace and hard work. How will those posts be filled now?

But we can change. THe NHS was established while we were still rebuilding after the war what a positive thing that was. Whichever government gets in, if enough of us speak up we can change policies, and we can certainly do our bit to heal divisions and re-establish respect for those we may not always agree with.

Luckygirl I was about to write a post in support of Whitewave but you've said it for me. It seems to me that the problem is how divided we have become economically and poltically plus the lies and misinformation that the tabloids spread which is simply allowed.

Apart from the deluded and misinformed in communities devastated by Tory austerity policies, though they think it's the EU, poor them when they find out the truth....I have never met a Tory voter who wasn't living a nice little life in a comfortable house, inherited money from the family (gained from property price inflation) funding a second home in Europe, children/grandchilden in private schools, probably a private or professional pension, shops in Waitrose, has several cars, holidays overseas, income never a problem. Who wouldn't think the UK was a great place to live. Sickening frankly, there are plenty of these where I live, it's hard not to say anything but they are so self righteous, I just close my ears and try not to associate with them.

WWM2 - many of those issues you mention were caused by your precious Labour government with their open door immigration policy. During their watch we had a massive influx of people enter the country which put huge pressure on our infrastructure, schools, hospitals, housing, transport etc. Then we had years of austerity because of the financial mess they left us in, just at a time when our infrastructure needed more investment (due to the many more people we were trying to accommodate). We are still trying to catch up, which is why we have such dire housing problems, oversubscribed schools and overloaded hospitals. I'm not sure we will ever be able to build enough houses, hospitals and schools to keep up with the ever growing population.

nico look at any graph, and you will understand that whilst successive governments have struggled the last 10 years have seen a rise in every indices has risen exponentially since the Tories came to power.

The UK is one of the best countries to live in for those who have money; who don't need social housing; who have never fallen on hard times and need benefits; who are not having to deal with the mental health problems of pupils in distress because of the pressures of the rigid education system; who have not see a loved one assassinated because the prison/parole service is on its knees; who do not have a relative with long term illness; who have never had to try and access social care; and the rest.

It is easy to have a sense of proportion when you are on the right side of the line that divides our country.

Everything that is currently wrong in this country (and there's still a lot that's right) is down not just to the Tories but the government before that, and the one before that, and before that etc etc..... In other words, it's been going on for decades now regardless of which party is in control.

Good list Whitewavemark2, as ever.

It is so sad that the only response from some posters to such a list, is just to attack the OP. What is the point?? Why make it personal? Why not refute the post with logical argument and evidence or with a respectful statement which indicates disagreement? Other posters have managed to do that.