Little Britain - the state of England today

lemongrove

Hmmm, I care about the dreadful social problems and poor housing for immigrants and the poor in France, but I wouldn’t go on social media ( on a French Gransnet) to complain about conditions there, when I live in England and only know what I see on some tv news programmes. See?
Things in England and the whole of the UK are much better than they ever used to be, particularly as regards housing, but in other areas as well.People have more than they have ever done before.

Walking through our town centre where I have never seen so many homeless huddled in doorways I'm not sure that's universally true.
Knowing people who are unable to get carers for basic needs or medical treatment, when they had been able to do so previously makes me question whether everyone has more than they have ever done before.
I think there was a reason that Rashford stood up to get free school meals for children and helped out at food banks. I don't think it was because people have more than they have ever done before. Some do.

I care deeply about my country and the things that are not going well. I hate to say it but it is capitalism, populism, Toryism stirred up by the tabloids which are owned by the few but read and believed by the many.
I sign petitions, my MP rarely responds! I am a town councillor so try to help my community.
Until the electorate see otherwise we are lumbered with this appalling government of mainly Eton educated men plus the token woman Priti Awful! They are now stopping us protesting. At the age of 70 I am so disheartened by the lack of enthusiasm by voters. Life has beaten many of them into submission. 11 years of negative investment, austerity, cuts and now NHS privatisation is on the cards. Wake up England!

Wow can’t believe you put a post to criticise Uk. Hadn’t realised France was perfect. Oh racist live in every country not just the uk so maybe stop reading things and actually talk to ppl instead of slating them off. And you shouldn’t judge everyone by a few

Agree MawBee

JaneJudge

MayBee70, if people start listing things they'll get accused of virtue signaling

I agree, the majority of us on here do what we can when we can with what we have, we can do no more.

Wow. So many negative comments about our wonderful country! This balony about our overseas aid is laughable. We, for a very long time, have been one of the biggest donators in the world, above France for example, which isn’t exactly a poor country. The water pollution- 70% of our water companies are foreign owned. Football hooliganism - they’re not fans and they are a tiny minority. Same with the racists. It’s a very small group of idiots. The vast majority of our population are decent, hard working and tolerant. People need to remember that, get a grip, and try looking for the positives instead of listening to the snow flakes. #englishandproud

Lucca

Dinahmo. If you removed the “what are you doing “ thing I wonder if posters would address the issues you listed ?

I dont see the point of turning this into a “well France is bad too” thread.

Good point
The confrontational and ad hominem tone was established the minute OP listed all that she saw was “wrong” with this country and then said
I care about these things and yet I don't live in the UK at the moment. Why aren't you all caring about the wrongs? And, if you do, why aren't you doing something about it?
ie I care followed by why aren’t YOU all caring…why aren’t YOU doing something about it
The choice of pronoun was guaranteed to be a blue touchpaper ?

You can look at any country in the world and list the negatives....even where you live in France will find the negatives. I love England and live peacefully. My children are all happy as are my 6 grandchildren aged between 5 and 25. Try looking for the positives in life....there are far more of those.

MayBee70

So what has everyone done to help the poor and underprivileged in this country? Oh sorry, I forgot, they don’t exist in middle class little gransnet do they?

It’s my experience that those who don’t talk about what they do for others actually do the most.

Bravo crazygranny

crazygranny ???

The news does not focus on all those constantly putting time and effort into righting the issues you raise. If you want a more realistic impression of what ordinary people are trying desperately to achieve try searching Facebook. There are many communities there committed to working towards goals like green energy. There are many loyal volunteers who turn out in all weathers to collect surplus food and turn it into hot meals for the homeless. Others maintain food banks. The reason you see the issue of sewage release raised is because local watchdog groups inform the media of these actions. Activism has never been so alive and well but you won't find it on the news. Search the internet more diligently instead of offering ill-informed moralistic hand wringing - and then join in yourself.
What we lack here, as elsewhere, is any connection between our politicians and the desires of the public they purport to serve. Their priority is their personal popularity and not our criticisms of their actions. We have a government unchallenged by any effective opposition and until this state of affairs is altered little will change at the national level.

Oh and am I to leave gransnet, definitely working class and not ashamed of it!

MayBee70, if people start listing things they'll get accused of virtue signaling

MayBee70

So what has everyone done to help the poor and underprivileged in this country? Oh sorry, I forgot, they don’t exist in middle class little gransnet do they?

Well before we all start on our "boastfest" perhaps you'd like to lead the way?

Dinahmo. If you removed the “what are you doing “ thing I wonder if posters would address the issues you listed ?

I dont see the point of turning this into a “well France is bad too” thread.

I do find it quite interesting that people on here know about riots in France (actually more like protests) without knowing that they are actually about the need for a Covid vaccination certificate to enter bars, restaurants and shopping centres. Are the papers not providing that rather important information?.

So what has everyone done to help the poor and underprivileged in this country? Oh sorry, I forgot, they don’t exist in middle class little gransnet do they?

Dinahmo

GoldenAge I realise that I slightly misread your post.

Actually, a lot of you have said that you do care but you haven't said about what.

Really?

GoldenAge I realise that I slightly misread your post.

Actually, a lot of you have said that you do care but you haven't said about what.

Frankly, Dinahmo, I have the impression most people living in England today don't know as much about what is being done to them as we do.
We have a variety of news sources, whereas they rely on a group of print media owned by Tory donors, and the BBC which is clearly - at least in the news department - closely controlled by the government.
I feel the same way as you. Only came to France because my partner is French - and because it was so easy, 8 years ago. He might have joined me in England, but for his client base here. Just as well he didn't, as it turns out.
There are many on Twitter who despair of the disintegration of what used to be so good. There might even be a majority who are unhappy. But there seems to be no way to reverse the rot now.
I had not intended to stay in France for ever. But I've no choice now (if they'll have me).

Rosie51

Good post GrannyGravy13 except OP singled out England and presumably English residents. ^I have picked upon England since I am not as aware of what is going on in the other countries of the Union with regard to the state of the nation.^

Oops!!!

You are correct, my mistake.

GoldenAge

Dinahmo - what gives you the right to assume and say we all don’t care? As you’re in your French ivory tower you really have no idea what we all think! I do care as do all my friends and family.

That's it exactly. You care for all your friends and family. Doesn't everyone?

You remind me of a former neighbour in Suffolk. A kind and helpful person to all she knew but anybody else? Not interested. She even thought we shouldn't the NHS because we should all pay for healthcare.

JaneJudge Thank you.

Dinahmo - what gives you the right to assume and say we all don’t care? As you’re in your French ivory tower you really have no idea what we all think! I do care as do all my friends and family.