British Society - Rotten to the Core?

[evilwebby]

All I know is that we're sh1te at Eurovision these days.

 

[chicoazul]

All I know is that we're sh1te at Eurovision these days.

Spot on Webby.

 

[malfosse]

• politicians fiddling expenses
• bankers hoarding public cash
• mass sexual assaults on minors by establishment figures
• coppers fitting up football fans for the manslaughter they committed
• epidemic of gun and knife crime
• footballers and their casual racism
• attacks on the least well off to pay for a financial crisis caused by the rich
• the far right marching through our streets (NIK's EDL lot etc)
• the glorification of militarism
• phone hacking scandals
• corruption amongst Government Ministers/Departments granting franchises to favoured bidders
• utilities charging whatever the **** they want for the essentials that sustain life

...it's a cesspit isn't it?

The vast majority of those things have always gone on, I certainly remember protesting against the NF in the late 70's, Thatcher in the 80's. I was picketting against job cuts in the 80's. the alleged child abuse was going on for the past 40 years. It's just now that we live in a more media accessable age, and most things now are only a mouse click away.

 

[evilwebby]

On a more serious note, yes I believe this country is in big trouble now.
Despite whatever undesireable elements this country has had in the past, I believe we have never seen a this country governed in a way that is so self-destructive. Our policies now-

- sustain a zombie financial sector at the expense of the rest of us
- Destroys savings and discourages thrift. Penilises the prudent and rewards the wreckless
- Encourages debt to fund any and all spending
- Makes it harder to find employment; makes it less rewarding and more risky for business to employ people
- sustains a welfare system that too many now exploit
- Uses the current and future earnings of the young and the unborn to prop up the baby boomer generation
- Too many politicians have vested interests - eg, most have built up property portfolios and so have a vested interest in keeping house prices high

Again, all caused by our politicians trying to do more, rather than accepting that the way out is for them to do less.

 

[McBain]

The thought that it's now somehow different than it always has been is the worrying thing mate.

I'm sure people used to get away with a lot more.

 

[Deloodid]

it seems to have been a turning point where people are now being believed when they are going up against seemingly untouchables.

Murdock, Hillsborough and now Jimmy Savile, to name a few.

 

[bol-uk]

Good post mate.

Why, thank you!

 

[steken1]

Looks like the girl who was attacked and shot by the Taliban will be brought over here for treatment.

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

Where there's money & power, you get corruption, it's a fact of life. Is our country rotten to the core? When compared to virtually every other country on the planet, no it isn't.

 

[Philw]

Other nations have their problems too, but that's not a free pass really is it?

I may be reacting to recent events, but the H'boro and Savile et al stuff has been heaped onto the corruption and sleaze stories of the past year and the general shittiness of the austerity drive to put the top hat on it all.

It stinks.

As has been pointed these are events that took place years ago and the truths are only now coming to light, for whatever reason. The continued cover up, baring circumstance, would be a valid point tho.

Racism is hidden more now i remember the "fruit" being thrown at black players and being sickened by it,now the same sort of people always start a conversation with "im not racist but" but i'll agree it is better but far,far,far from perfect and in this day and age that saddens me no end.

I really don't think Racism is a major issue any more. Most of the incidents we see nowadays are just examples of people using someones race in the same way they would their weight, sightedness, height, facial skin condition, proclivity for sitting in the dark and crying. It's not the same as when blacks weren't allowed on the same buses or schools as whites. I don't believe for a second that JT or Suarez have any ill feelings towards Ferdinand and Evra, they just latched onto something about the person that stood out.

Sure, I can see your point. But I'd see the 80s as the starting point for the unraveling of the fabric of our post-war way of life. It was the forces of neo-liberalism its dog eat dog ideology which undermined the whole notion of duty of care and of responsibility that led ultimately to the type of negligence that runs through all those issues raised in the OP. We're now at the point where all those chickens are coming home to roost.

I think this has a lot to do with it. I'm only in my 30s, and no history buff, but during and post war it seems the country was united by a common enemy, and then a common cause to rebuild the country. Now we have nothing like that. The country is possibly more divided than ever before. Not in terms of an ability to co-exist, but with so many cultures and social groups, everybody wants different things, and there is no driving goal thats brings everyone together. Many on here derided the Olympics, but one of the things I like most was the atmosphere of togetherness and 'national' pride that it engendered. I personally think it was a massive success. Imagine what we could achieve if people were compelled to think that way all the time.

I don't think it's a case of 'pick your ideal decade to ape completely', nor saying that the UK is worse than Somalia or the DRC, maybe simply that there's a level of corruption and lack of social cohesion that our citizenry are unhappy with, and further, that this doesn't meet the standards we expect and strive to uphold.
Tbf I think Davek (soz mate) dilluted his point by including a couple of lame examples.

you think its bad now, ha. just wait and see. btw what are you doing to make the world/britain a better place D? not a personal attack on you mate its just that improvments start with the individual

These. I'm starting with the man in the mirror.....

Our foxes are only just sleeping easier mate.

I'm sure my mate living in Cancun doesn't miss the UK nor my mate in South China either. I've lived in Spain and the bull fighting on Saturday evening didn't taint my experience, although I did miss running the gauntlet of the lids on most corners in urban Britain.

It's a boss country to visit in the UK or spend time as a tourist or student but long term we're f*cked. There's a lack of jobs and opportunity and anything which is enjoyable is taxed to death. Of course it's still better than a lot of places but it's increasingly becoming a lot worse than a lot of places too which is a shame.

I'm sure they love it. Would be interesting to see how much they enjoyed it if they were 'one of the locals', not some well of ex-pat who was well setup and choose to go there. As for running the gauntlet, as much as we talk up the issue with 'yoofs nowadays' I've lived in some areas with pretty bad reps and never had problems, and I'm sure there's actually similar problems in other countries like those mentioned above aswell. Many hundreds of thousands of people in poor circumstances come here to better their lives. I don't see our poor and destitute heading abroad to do likewise, only those who are well off and looking for a better more 'comfortable' way of life. Like I say, i'm no expert, but this is what I see.

 

[Username]

Yes it's a ****hole.

 

[somuchfun]

 

[chicoazul]

As has been pointed these are events that took place years ago and the truths are only now coming to light, for whatever reason. The continued cover up, baring circumstance, would be a valid point tho.



I really don't think Racism is a major issue any more. Most of the incidents we see nowadays are just examples of people using someones race in the same way they would their weight, sightedness, height, facial skin condition, proclivity for sitting in the dark and crying. It's not the same as when blacks weren't allowed on the same buses or schools as whites. I don't believe for a second that JT or Suarez have any ill feelings towards Ferdinand and Evra, they just latched onto something about the person that stood out.



I think this has a lot to do with it. I'm only in my 30s, and no history buff, but during and post war it seems the country was united by a common enemy, and then a common cause to rebuild the country. Now we have nothing like that. The country is possibly more divided than ever before. Not in terms of an ability to co-exist, but with so many cultures and social groups, everybody wants different things, and there is no driving goal thats brings everyone together. Many on here derided the Olympics, but one of the things I like most was the atmosphere of togetherness and 'national' pride that it engendered. I personally think it was a massive success. Imagine what we could achieve if people were compelled to think that way all the time.





These. I'm starting with the man in the mirror.....



I'm sure they love it. Would be interesting to see how much they enjoyed it if they were 'one of the locals', not some well of ex-pat who was well setup and choose to go there. As for running the gauntlet, as much as we talk up the issue with 'yoofs nowadays' I've lived in some areas with pretty bad reps and never had problems, and I'm sure there's actually similar problems in other countries like those mentioned above aswell. Many hundreds of thousands of people in poor circumstances come here to better their lives. I don't see our poor and destitute heading abroad to do likewise, only those who are well off and looking for a better more 'comfortable' way of life. Like I say, i'm no expert, but this is what I see.

How do you know what sort of lives they live as ex pats? Ive also been lucky to spend a lot of time in Mexico and apart from the northern area which has its well documented troubles its a country that's relatively prospering and works. More opportunity over there for a good life than Britain at this moment mate.

Ive been lucky enough to work in a load of different countries for long periods at a time and spend some thing back home too consistently for many years so I have a decent handle of comparison and at the moment the UK is not a great place to live. I detest ex pats who rip into back home too so it pains me to say that.