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I can't believe how poor just about everything is in the UK, I have honestly never felt so depressed about living and working in this Country, I now truly appreciate why people are so keen to move abroad.
Every company you deal with is out to screw you over and you need to be a Consumer Contracts expert just to get what you're entitled to, as the standard line now appears to be to mis-sell and misinform customers. Service sector? My God, it's non existent and couriers, WTAF is going on there!?!?! I am struggling to continue to operate a business due to the sheer quantity of failed collections/deliveries from a variety of couriers, blue chip (lol) and other, leading to customer cancellations and refunds. They all say the same thing "can't get drivers due to Brexit" these appear to be some of the unappreciated consequences for small businesses such as mine, we have the same issue trying to find Lorry Drivers, massive shortage and a huge hike in wages as a result of the demand also crippling profits.
I've not even mentioned the strikes of just about every industry in the UK, poor pay, poor living conditions, huge wealth inequality etc etc etc. For the first time in my life, I truly feel that the UK has "had it" it's finished, we have been well and truly flushed down the sh1tter and I just don't know how we are going to get out of a mess this big, it's scary, I am genuinely mortified at what lies ahead for my kids.
We’ve been led by donkeys for 22 years, corrupt, myopic, jingoistic, short sighted, entitled people in leadership make for a country in a terrible state.
You would not believe some of the decisions being made in terms of our trade, environmental and commercial futures.
WTF has happened to this Country? on 20:28 - Jan 27 by Geomorph
When you starve ‘enemy’ local authorities of dosh for 13 years, running community services down to bare bones, then add insult to injury by making geographical distribution of funds some kind of X factor competition based on internal parliamentary lobbying.. you know the games up… we are completely fkd ..
Most of the world had taken a wrong turn.
That really is the crux of the matter.
If it’s a hot summer I think UK will be on fire. I predict mass riots all over the country.
As I said earlier, it’s happening in countries in Europe right now. Oh, and just because I am saying that is not a deflection of the problems of the UK. I fully accept we are completely screwed and the only way to move onwards is a change of government - although I’m not suggesting that is going to be an instant mend. We have 10 years of sh-t ahead, maybe 5 with a bit of luck.
Elephant in the room is Ukraine, I’m fully supportive of battling aggression but the west is getting more involved and the requests are getting heavier. Now then, fair play, we should all do what we can but personally, I think we could have a tactical nuclear strike this year and that won’t end well.
Well, it would be an end.
Very dangerous times.
“Hello, I'm your MP. Actually I'm not. I'm your candidate. Gosh.”
Boris Johnson canvassing in Henley, 2005.
WTF has happened to this Country? on 21:03 - Jan 27 by Lord_Lucan
Most of the world had taken a wrong turn.
That really is the crux of the matter.
If it’s a hot summer I think UK will be on fire. I predict mass riots all over the country.
As I said earlier, it’s happening in countries in Europe right now. Oh, and just because I am saying that is not a deflection of the problems of the UK. I fully accept we are completely screwed and the only way to move onwards is a change of government - although I’m not suggesting that is going to be an instant mend. We have 10 years of sh-t ahead, maybe 5 with a bit of luck.
Elephant in the room is Ukraine, I’m fully supportive of battling aggression but the west is getting more involved and the requests are getting heavier. Now then, fair play, we should all do what we can but personally, I think we could have a tactical nuclear strike this year and that won’t end well.
Well, it would be an end.
Very dangerous times.
If Ukraine is the elephant in the room, then the Tyrannosaurus in the room is the onward roll of climate change, and the cascading effects of extreme weather events > food shortages > starvation > 3rd, 2nd and 1st world riots > territorial warfare > escalation > the Budgies somehow fluking another promotion.
WTF has happened to this Country? on 16:53 - Jan 27 by bluelagos
Indeed. From the moment we have the vote we've had people telling us to "respect democracy" whilst they themselves decided to define what Brexit meant with no regard to the 48% who voted remain and/or the many who voted leave believing that we would remain in the SM (As Farage and others had said on occasions would happen)
But the far right undermined May's attempts at a soft brexit and we get saddled with a deal that basically means barriers to trade with the EU and so investment drops - like 16% pa on the back of it (Govt figures)
Investment is what sustains our businesses and our jobs - and it is now 1/6 less than it would have been. But apparently anyone who points this out - we are the problem!
Lots of people were misled over Brexit - I get that. But to point the finger at remainers is a p*ss take of the highest order. If you voted for this shower it's on you, simples.
We have the government certian folk voted for - in full knowledge of what they were voting for. Its a bit rich for them and the likes of Rod Stewart to be whining now. We are seeing the end product of 13 years of austerity and cuts, not some over night collapse.
Yes, inflation is effecting the globe, but to try and compare problems in Europe with the absolute sh itfest in the UK is an absurd bit of whataboutery
And it shoud be noted that Europamn countrys own much of the UKs utilities, Esential services to ensure society and busines function priperly, only in the UK do we allow a private company (foreig owned) to eun our water supply. Maybe the thiko red wallers could tell us how much toey own in shares in these foreign xcompanies that own so much of the UK. Perhaps when they stopp doffing their cap they might wonder about their bleat of 'taking back xcontrol'
Not until certain voters get off their knees and drop the Downton Abbey mentality will we see change. A populace for whom a half dozen 1950s war films and Tarzan amount to their sum total of knowledge and view of the outside world.
That will require voters to start thinking for themselves, not have their 'opinions' handed to them and accepted unchallenged, by shysters. liars abd charlatans
5
WTF has happened to this Country? on 22:25 - Jan 27 with 2521 views
WTF has happened to this Country? on 21:40 - Jan 27 by HARRY10
We have the government certian folk voted for - in full knowledge of what they were voting for. Its a bit rich for them and the likes of Rod Stewart to be whining now. We are seeing the end product of 13 years of austerity and cuts, not some over night collapse.
Yes, inflation is effecting the globe, but to try and compare problems in Europe with the absolute sh itfest in the UK is an absurd bit of whataboutery
And it shoud be noted that Europamn countrys own much of the UKs utilities, Esential services to ensure society and busines function priperly, only in the UK do we allow a private company (foreig owned) to eun our water supply. Maybe the thiko red wallers could tell us how much toey own in shares in these foreign xcompanies that own so much of the UK. Perhaps when they stopp doffing their cap they might wonder about their bleat of 'taking back xcontrol'
Not until certain voters get off their knees and drop the Downton Abbey mentality will we see change. A populace for whom a half dozen 1950s war films and Tarzan amount to their sum total of knowledge and view of the outside world.
That will require voters to start thinking for themselves, not have their 'opinions' handed to them and accepted unchallenged, by shysters. liars abd charlatans
...................and the Daily F******g Mail!!!!!
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WTF has happened to this Country? on 22:33 - Jan 27 with 2500 views
WTF has happened to this Country? on 21:31 - Jan 27 by NthQldITFC
If Ukraine is the elephant in the room, then the Tyrannosaurus in the room is the onward roll of climate change, and the cascading effects of extreme weather events > food shortages > starvation > 3rd, 2nd and 1st world riots > territorial warfare > escalation > the Budgies somehow fluking another promotion.
I’m not a climate denier by any means but I think the solution will come by man - in an ironic way. Man can work most of it out in my humble opinion - except the ocean!
The ocean is the big problem. I used to be involved in aquatics and still have a firm interest, you can halt certain things but you can’t stop plastic pollution in the ocean, it’s a motherfecker.
“Hello, I'm your MP. Actually I'm not. I'm your candidate. Gosh.”
Boris Johnson canvassing in Henley, 2005.
WTF has happened to this Country? on 22:33 - Jan 27 by Lord_Lucan
I’m not a climate denier by any means but I think the solution will come by man - in an ironic way. Man can work most of it out in my humble opinion - except the ocean!
The ocean is the big problem. I used to be involved in aquatics and still have a firm interest, you can halt certain things but you can’t stop plastic pollution in the ocean, it’s a motherfecker.
If our whole species suddenly woke up and started doing all of the right things tomorrow, there would be a good amount of hope. But there are two major, major problems:
1. Momentum - You'll hear about 'baked in' consequences which we can not avoid. We're already seeing extraordinary jumps in temperature records and frequency of events. The runaway truck is going to crush a lot of people before it stops. We can't do anything about a lot of this, but we can maybe take our foot off the accelerator now and save a few people (and other species and habitats) further down the road.
2. Bullsh!t - Everybody has known about this for decades now, and we have done fk all, just made our excuses on a personal, corporate or governmental level to carry on doing the same suicidal thing because we want the shiny toys.
There's no hope without a radical reset to a non-expansionist, non-growth, non-profit, subsistence only model - we can't survive without this change, and all the excuses in the world are not going to make that truth go away.
WTF has happened to this Country? on 23:59 - Jan 27 by NthQldITFC
If our whole species suddenly woke up and started doing all of the right things tomorrow, there would be a good amount of hope. But there are two major, major problems:
1. Momentum - You'll hear about 'baked in' consequences which we can not avoid. We're already seeing extraordinary jumps in temperature records and frequency of events. The runaway truck is going to crush a lot of people before it stops. We can't do anything about a lot of this, but we can maybe take our foot off the accelerator now and save a few people (and other species and habitats) further down the road.
2. Bullsh!t - Everybody has known about this for decades now, and we have done fk all, just made our excuses on a personal, corporate or governmental level to carry on doing the same suicidal thing because we want the shiny toys.
There's no hope without a radical reset to a non-expansionist, non-growth, non-profit, subsistence only model - we can't survive without this change, and all the excuses in the world are not going to make that truth go away.
The end is nigh, but hopefully not before back to back promotions for Town.
Poor old planet Earth would be better off without Humankind.
I had penned an Irish view to this thread...and then binned it! As a nation the Irish are very pro EU for good reasons dare I say...maybe for another time...
At a global macro economic level (Ukraine, cost of living, inflation, Brexit etc) along with a stock market reset from rewarding growth to focusing on profitability which is resulting in Tech redundancies across the board. We are in the middle of another reset.
When there is a downturn neigh recession in a country's economy the Government holds the keys in terms of helping with the redistribution of wealth and stimulating growth.
"British economist John Maynard Keynes believed that classical economic theory did not provide a way to end depressions. He argued that uncertainty caused individuals and businesses to stop spending and investing, and government must step in and spend money to get the economy back on track"
Discuss...
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WTF has happened to this Country? on 04:42 - Jan 28 with 2255 views
WTF has happened to this Country? on 12:52 - Jan 27 by Lord_Lucan
I'm one of those stiff upper lip and get on with it boring bastards and I get instantly annoyed when I hear people running my great country down.....
.....but yes, it's all a bit sh1t isn't it. It's like the 70's revisited.
Everything is broken.
I can't really speak for other countries as I have no first hand experience however my good friend Lorenzo the Italian Stallion says it's the same there and another old friend has decided to emigrate from Germany to Canada because he reckons it's all broken there as well.
Things were sort of heading this way a few years back but Covid has really screwed the coffin lid down. The effects of Covid will linger for years and years
Covid hangover probably has a lot to do with. Let’s not forget the “good guys” literally cheered on Covid restrictions for years while each day, immense damage was being done to healthy populations who were being forced into some kind of mental and economic abyss. Is anyone surprised at the size of the tab and the damage?
[Post edited 28 Jan 2023 4:44]
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WTF has happened to this Country? on 05:01 - Jan 28 with 2241 views
WTF has happened to this Country? on 15:50 - Jan 27 by SomethingBlue
Many of the things listed knowledgeably and eloquently by those in the thread already.
I do think as well that we have a big problem around people engaging properly, critically, with *anything* in this country. Which is of course very convenient for a government. I'm talking very generally indeed but compared with other countries I find our population to be pretty undiscerning, uncritical, fattened, complacent. Easily fed propaganda by a media whose work is, in some quarters, borderline evil. Now it's fairly chicken/egg as to where the root of it lies, but it's a problem. Bad things are easily waved through.
Education plays a big part and I think political education in this country is really poor, as is general work around social issues. In my work I speak to a lot of guys from around Europe aged on average between, let's say, 18-30. Again a generalisation but the Brits/English tend to lag waaaaay behind in terms of the broader topics they (a) can engage with and (b) give a sh6t about at all.
[Post edited 27 Jan 2023 15:53]
Noam Chomsky has views on education, and below is an extract from an online article explaining his thinking.
"Chomsky suggests that society simply reduces education to the requirement of the market. Students are trained to be compliant workers. The education process is reduced to knowledgeable educators who transfer information to those who don't know rather than to help students formulate higher level thinking skills on their own. In an interview with Donaldo Macedo, Chomsky describes education as "a deep level of indoctrination that takes place in our schools". Teachers are referred to as workers who merely carry out a task they were hired to do. Schools indoctrinate and impose obedience and are used as a system of control and coercion. Chomsky explains that an educated child by society's definition "is one who is conditioned to obey power and structure".
Chomsky complains that children are not taught to challenge and think independently, yet they are taught to repeat, follow orders and obey. Education is described as a period of regimentation and control, with a system of false beliefs."
Interestingly, my daughter did the International Baccalaureate where there was a module called Theory of Knowledge, which included critical thinking. I believe the IB reflects the way people are taught in other areas of Europe, and maybe this is the reason those in Europe you speak to are more savvy.
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WTF has happened to this Country? on 09:39 - Jan 28 with 1991 views
Covid hangover probably has a lot to do with. Let’s not forget the “good guys” literally cheered on Covid restrictions for years while each day, immense damage was being done to healthy populations who were being forced into some kind of mental and economic abyss. Is anyone surprised at the size of the tab and the damage?
[Post edited 28 Jan 2023 4:44]
Indeed, and the money printing that had been going on for years and then accelerated during lockdowns was always going to result in massive inflation.
0
WTF has happened to this Country? on 09:39 - Jan 28 with 1994 views
WTF has happened to this Country? on 09:12 - Jan 28 by DJR
Noam Chomsky has views on education, and below is an extract from an online article explaining his thinking.
"Chomsky suggests that society simply reduces education to the requirement of the market. Students are trained to be compliant workers. The education process is reduced to knowledgeable educators who transfer information to those who don't know rather than to help students formulate higher level thinking skills on their own. In an interview with Donaldo Macedo, Chomsky describes education as "a deep level of indoctrination that takes place in our schools". Teachers are referred to as workers who merely carry out a task they were hired to do. Schools indoctrinate and impose obedience and are used as a system of control and coercion. Chomsky explains that an educated child by society's definition "is one who is conditioned to obey power and structure".
Chomsky complains that children are not taught to challenge and think independently, yet they are taught to repeat, follow orders and obey. Education is described as a period of regimentation and control, with a system of false beliefs."
Interestingly, my daughter did the International Baccalaureate where there was a module called Theory of Knowledge, which included critical thinking. I believe the IB reflects the way people are taught in other areas of Europe, and maybe this is the reason those in Europe you speak to are more savvy.
Never properly read Chomsky (am not a big reader) but whenever I see his quotes he always strikes a chord.
Having challenged authority of the highest level, over many years, over clear failings in the british justice system, it never ceases to amaze me how many people defend the indefensible even when the evidence is staring them in the face of instutional failings.
That goes for well publicised failing within policing but also failings in our NHS, transport, education, politics, churches, media...the list of failing institutions is many, the line of those keen to defend them even longer.
I sometimes use the phrase "an uncomfortable truth" as many people clearly struggle with grasping the reality of what they can see. Doubly so when they have been complicit in the failings by their actions or inactons.
We have a default "do nothing" mentaility, we are scared to speak out, especially when those in authority hold power. Sometimes to do nothing very much makes you part of the problem.
WTF has happened to this Country? on 09:39 - Jan 28 by bluelagos
Never properly read Chomsky (am not a big reader) but whenever I see his quotes he always strikes a chord.
Having challenged authority of the highest level, over many years, over clear failings in the british justice system, it never ceases to amaze me how many people defend the indefensible even when the evidence is staring them in the face of instutional failings.
That goes for well publicised failing within policing but also failings in our NHS, transport, education, politics, churches, media...the list of failing institutions is many, the line of those keen to defend them even longer.
I sometimes use the phrase "an uncomfortable truth" as many people clearly struggle with grasping the reality of what they can see. Doubly so when they have been complicit in the failings by their actions or inactons.
We have a default "do nothing" mentaility, we are scared to speak out, especially when those in authority hold power. Sometimes to do nothing very much makes you part of the problem.
You won't go far wrong with Chomsky.
"They break our legs and tell us to be grateful when they offer us crutches."
WTF has happened to this Country? on 12:22 - Jan 28 by GlasgowBlue
Chomsky is like the Ramones. Plenty of people have them on a T shirt but very few people have actually listened to them.
If you do nothing else, listen to the following which has the first six and best Ramones albums on it. Along with the Clash, my favourite group, and only really appreciated after they had broken up.
WTF has happened to this Country? on 12:52 - Jan 27 by Lord_Lucan
I'm one of those stiff upper lip and get on with it boring bastards and I get instantly annoyed when I hear people running my great country down.....
.....but yes, it's all a bit sh1t isn't it. It's like the 70's revisited.
Everything is broken.
I can't really speak for other countries as I have no first hand experience however my good friend Lorenzo the Italian Stallion says it's the same there and another old friend has decided to emigrate from Germany to Canada because he reckons it's all broken there as well.
Things were sort of heading this way a few years back but Covid has really screwed the coffin lid down. The effects of Covid will linger for years and years
I’m in touch with a couple of the Bosch I met in Berlin and they moan about almost exactly the same things as OP and our usual customers. Immigration lack of health services inflation and a general sense of managed decline.
In the spirit of reconciliation and happiness at the end of the Banter Era (RIP) and as a result of promotion I have cleared out my ignore list. Look forwards to reading your posts!
WTF has happened to this Country? on 13:04 - Jan 28 by chicoazul
I’m in touch with a couple of the Bosch I met in Berlin and they moan about almost exactly the same things as OP and our usual customers. Immigration lack of health services inflation and a general sense of managed decline.
Do you think the Fortuna Dussledorf forum is like a mirror image of TWTD where they constantly argue and there are numerous spats between Glauchau_Red and Herr Küünt
Covid hangover probably has a lot to do with. Let’s not forget the “good guys” literally cheered on Covid restrictions for years while each day, immense damage was being done to healthy populations who were being forced into some kind of mental and economic abyss. Is anyone surprised at the size of the tab and the damage?
[Post edited 28 Jan 2023 4:44]
Pretty sick of this narrative you've been pushing on here the last year or so.
Restrictions were absolutely the correct action in the circumstances and ignoring all the arguments in their favour at the time so that you can reframe historic actions with modern context is disingenuous.
Restrictions clearly weren't perfect but with the context at the time they were the most sensible course of action.
I'm sorry you didn't get to rack up an entire African villages yearly CO2 emissions for one night in Qatar during that pandemic but that was probably for the best as well.
SB
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WTF has happened to this Country? on 13:31 - Jan 28 with 1674 views
WTF has happened to this Country? on 05:01 - Jan 28 by BondiBlue
I'm a bit over being a teacher in Australia. Sounds like i should become a driver in the UK.
You'd make a killing, every business I know can't find enough drivers and are thus paying mental money for anybody they can get hold of. My neighbour quit being a lorry driver about 18 months ago to become a train driver and he's had 3 of his old companies phoning him up offering quadruple what he used to be paid (which was decent money to begin with) but I think the typical rate has doubled (and a bit) my neighbour has various certificates for carrying hazardous materials and gas etc etc so is even rarer in the market.
WTF has happened to this Country? on 13:20 - Jan 28 by Lord_Lucan
Do you think the Fortuna Dussledorf forum is like a mirror image of TWTD where they constantly argue and there are numerous spats between Glauchau_Red and Herr Küünt
WTF has happened to this Country? on 13:23 - Jan 28 by StokieBlue
Pretty sick of this narrative you've been pushing on here the last year or so.
Restrictions were absolutely the correct action in the circumstances and ignoring all the arguments in their favour at the time so that you can reframe historic actions with modern context is disingenuous.
Restrictions clearly weren't perfect but with the context at the time they were the most sensible course of action.
I'm sorry you didn't get to rack up an entire African villages yearly CO2 emissions for one night in Qatar during that pandemic but that was probably for the best as well.
SB
Ah, you used the word "sick" for someone that doesn't agree with you. The board overlord has spoken. Just surprised you didn't get the world fallacy in there.
Of course everything in the world is as black and white as StokieBlue's moral stance.
Not perfect? Yes, I guess you could say that for people that will never recover, missed vital early detection, treatments, haver suffered serious mental health implications or lost everything they had ever worked for. Not to mention young people in the best years of their lives that couldn't live them and will now be paying it off for decades. We will see what future studies say as as is very early days yet.
Thanks for your concern about my carbon footprint. I am sure you would love to control my monthly flights. Actually, I managed to go back and forth plenty throughout the pandemic due to having dual status. Was pleased to do my bit to support the aviation industry while visiting family. Doha was great by the way!
-5
WTF has happened to this Country? on 17:56 - Jan 28 with 1506 views
Covid hangover probably has a lot to do with. Let’s not forget the “good guys” literally cheered on Covid restrictions for years while each day, immense damage was being done to healthy populations who were being forced into some kind of mental and economic abyss. Is anyone surprised at the size of the tab and the damage?
[Post edited 28 Jan 2023 4:44]
"immense damage was being done to healthy populations who were being forced into some kind of mental and economic abyss"
You mean those same healthy populations that escaped dying from Covid thanks to the lockdowns?
Lockdowns weren't great, but better the temporary mental & economic trough they caused than the alternative.
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