I have to ask this question. Why it is that the UK has the worst this and worst that?

Question

I think that other countries also have the worst this and the worst that but they do not carry out so many surveys as we do in the UK. And who carrys out these surverys. For example who was it that carried out the survey that resulted in someone saying that the UK has the biggest Cocaine problem out of the whole of Europe? Whom are these people trying to kid?

We are open to scrunity all the time. We may not be a world leader in the political sense but if we are to believe everything we read we must consider ourselves to be down amonsgt the sewer rats.

What I think that it is about time that we started letting the world know that we are good people and not the dregs of humanity.

What do you think about the UK. Do we deserve harse criticism?

And what lessons do we need to learn from other countries?

I would like to state that I do not take recreational drugs to to set the record straight. Each to his or her own. This was not my question.

No matter what..I think this country of ours is still amongst the best.

Answer 1

Because of the press is the short answer.

Have you ever noticed when you watch the early evening news on the BBC there is NEVER anything positive on it? For the positive news you always have to wait for the local news. I don't even bother with the late news no more cause that s even more depressing.

Not read on the cocaine story but as an ex-user i will say that it wouldn't surprise me. Cocaine is not just a street drug. It's a dance floor drug and a bedroom drug too. So the average cocaine user is probably not your stereotype streetmugger. They are more likely to be crackheads anyway. You get more value for money if you crystallize the stuff. And it ain't no cheap habit either.

There is nothing wrong with the British people. I've lived here 20 years now (half a lifetime) and the people are one of the things that prevent me from leaving although at the rate it's going for the rest it is only a matter of time before i'm out.

In 1999 i moved to Holland for a year. Whilst there i really wasn't happy and one day i watched Westminster today on daytime television. Can't remember what the debate was (it was the House of Commons) but it had me in tears of laughter. It came across as some twats with a good education, judging by their accents, putting on a play. But they couldn't act and that was why it was so funny. Ponit is that i never thought much more of it till i came back in 2001. I saw the same twats performing their play but this time they were doing it with my tax money. House of Commons has never beem the same in my view.

This country is stuck in a time warp of ancient laws that have been adapted to modern times. It is ruled by the ones that are so envious of the real aristocracy that they are prepared to get rid of it. but not before they have made themselves part of that aristocracy. And it is shocking how many think it acceptable to compare Magna Carta to a constitution. The British monarchy has told the pope to sod off and started their own religion since that was compiled!

Honours should be given to commoners. But never should a commoner be allowed to sit in the House of Lords. Not even if he saved the Queen's life personally.

So when it comes to democracy it is probably one of the worst. Whilst various European countries have had referendums over different things to do with the EU i still have to see the first one in Britain.

I grew up in Belgium. One of the things i remember is yearly shopping trips to get the christmas shopping in Dover. M&S for clothing, Woolworths for toys and Quality Street by the weight Boots for stocking up on the vitamins. Now the Belgians don't even bother with a boat service between Dover and Ostend no more. And P&O or any of the other ferries don't have one either. (there is one that goes from Ramsgate though) Did you know that on the ferries to France the chocolate is twice the price of what it costs in the supermarkets in Belgium? And the Brits sail to Calais and drive to Belgium. I have regularly seen them bulk buy washing powder and drag it back to Britain!?!

I think in a way the British people do deserve the critisism. When it comes to politics they always stick with what they know. Blair will lose the next election and the conservatives will come to power. And there will be another cycle where one party blames the other for 5 years, then some good years and eventually they will get too comfortable and take to much liberties and the whole thing will go back to labour. or that is how i see it anyway.

Lessons from other countries? One i would love to mention.
In the 50's the schooling system in Belgium was controlled by the church. Church and state were one. Then the liberals came to power and there were the school wars. It lead to the seperation of school, church and state. Choice of religion at school became a constitutional right and for those that were not religiously inclined there was the option of getting a humanitarian education for that part of the syllabus. It is still like that now. It should be like that here. C of E and education should be seperate. And religious choice should be offered within the education system. It shows respect for the other religions and allows children to develop within their own cultural beliefs and take on the other religious/cultural beliefs at a pace that allows to keep their own values intact (or those of the adults whom are responsible for it).

Central government is such a wasteful institution. We had a bollard installed behind the High Street to stop a rat run. it cost fortunes. It went from borough council to county council to westminster. then back to county council and 1 year later borough council was told that they cpould install the bollard! it's ridiculous amounts of money being wasted on bureaucracy you know. And that is just one bollard. I read a similar story on building a seasonal bridge in the Yorkshire Dales once.


Hmmm, rant over. Hope i answerd your question in there. I could go on. But i won't :-)

Answer 2

with the way Americans follow royalty (how did we followed Diana and how does Fergie help us lose weight!) I think your view is incorrect. I think people really like Great Britain for what it is. People dream about going to Scottland and playing the bagpipe or going to an Irish pub. There is a lot of romance with England. A lot of Americans look to England to lead the way in fashion and glamour. We love Australia and New Zealand too, however. I think America is the best, but your influence has helped make us the best. Thanks!

Answer 3

I love the UK. For the most part. Its one of the countries I never got to visit when I was in the military, but would be the first one I'd visit on my own in a heart beat. Lotsa love and respect for the UK here and there ethics (for the most part) and you guys gave the world Elzabeth Hurley.

Answer 4

It was me who posted the thread about cocaine use.

But you have put a different perspective on the argument.

You are right of course we are always lead to believe by the Media that we are a dying society.

The lesson we need to learn is to look on the bright side because all this doom mongering in the Media is bad for us as a nation.

Answer 5

Its good to always know what your problems are so you can do something about them if you wish to. In Uk the roblems are known from surveys but nobody want to do something about anything. If a cocaine addit burgles your house to steall money to support his habit, and you disturb him while he is bugling you, then you go to prison.

There is nothing wrong with using cocaine at all in my view. Its only when the user cannot afford the cost and goes stealing or robbing that I think it becomes a problem for us all.

Answer 6

Sometimes we are just too horribly painfully honest! Can be a good trait- better than some self opinianated countries, but often a downer!

Answer 7

that's the worst question Ive ever seen on here! lol no only joking
we are easy targets plain and simple
other countries like to criticise us because we are so strong and they are weak, they are just jealous plus they all hate us because at some time in history we kicked their asses

Answer 8

I find that British people are one of the more polite ones.

Answer 9

Because we brit think that it is the in thing to be the worst of things don't get it myself

Answer 10

cos its cold and miserable in uk, comw to australia and enjoy the heat