Originally Posted by bigburd

Hi All,

Just wanted too say to those of you thinking about returning to UK think it through very seriously! it sure is an eye opener! been back a year after being in oz for 9 years and i am looking forward to going back to oz! UK has changed so much for the worse in my mind - living in Scotland its winter for 11 months of the year and definately gets you down..............

Originally Posted by slackbloke

Yes that's right, ahead in everything, including househeld debt:

https://data.oecd.org/hha/household-debt.htm

Originally Posted by bigburd

Hi All,

Just wanted too say to those of you thinking about returning to UK think it through very seriously! it sure is an eye opener! been back a year after being in oz for 9 years and i am looking forward to going back to oz! UK has changed so much for the worse in my mind - living in Scotland its winter for 11 months of the year and definately gets you down..............

Originally Posted by Amazulu

Don't take my word for it, look at the reality If you examine the metrics that are used to grade countries on economics, living standards, longevity, educational attainment etc, Australia is ahead of the UK in all of them. Before you have a go, a lot of this is to do with the systems that the UK put in place in her dominions (Canada, NZ, Australia, SA) and the USA centuries ago - Britain's gift to the world. The upstarts were bound to exceed the host - nature of the beast. These are cold hard facts. Saying that, after the many years of socialist mismanagement that followed the greatness of the Thatcher era, the UK is going a long way to repairing the damage I like the UK and I was there very recently but you could really see the gulf between the have's and have not's - a stark reality in the northern cities that I visited. Every country has this to degree, be it Norway or Mozambique but in the UK it is very pronounced compared to Australia Jihadists are a real problem for the UK but man-made climate change is not happening and is a socialist/anti-west beat up

Originally Posted by brits1

We have travelled world widely both holidaying and living and even in the poorest of countries you have a wealth divide, I would also be surprised if a country is not in any form of debt. There are some areas of Australian Cities/areas I certainly would not want to live but that does not mean I would label Australia as going to "the dogs" so to speak. In the UK the low paid at least do not go without healthcare. I personally do not agree with knocking a country because I don't patricianly like living there. Jihadists are a real problem in a lot of Westernised countries even Australia is not immune from this problem.

Originally Posted by brits1

In the UK the low paid at least do not go without healthcare

Originally Posted by SUPERCAD

I have also extensively travelled the world both living and holidays (i dont see how this qualifies my comments above others ) and i thought the post was well balanced. My take on it is he is trying to point the great north south divide and some home truths that may hit a nerve with some. he does say that he likes the country.As for Jihadists the shear demographics of the whole situation tells you the UK is more susceptible to an attack them Australia but i do agree their not immune. of course this type of thread bring out the pro and cons i only commented on this thread because i feel the sane as the OP and if i can get people to think seriously about a move maybe they wont be in the same boat

Originally Posted by brits1

Sorry to say but when I read your thread I feel you have a dislike of the UK and that leads to a biased opinion.

Originally Posted by Amazulu

Neither do they in Australia - a facet of life in most advanced western countries

Originally Posted by brits1

That's not strictly true.

Originally Posted by brits1

That's not strictly true.

Originally Posted by Amazulu

Definitely the case in Australia

Originally Posted by brits1

Sorry what I meant was that in the UK those out of work get free prescriptions and dental treatment where in Aus those on a low income will get a ‘concession’ and will therefore get their medicines at a lower cost, I am not sure how much it is since we left but it was $5.80 per script and of course pensioners do not pay for their scripts here in the UK, under 19, full time students and a few others I cannot remember do receive free prescriptions. Free dental treatment is VERY rare to find in WA/AUS but we still do have NHS dentists here (well we do were we live) which people on benefits etc do not pay and others pay a nominal fee for a check, polish and clean more for fillings etc. Baring in mind there is no such thing as "Free" as the vast majority of peoples pay with their taxes (unless of course you are out of work and do not contribute any taxes)

Originally Posted by northernbird

In the long term this kind of cost to the NHS is not sustainable.