Living in Broken Britain
Feb 8th 2010, 10:20 pm
#17
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Re: Living in Broken Britain
Okay. What he actually said was: "Now comes a singular thing, the oddest thing, the strangest thing, the unaccountable marvel that Australia can show, namely the break of gauge at Albury. Think of the paralysis of intellect that gave that idea birth."
I still reckon he thought my version before he had time to write things down calmly.
See what happens when you put the English in charge of the railways in one state and Irish in charge in another state.
I still reckon he thought my version before he had time to write things down calmly.
See what happens when you put the English in charge of the railways in one state and Irish in charge in another state.
Feb 8th 2010, 10:26 pm
#18
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Feb 8th 2010, 10:27 pm
#19
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Re: Living in Broken Britain
Britain broken? Nah! A country is never broken if it has some of the most resilient, innovative, inventive, industrious, committed, intelligent, realistic and self aware people on the planet, which the UK has in spades.
To misquote Twain?, The reports of it's death have been greatly exaggerated.
It is having it rough in some respects just now but compared to what it has endured before it is a Mozzie bite.
To misquote Twain?, The reports of it's death have been greatly exaggerated.
It is having it rough in some respects just now but compared to what it has endured before it is a Mozzie bite.
Feb 8th 2010, 11:06 pm
#21
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Posts: 14,188
Re: Living in Broken Britain
Maybe... but Thatcherite policies did more long term damage to my home city than the Luftwaffe ever managed.
It's not an argument I can be bothered getting into though. I've noticed several times on this board that the people who were adults at the time Thatcher was in power have a VERY different view to the generations that followed.
It's not an argument I can be bothered getting into though. I've noticed several times on this board that the people who were adults at the time Thatcher was in power have a VERY different view to the generations that followed.
Feb 8th 2010, 11:18 pm
#22
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Living in Broken Britain
Britain broken? Nah! A country is never broken if it has some of the most resilient, innovative, inventive, industrious, committed, intelligent, realistic and self aware people on the planet, which the UK has in spades.
To misquote Twain?, The reports of it's death have been greatly exaggerated.
To misquote Twain?, The reports of it's death have been greatly exaggerated.
Feb 8th 2010, 11:21 pm
#23
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Posts: 10,784
Re: Living in Broken Britain
Britain is in a tough place but so are lots of countries, The idea that Britain is "broke" is laughable.
Feb 8th 2010, 11:44 pm
#24
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Re: Living in Broken Britain
I have to take seriously the people that say it's tough in some circles. But agree that Britain can't truly be broke - at least not on paper and outside macro-economic principles.
Feb 9th 2010, 12:03 am
#26
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Joined: May 2003
Location: Alloha snack bar
Posts: 24,246
Re: Living in Broken Britain
Maybe... but Thatcherite policies did more long term damage to my home city than the Luftwaffe ever managed.
It's not an argument I can be bothered getting into though. I've noticed several times on this board that the people who were adults at the time Thatcher was in power have a VERY different view to the generations that followed.
It's not an argument I can be bothered getting into though. I've noticed several times on this board that the people who were adults at the time Thatcher was in power have a VERY different view to the generations that followed.
UK was in a mess in 1979 and they elected a leader who sorted the mess out - not all pretty I will admit.
UK is in a mess in 2010 and they will probably elect a leader who will try to sort it out - whether he can or not is yet to be seen.
Feb 9th 2010, 12:06 am
#27
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Posts: 10,784
Re: Living in Broken Britain
Fair enough but it was still a ridiculous comparison.
UK was in a mess in 1979 and they elected a leader who sorted the mess out - not all pretty I will admit.
UK is in a mess in 2010 and they will probably elect a leader who will try to sort it out - whether he can or not is yet to be seen.
UK was in a mess in 1979 and they elected a leader who sorted the mess out - not all pretty I will admit.
UK is in a mess in 2010 and they will probably elect a leader who will try to sort it out - whether he can or not is yet to be seen.
Difficult times need a different leader. Remember Churchill. Outside of the circumstances, just how good a PM would he have been? H efought the fires that needed fighting at the time though.
Feb 9th 2010, 12:08 am
#28
A lion in your lap
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Sparta NJ
Posts: 7,605
Re: Living in Broken Britain
I like the Times, always have and think this is a pretty damning article about the peoples perceptions of Britain today.
I'd post this in the MBTUK thread but expect it would stir up too many people, but its pretty grim reading and I tend to agree with a fair amount of it.
'Nearly three fifths of voters say that they hardly recognise the country they are living in, while 42 per cent say they would emigrate if they could'
I wonder if DIMIA read that before recent changes
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle7020009.ece
I'd post this in the MBTUK thread but expect it would stir up too many people, but its pretty grim reading and I tend to agree with a fair amount of it.
'Nearly three fifths of voters say that they hardly recognise the country they are living in, while 42 per cent say they would emigrate if they could'
I wonder if DIMIA read that before recent changes
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle7020009.ece
It has become fashionable to say that British society is in a mess and getting worse. It isn’t.
http://www.economist.com/opinion/dis...ry_id=15452811
http://www.economist.com/opinion/dis...ry_id=15452867
Last edited by elfman; Feb 9th 2010 at 12:22 am.
Feb 9th 2010, 12:11 am
#29
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Joined: Oct 2008
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Posts: 6,781
Re: Living in Broken Britain
I like the Times, always have and think this is a pretty damning article about the peoples perceptions of Britain today.
I'd post this in the MBTUK thread but expect it would stir up too many people, but its pretty grim reading and I tend to agree with a fair amount of it.
'Nearly three fifths of voters say that they hardly recognise the country they are living in, while 42 per cent say they would emigrate if they could'
I wonder if DIMIA read that before recent changes
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle7020009.ece
I'd post this in the MBTUK thread but expect it would stir up too many people, but its pretty grim reading and I tend to agree with a fair amount of it.
'Nearly three fifths of voters say that they hardly recognise the country they are living in, while 42 per cent say they would emigrate if they could'
I wonder if DIMIA read that before recent changes
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle7020009.ece
Think certain folk may say they want to emigrate when the question is raised but few do anything about it.
Feb 9th 2010, 12:13 am
#30
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Posts: 10,784
Re: Living in Broken Britain
And I bet there are people in EVERY country that echo these sentiments. Grass is greener syndrome can't soley be a Brit phenomenom
