British Expats - Life's Turning-Points

British Expats (https://britishexpats.com/forum/)

- The Maple Leaf (https://britishexpats.com/forum/maple-leaf-98/)

- - Life's Turning-Points (https://britishexpats.com/forum/maple-leaf-98/lifes-turning-points-944464/)

Re: Life's Turning-Points

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Barlow (Post 13212475)

II would like to think that if France were ever to occupy the Channel Islands, at the Islanders' invitation, Britain would not spend the lives of 400,000 British soldiers and the devastation of the entire nation to reclaim them. That's what's been happening in Ukraine.

Awesome and delusional straw-man hypothetical there, Gordon.

The Ukrainians are defending their own territory (one branch of my own Ukrainian family is from the Donbass, and some managed to survive the Stalinist Holodomor, with no love for any authority identified with Moscow/Russia)..

No outside power is even considering "spending the lives of 400,000 soldiers" in defense of this Ukrainian territory. But Ukraine will, while regretting every life spent, knowing that to capitulate now just means a worse fate further down the road, as the Putin regime is emboldened by capitulation. This is Ukraine's WW2, with Putin's Russians substituting for Germany in the aggressor role.

Re: Life's Turning-Points

We've gone from a "look at me, hasn't my life been really interesting, let me tell you about it in the guise of asking about life's turning points" to full Vatnik. This thread has run its course.

Re: Life's Turning-Points

Quote:

Originally Posted by abner (Post 13212647)

...(one branch of my own Ukrainian family is from the Donbass).. .

In these circumstances I will not continue any discussion with you on the war. When it becomes personal, it is no longer a place for outsiders.

I hope you will accept that I sincerely wish your family/relatives well, and that they will survive this war. Over and out. G

Re: Life's Turning-Points

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlantic Xpat (Post 13212755)

We've gone from a "look at me, hasn't my life been really interesting, let me tell you about it in the guise of asking about life's turning points" to full Vatnik. This thread has run its course.

I'm sorry your life has not been interesting, but I think you just have to accept what little joy has come your way. An interesting life requires taking chances once in a while, and that's not for everybody. And comfort yourself with this: you have encountered a word that's many of us on this thread have never heard of. "Vatnik" - it doesn't look English, which means you must have discovered it by doing something interesting, right? Be grateful for small mercies!

Re: Life's Turning-Points

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Barlow (Post 13213325)

I...comfort yourself with this: you have encountered a word that's many of us on this thread have never heard of. "Vatnik" - it doesn't look English, which means you must have discovered it by doing something interesting, right?

I discovered it by reading a post on this thread. It wasn't that big a thing, no great experience involved. :lol:

Re: Life's Turning-Points

I had to look it up on Urban Dictionary. Not life changing, but interesting.

.

Re: Life's Turning-Points

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Barlow (Post 13213325)

I'm sorry your life has not been interesting

But his life has been interesting.

Re: Life's Turning-Points

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Originally Posted by Jingsamichty (Post 13211316)

Genuine question - are these British colonies really self-sufficient from sales tax, i.e. all the citizens' needs in terms of infrastructure, education, healthcare, policing, judiciary, local services etc. etc. etc. are all fully met from local sales taxes alone? Or are there other financial benefits to the colony from simply being a tax-haven and attracting huge sums of money from non-locals who want to hide their money there?

Sorry, Jingsa: I don't seem to have answered your question of a while back. It was lost in the diversion to other topics... Some of the colonies really are self-sufficient without Income Tax or corporate-profits tax - maybe all of them; I don't know. It helps that most of them have very small populations. Cayman has 70-80,000, of which about half are migrants on Work Permits, who have to leave the Islands after seven years' residence - sometimes nine years, but never ten, unless they marry a citizen. That's a requirement of our masters, the UK FCO. Ten years' residence entitles a migrant to be granted citizenship, and that is granted only grudgingly.

Our education is about the same standard as Britain's; so is the policing, judiciary and other local services. The healthcare is superb. We have two hospitals - one government, the other owned and run by a well-regarded Indian surgeon from Bangalore. My wife received wonderful care for her cancer, and I have no fear of poor treatment for any health problem. I might go to Jamaica if ordered by my Jamaican doctor, and maybe Cuba. Nowhere else. I have it in my DNR ("Living Will") that I must not be sent to the USA. Reason: hospitals there have the reputation of keeping patients alive for just as long as the family's money holds out!

Re: Life's Turning-Points

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Barlow (Post 13211678)

Yes, that seems a bit wild. But I have read, that Britain's interest in the islands is their proximity to some potential oil-fields. If that's so, then the UK government probably reckons that 16 pounds a head is a good deal. If there's nothing to that story, it makes no sense for Britain to defend them. Let 'em go!

But they prefer to remain British.

But please can we let you and your pompous posturing go?

Re: Life's Turning-Points

Quote:

Originally Posted by bats (Post 13214533)

But they prefer to remain British.

But please can we let you and your pompous posturing go?

bats. What would be truly bats - and pompous posturing - is if Britain were to throw away the lives of 400,000 of its soldiers to defend the Falklands, yet that's what you seem to be advocating. Come on, man!

Re: Life's Turning-Points

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Barlow (Post 13214542)

You're being bloody ridiculous

Re: Life's Turning-Points

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Originally Posted by bats (Post 13214533)

But they prefer to remain British.

So maybe they could contribute financially to being British?

Re: Life's Turning-Points

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Originally Posted by Finknottle (Post 13214653)

So maybe they could contribute financially to being British?

You might want to check your facts before whining on

Re: Life's Turning-Points

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Originally Posted by bats (Post 13214672)

You might want to check your facts before whining on

Indeed you should. UK taxpayers cover the cost of Falklands defence requirements, Falklanders do not pay UK income tax.

As for whining, look to yourself.

Re: Life's Turning-Points

Time to stop the sniping. Those that canâ€™t help themselves, please take it to PM. Thanks.