Originally Posted by Lord Pom Percy (Post 4256238)

Something odd about OZ? have'nt you read about the " Suffolk Strangler" going around murdering people in lpswich dressed in womens clothing? l think theres something odd about the Uk also.

Originally Posted by blowfly (Post 4256212)

I am not surprised about the car theft or rape rates here.There is something odd about the whole place.It shares the highest rate of young male suicide
with in the world with Sweden and also homosexuals per head of population.

So what is going on:confused:

Originally Posted by Lord Pom Percy (Post 4256455)

l think the crime rate for both violent and property crime is about the same in both countries. l don't think crime in one country is much worse then the other.

Originally Posted by denver (Post 4255732)

I do not, nor have I ever said, Australia has no problems and everything is just perfect. Okay, there is drought. I do not critisise the UK for its weather - can't be helped due to geographical position. I said it was gloomy and I was trapped indoors because I had no money, in Perth I could have taken myself for a nice walk along the coast. But then, I was never broke in perth and had a very nice lifestyle on a teachers salary. Sorry, but walking in the cold and wet is not my cup of tea. Funny that! Whether the drought has been caused by something Australians have done is another matter, I do not know enough about it.

So you are saying that corruption is worse? Are you aware that your own Prime Minister has been interviewed for corruption? New labour have been selling honours for political donations. The report isnt out yet but there is a lot of smoke.

Medicare is not perfect, but there are major concerns here with the way the NHS is being run, sqandering money left right and centre. two recent reports: An Italian GP was flown in for five days work at Christmas costing 3500. One NHS trust paid over ten thousand pounds to a company to give it a new name (they added one word - foundation) Why this is necessary when there is no competition is beyond me.

Crime - I did not say Australia has no crime. The crime is not worse than the UK and I dot believe the same disrespect for others is as prevalent in Oz as it is in the UK.

The cost of providing healthcare is a world problem, in the west there is an ageing population, plus more drugs and machines coming out all the time which is expected to be provided without raising taxes to pay for it. It recently took me four months to get the results of a test back, in Australia I would get the results of the same test within four weeks. Plus, I can see a GP quickly and choose which GP I want to see, rather than ring up and have to beg to see a doctor that day (rather than the two day waiting list in the Uk) Also the ratio of nurses to patients is much better in Australia (my Aussie nursing friends have told me) and it has been mentioned on BR forums this too. The Oz government is slightly more practical and realises that people should have Health insurance (and helps top it up)

There is a massive teacher shortage in the UK (that is why agencies advertise overseas for teachers) This is partly due to the poor bahaviour of many students at comprehensive schools. Australia is not recruiting for teachers (not on MODL list)

Traffic congestion, possibly in Sydney, not perth. Certainly no C charge!

Drink Driving - at least Australian police are trying to catch those that do it.

Drugs - never came across anything other than marijuana in perth, here, at parties, many people do cocaine or ecstacy, very cheap to buy.

Perth, majority opinion: very clean city, london, very dirty city. Rubbish picked up every two weeks - lots of rubbish everywhere as a result, attracting rats.

I do not pretend Australia does not have problems, no country will ever be perfect. I have said this again and again. However, I think Australia is a well managed, prosperous, successful nation with happy people. Most people I meet state I am lucky to live there, and I agree.

Originally Posted by dunroving (Post 4256673)

I don't know why we are trying to argue about what the evidence shows regarding relative crime, transport costs, etc. For one thing, statistics don't tell the whole story (I know; I'm a statistician). More importantly, the reasons people go to Australia, or the US, or the UK, or return to/from any of these places (more than once - again, I know, I am one of those people) often do so for subjective, not objective, reasons.

It's human nature for many people, at least, to justify their move by slagging off where they are leaving, or focusing on the negatives. No-one is denying someone else's reality by saying Oz (or the UK, or US, etc.) isn't for them because they can't stand the bugs, or the heat, or the rain, or the crime, or the chavs, or the hoons, or the rednecks, or whatever.

I think we all just need to step back and chill a bit. When someone says "the UK is going to the dogs - ASBOs, NHS, house prices, blah, blah", I can see their point. There ARE problems with these things, but in my mind those problems are not great enough for me to want to live elsewhere. It doesn't tick me off that they say it (although it might do if that's all they can talk about, or if they seem absolutely incapable of recognizing any of the good things the UK has).

Similarly, although I left the US (twice!), I can see the myriad of great things about living there (standard of living, weather, sports, to name just a few), as well as the bad parts too (cost of healthcare, lack of welfare provision, narrow-mindedness, etc.).

Maybe I'm missing something. Perhaps this is really a sporting event - I'll prove that Oz (or the UK, or US, etc.) is crap and you prove it's great. Problem is, the game always seems to end in a nil-nil draw.

Originally Posted by sassenach (Post 4256682)

Good post and as you say really there isnt much point really in this point scoring ,the fact is on this side of the forum by and large most people think aussie is a dump and you got to be a brain dead imbecile to live there ,whereas on the other side australia is marvelous and britain is a dump and you got to be an imbecile to live there ,so in effect both places are the bloody same in every way except for one you need a brain to live in and the other you dont .

Originally Posted by northernbird (Post 4256715)

I have never ever ever called anyone a name for choosing to move back to England ( I know you didn't say I did) , each to their own and all that.

Originally Posted by sassenach (Post 4256731)

i know and im not going to trawl through threads to find anything to prove you wrong either .
Its my opinion that life in general on a day to day basis in australia is far more dull and brain deadening unless one is travelling around the joint seeing all the wonderful places australia has to offer ,which by and large most of us wont get to see because of commitements.
Although my imbecile comment seems harsh and over the top ,i believe this place only turns the brain into mush with only the basic thinking patterns required to breath,eat ,feed ,shit,walk round shopping centres,and tell aussies how great it is .

Originally Posted by northernbird (Post 4256759)

well that is your opinion and you are are entitled to it of course. I will add that my life is no different on a day to day basis than it was at home so I must have lead a dull and brain deadening existence there too.

Originally Posted by sassenach (Post 4256778)

something is wrong ,we arnt fighting ,i think you should rename your self the Tolerant One again .

Originally Posted by northernbird (Post 4256784)

I just cannot be bothered anymore mate. You have made your views clear, I have made mine clear we both think the others views are shite and thats the end of it. I have more important things to worry about.