How is UK.....Really?
Apr 13th 2007, 3:12 am
#76
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 93
Re: How is UK.....Really?
We pay a lot of taxes in the U.K but it gets spent very wisely,for example the London olympic site will soon be home to one of the largest islamic landmarks in Europe when the government splashes out on a mega mosque capable of holding 10 000 people.
The U.K is thriving you do not know what you're missing!!
The U.K is thriving you do not know what you're missing!!
Apr 13th 2007, 3:41 am
#77
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,179
Re: How is UK.....Really?
We pay a lot of taxes in the U.K but it gets spent very wisely,for example the London olympic site will soon be home to one of the largest islamic landmarks in Europe when the government splashes out on a mega mosque capable of holding 10 000 people.
The U.K is thriving you do not know what you're missing!!
The U.K is thriving you do not know what you're missing!!
Apr 13th 2007, 4:29 am
#78
Account Closed
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 15,455
Re: How is UK.....Really?
I find a lot of people do not understand that their taxes are used to pay for hospitals and pensions now - not put aside for their own future needs. They will be relying on future workers to pay for their healthcare and state pensions.
Apr 13th 2007, 4:31 am
#79
Bugger Off!
Joined: Sep 2006
Location: Michigan
Posts: 2,858
Re: How is UK.....Really?
I have been in HK for the last 17 years. All my family are in Portsmouth UK. At some stage I am going to have to think about our whereabouts for our future HK OR UK when my son starts secondary school. Uk is foreign to me now as i have been gone for so long, is uk really bad now with all the immigrants etc.? We really miss our family in uk, me and my son that is, my hubby is from Hong Kong.
Not sure what to do i am homesick very much.
Thanks guys. :O)
Not sure what to do i am homesick very much.
Thanks guys. :O)
For what it is worth I left the UK a mere 7 months ago for the US. Hence, I think I am still pretty current on what is happening there. The immigration 'problem' is a global thing. The world is so destabalised that people are moving all over the place right now. If you want to remain comfortable and safe then stay in HK. But if you want to be a part of history as it happens, move back the the UK.
Depsite the moaners and Mail readers, britain (again IMHO) is in a whole new phase, It is an exciting time for anyone who is not xenophobic and unafraid of change. The Uk is not what you left behind but different isn't always bad. You have been immigrants for 17 years so you may be in a better position to enjoy the new and interesting people, the politics, the whole sea change that is taking and about to take place in the 'motherland'.
Britain has been fluctuating throughout history. It is a new and exciting place to be. For me the US is a new and exciting place for many of the same reasons, but I am watching with interest. Good luck.
Apr 13th 2007, 7:34 am
#80
Still Learning
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 444
Re: How is UK.....Really?
I am not sure what you mean by the current government having stolen the taxes. Large sums have been invested in education and the NHS - both of which had nearly been round to ground by the tories.
As for the problems associated with an ageing population - that is the same everywhere.
I live in the US, where we are paying MORE taxes than we ever paid in the UK - and we get F-All for it. The cost of healthcare can be crippling - and 16% of the population have no health insurance. What is more, for many people with insurance, healthcare is no better than the NHS. Hundreds of thousands of people go bankrupt every year because they cannot pay their medical bills - and most of them did have insurance when serious illness struck.
Most people in the US get 2 weeks vacation a year if they are lucky. There is no state-mandated maternity leave - let along maternity pay. Sick days typically are taken out of vacation allowances. In most states you can be fired without any notice whatsoever.
If only people in the UK appreciated how lucky they are!
As for the problems associated with an ageing population - that is the same everywhere.
I live in the US, where we are paying MORE taxes than we ever paid in the UK - and we get F-All for it. The cost of healthcare can be crippling - and 16% of the population have no health insurance. What is more, for many people with insurance, healthcare is no better than the NHS. Hundreds of thousands of people go bankrupt every year because they cannot pay their medical bills - and most of them did have insurance when serious illness struck.
Most people in the US get 2 weeks vacation a year if they are lucky. There is no state-mandated maternity leave - let along maternity pay. Sick days typically are taken out of vacation allowances. In most states you can be fired without any notice whatsoever.
If only people in the UK appreciated how lucky they are!
Hong Konger was asking about UK and what has changed in the passed 17 years, not for a country by country comparison. I'm entitlted to have an opinion and give my views to Hong konger.
You appear to be generalising about people in the UK, yep some don't appreciate what they have and expect more, some appreciate what they have etc and plenty will complain about the increase in costs over the last 17 years and what we get for it., but how does that help Hong Konger?
Karma
Apr 13th 2007, 8:02 am
#81
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2006
Location: Dorset
Posts: 599
Re: How is UK.....Really?
Apr 13th 2007, 8:05 am
#82
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2006
Location: Dorset
Posts: 599
Re: How is UK.....Really?
exactly and the willing workers from overseas who pay taxes contribute to this. We will be reliant on our children and yet many moan about tax cuts families get. People sometimes need incentive to keep the population going!
Apr 13th 2007, 8:31 am
#83
Life is more than a dream
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Kings Moss, UK - it's a bit like Emmerdale
Posts: 1,389
Re: How is UK.....Really?
Totally agree here Elvira. Many people are like verbal editions of the Daily Mail but if they look at their lives and see what they have instead of what they haven't got they would be much happier.
Apr 13th 2007, 9:15 am
#84
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 273
Re: How is UK.....Really?
As for the majority of UK'ers etc emigrating to others countries, thats just the point, we are emigrating with skills that country is looking for.
Apr 13th 2007, 9:45 am
#85
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: UK-France-UK-France
Posts: 242
Re: How is UK.....Really?
Perhaps our unemployment is so high because here in th UK we need reasonably paid jobs to survive in th UK. I am not on about qualified jobs just non qualification ones that anyone can do. 'Willing workers from overseas' put a stop to that because they can afford to work for peanuts. Its not peanuts to them and they sent it back home to support their families. Wrong I say.
As for the majority of UK'ers etc emigrating to others countries, thats just the point, we are emigrating with skills that country is looking for.
As for the majority of UK'ers etc emigrating to others countries, thats just the point, we are emigrating with skills that country is looking for.
Here in France it is high at 8.6%
Apr 13th 2007, 11:54 am
#88
Life is more than a dream
Joined: Oct 2006
Location: Kings Moss, UK - it's a bit like Emmerdale
Posts: 1,389
Re: How is UK.....Really?
Perhaps our unemployment is so high because here in th UK we need reasonably paid jobs to survive in th UK. I am not on about qualified jobs just non qualification ones that anyone can do. 'Willing workers from overseas' put a stop to that because they can afford to work for peanuts. Its not peanuts to them and they sent it back home to support their families. Wrong I say.
As for the majority of UK'ers etc emigrating to others countries, thats just the point, we are emigrating with skills that country is looking for.
As for the majority of UK'ers etc emigrating to others countries, thats just the point, we are emigrating with skills that country is looking for.
Whilst it does annoy me on one hand that people from overseas work here for less than our own workers, and my hubby is a brickie so it could affect us, we can't have it both ways - we can move around Europe as much as we want (and many people do), so have to allow others to work here. I remember years ago when our building trade was suffering, loads of workers flocked to Germany and pinched German jobs.
What I strongly object to is if they are entitled to NHS or benefits.
Apr 13th 2007, 12:05 pm
#89
poole ,dorset . love it
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,281
Re: How is UK.....Really?
We went to Australia on a State Nominated visa because apparently certain states were desperate for trades. So what happens? Loads of Brits flock over there only to find that they are not desperate for trades at all but are actually encouraging trades to go there to keep the wages low. My husband was paid lower than the Aussie builders and was warned about it by many people so it must be a widespread practice. The more workers living there with that skill, the less demand, the lower the wage. The Aussie tradesmen feel exactly the same as we feel here - they don't like people taking their jobs.
Whilst it does annoy me on one hand that people from overseas work here for less than our own workers, and my hubby is a brickie so it could affect us, we can't have it both ways - we can move around Europe as much as we want (and many people do), so have to allow others to work here. I remember years ago when our building trade was suffering, loads of workers flocked to Germany and pinched German jobs.
What I strongly object to is if they are entitled to NHS or benefits.
Whilst it does annoy me on one hand that people from overseas work here for less than our own workers, and my hubby is a brickie so it could affect us, we can't have it both ways - we can move around Europe as much as we want (and many people do), so have to allow others to work here. I remember years ago when our building trade was suffering, loads of workers flocked to Germany and pinched German jobs.
What I strongly object to is if they are entitled to NHS or benefits.
Apr 13th 2007, 12:45 pm
#90
Homebody
Joined: Jan 2005
Location: HOME
Posts: 23,179
Re: How is UK.....Really?
.............we can't have it both ways - we can move around Europe as much as we want (and many people do), so have to allow others to work here. I remember years ago when our building trade was suffering, loads of workers flocked to Germany and pinched German jobs.
What I strongly object to is if they are entitled to NHS or benefits.
What I strongly object to is if they are entitled to NHS or benefits.
In fact, even if you just go on holiday within the EU, you can use their health services (you need to get a entitlement form beforehand - I believe it is available from the post office).