UK is way cheaper than the USA
Apr 12th 2013, 8:27 pm
#241
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 745
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
Unfortunately, the UK is following in the footsteps of the USA in many respects BUT at least it is still "behind" the USA. I used to think it was about 15 years behind but I have a feeling that even that gap is closing a bit.
I can't stand these aspects of the USA, especially the ME-generation, but if I have to live with it, I'd rather live with it in my own country.
I can't stand these aspects of the USA, especially the ME-generation, but if I have to live with it, I'd rather live with it in my own country.
I could tolerate "the nasty stuff" abroad because I was only visiting and did not feel ownership of what happened there, but here, well this is my country and it is becoming more messed up, to my profound disappointment.
Apr 12th 2013, 9:59 pm
#242
Firetrak
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 577
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
I'm opposite, I am very saddened and angry that my own country has gone downhill in this way.
I could tolerate "the nasty stuff" abroad because I was only visiting and did not feel ownership of what happened there, but here, well this is my country and it is becoming more messed up, to my profound disappointment.
I could tolerate "the nasty stuff" abroad because I was only visiting and did not feel ownership of what happened there, but here, well this is my country and it is becoming more messed up, to my profound disappointment.
Apr 12th 2013, 10:34 pm
#243
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
Apr 13th 2013, 12:34 pm
#244
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Finally moving!
Posts: 1,236
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
I'm opposite, I am very saddened and angry that my own country has gone downhill in this way.
I could tolerate "the nasty stuff" abroad because I was only visiting and did not feel ownership of what happened there, but here, well this is my country and it is becoming more messed up, to my profound disappointment.
I could tolerate "the nasty stuff" abroad because I was only visiting and did not feel ownership of what happened there, but here, well this is my country and it is becoming more messed up, to my profound disappointment.
Once we get through the inevitable collapse of the giant Ponzi scheme known as the world financial system Britain will rise Phoenix-like from the collapse to thrive in the New World Order in a way that other nations cannot.
It's only a matter of time. The tangibles we are in surprisingly good shape with, the paperwork and banked fortunes will be worthless.
Apr 13th 2013, 1:31 pm
#245
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,013
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
Even now, Britain still has significant agriculture, horticulture, mining, industry, energy and maritime resource, expertise, experience and a population educated in this stuff.
Once we get through the inevitable collapse of the giant Ponzi scheme known as the world financial system Britain will rise Phoenix-like from the collapse to thrive in the New World Order in a way that other nations cannot.
It's only a matter of time. The tangibles we are in surprisingly good shape with, the paperwork and banked fortunes will be worthless.
Once we get through the inevitable collapse of the giant Ponzi scheme known as the world financial system Britain will rise Phoenix-like from the collapse to thrive in the New World Order in a way that other nations cannot.
It's only a matter of time. The tangibles we are in surprisingly good shape with, the paperwork and banked fortunes will be worthless.
The unfortunate situation in the UK and most Western countries (Germany being a notable exception) is that we are deeply in debt (and going further into debt every year) to countries like China, we don't have the volume of workers willing to work for low wages, and we increasingly fall behind in training and education.
Look at the number of Chinese students who are funding our higher education system as international students - they will go home and use this knowledge to kick our butts.
We are fortunate that the common global language of business is English and that our time zone puts us squarely in the middle of many of the world's business hours.
If you dividethe national deficit (amount we go into additional debt each year) by about 26 million (the number of UK households) you'll find we are going into further debt by an additional £7,000 per household every year, and our national debt (not deficit) equals about £88,000 per household (this includes the cost of the bank bailout, which more than doubled the existing national debt). It will take a minor miracle for the phoenix to rise from the ashes of this problem.
Apr 13th 2013, 3:56 pm
#246
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: bute
Posts: 9,740
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
Spengler was right - "The Decline of the West" is being acted out in front of us - but most are too blind, or too stupid, to notice.
Apr 13th 2013, 4:46 pm
#247
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,100
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
I'm opposite, I am very saddened and angry that my own country has gone downhill in this way.
I could tolerate "the nasty stuff" abroad because I was only visiting and did not feel ownership of what happened there, but here, well this is my country and it is becoming more messed up, to my profound disappointment.
I could tolerate "the nasty stuff" abroad because I was only visiting and did not feel ownership of what happened there, but here, well this is my country and it is becoming more messed up, to my profound disappointment.
Apr 13th 2013, 4:47 pm
#249
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,100
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
Even now, Britain still has significant agriculture, horticulture, mining, industry, energy and maritime resource, expertise, experience and a population educated in this stuff.
Once we get through the inevitable collapse of the giant Ponzi scheme known as the world financial system Britain will rise Phoenix-like from the collapse to thrive in the New World Order in a way that other nations cannot.
It's only a matter of time. The tangibles we are in surprisingly good shape with, the paperwork and banked fortunes will be worthless.
Once we get through the inevitable collapse of the giant Ponzi scheme known as the world financial system Britain will rise Phoenix-like from the collapse to thrive in the New World Order in a way that other nations cannot.
It's only a matter of time. The tangibles we are in surprisingly good shape with, the paperwork and banked fortunes will be worthless.
Apr 13th 2013, 4:49 pm
#250
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 4,100
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
Robert Peston's new book is an informative, objective insight into the background of the current global financial situation.
The unfortunate situation in the UK and most Western countries (Germany being a notable exception) is that we are deeply in debt (and going further into debt every year) to countries like China, we don't have the volume of workers willing to work for low wages, and we increasingly fall behind in training and education.
Look at the number of Chinese students who are funding our higher education system as international students - they will go home and use this knowledge to kick our butts.
We are fortunate that the common global language of business is English and that our time zone puts us squarely in the middle of many of the world's business hours.
If you dividethe national deficit (amount we go into additional debt each year) by about 26 million (the number of UK households) you'll find we are going into further debt by an additional £7,000 per household every year, and our national debt (not deficit) equals about £88,000 per household (this includes the cost of the bank bailout, which more than doubled the existing national debt). It will take a minor miracle for the phoenix to rise from the ashes of this problem.
The unfortunate situation in the UK and most Western countries (Germany being a notable exception) is that we are deeply in debt (and going further into debt every year) to countries like China, we don't have the volume of workers willing to work for low wages, and we increasingly fall behind in training and education.
Look at the number of Chinese students who are funding our higher education system as international students - they will go home and use this knowledge to kick our butts.
We are fortunate that the common global language of business is English and that our time zone puts us squarely in the middle of many of the world's business hours.
If you dividethe national deficit (amount we go into additional debt each year) by about 26 million (the number of UK households) you'll find we are going into further debt by an additional £7,000 per household every year, and our national debt (not deficit) equals about £88,000 per household (this includes the cost of the bank bailout, which more than doubled the existing national debt). It will take a minor miracle for the phoenix to rise from the ashes of this problem.
Apr 14th 2013, 8:27 am
#251
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: bute
Posts: 9,740
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
Take a walk through a British town or city centre in the evening. That will convince any doubters.
Apr 14th 2013, 8:46 am
#252
Joined on April fools day
Joined: Apr 2012
Location: 30 miles from a decent grocery store.
Posts: 10,642
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
What response do you see...
Inflating out of it...
Budget freeze...
Austerity...
Bankruptcy..
I would opt for option 2 or 4
Apr 14th 2013, 12:37 pm
#253
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,013
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
Have some balls and regulate the banks and bonuses a little more (why can't the government force taxpayer owned banks to lend to small businesses?)
Change the education system to increase useful apprenticeships and other skills-based courses with commercial and industrial value
Make life on benefits difficult (why should it be easy to not work?), or require people on JSA to do some voluntary work that contributes to infrastructure (like repairing potholes, cleaning graffiti, picking up litter)
Invest in infrastructure, especially outside of London and the southeast (doesn't include a fast train to London, which only serves to increase the leverage of London)
Introduce incentives to maintain a healthy lifestyle (reduce taxes on healthy produce, increase taxes on unhealthy foods, improve infrastructure for bicycles and subsidize public transport - or part-fund it from road tax and petrol tax).
That would make a good start.
Apr 14th 2013, 1:43 pm
#254
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2012
Location: Back in the UK!
Posts: 2,404
Re: UK is way cheaper than the USA
Ease up a little on the austerity (it's stifling growth)
Have some balls and regulate the banks and bonuses a little more (why can't the government force taxpayer owned banks to lend to small businesses?)
Change the education system to increase useful apprenticeships and other skills-based courses with commercial and industrial value
Make life on benefits difficult (why should it be easy to not work?), or require people on JSA to do some voluntary work that contributes to infrastructure (like repairing potholes, cleaning graffiti, picking up litter)
Invest in infrastructure, especially outside of London and the southeast (doesn't include a fast train to London, which only serves to increase the leverage of London)
Introduce incentives to maintain a healthy lifestyle (reduce taxes on healthy produce, increase taxes on unhealthy foods, improve infrastructure for bicycles and subsidize public transport - or part-fund it from road tax and petrol tax).
That would make a good start.
Have some balls and regulate the banks and bonuses a little more (why can't the government force taxpayer owned banks to lend to small businesses?)
Change the education system to increase useful apprenticeships and other skills-based courses with commercial and industrial value
Make life on benefits difficult (why should it be easy to not work?), or require people on JSA to do some voluntary work that contributes to infrastructure (like repairing potholes, cleaning graffiti, picking up litter)
Invest in infrastructure, especially outside of London and the southeast (doesn't include a fast train to London, which only serves to increase the leverage of London)
Introduce incentives to maintain a healthy lifestyle (reduce taxes on healthy produce, increase taxes on unhealthy foods, improve infrastructure for bicycles and subsidize public transport - or part-fund it from road tax and petrol tax).
That would make a good start.
