Originally Posted by Essex_Man

LOL...get into Canada fast it's lot better up here. In American you only somebody with money in the land of the pay as you go.

Originally Posted by Londonuck

The big change for me is the people who seem addicted to misery and negativity. The get fed a daily diet of politically correct and heath and safety gone mad stories. They bandy about phrases like, we're a third world country, err have you ever seen the slums of a real 3rd world country? They feel that we're over run with every single criminal from around the world. Asylum seekers are living in Mayfair penthouses and we're all paying for it. For some reason there is a lot of depression. I know several people on medication, something i never come across before.

I also think a lot of people spend all day at work arguing on message boards. That wasnt a pop at anyone here btw. Threads always seem to end up in a ruck. Everyone is so damn angry!

Originally Posted by JulieinAustin

Doesn't this apply to everywhere though? There are less fortunate people everywhere in the world; but you can't always blame it on the country. In fact I know of many British people that have lived and travelled in many diverse places as opposed to Americans of which most of those I know here have never left the states! Redmania makes a lot of really valid points and it definitely is 6 of one and half a dozen of the other, but generally speaking Britain is not a bad place to live at all; far from it... I am experiencing things the other way round.. I actually look back and realise how lucky I was in Britain compared to here. Here as an employee I have no rights (Texas is an at will state), I barely get any holiday allowance, no sick pay and even if I did have the time to travel it's very expensive to go anywhere from here... Food is much pricier and you're completely dependent on the car... and I don't even want to think about getting sick here....

Originally Posted by the troubadour

It does sound awful and you have mentioned a lot of the reasons that i wouldn't pick the USA as a place i would want to be..

Originally Posted by Lothianlad

Britain may well have become more prosperous over the past 20 years or so taking eveything into account - in comparative terms globally there is practically nobody, absolutely nobody, in this country who can be considered "impoverished and on the breadline" - however difficult that is to believe right now with so many people losing their jobs in a (global) recession (there is always a safety net here - which some people abuse and take advantage of but there you go) - a recession which some so called economic experts believe may well be showing signs of a "green shoots recovery" on the horizon already, and in recent weeks the £ Sterling has recovered lost ground.

The Labour Party has undeniably presided over some good economic times in the UK in recent ywears but again some people maintain that is the result of the policies of the former Conservative Government to a certain degree rather than any mind blowing miracles performed by Labour.

Where Labour has really fallen down on its backside involves a moral decline rather than an economic one. Since 1997 when Labour came to power the social and moral fabric of this country has really taken a nosedive in very many quarters and this can be seen by the standards of behaviour of large sections of the population, especially in the present generation now growing up (no - I am not an old man - I am 27 years old and studied English and social history in the UK at uni). Social disorder has increased appreciably, and very many young people below the age of 25 or so have little or no respect for authority simply because of political correctness for the most part which has taught them to believe that they have rights but no responsibilities, and a criminal justice system which really does appear to show more concern for the perpetrators of crime than for its victims.

Whacking a burglar in your own home over the head with the nearest available object will invariably land you in court while the burglar receives counselling. People have been stabbed to death for defending their property and their loved ones - not isolated cases either! - the killers being young males for the most part who are so de-sensitised morally and spiritually that they are totally incapable of understanding the meaning of words like regret or remorse....all that is totally beynd their capabilities so inured have they become to what has been happening to British society in recent years - most certainly since May 1997 and "New" Labour. There is little or no fear of punishment in these criminals simply because punishment is not anything like it should be in the UK - British prisons are a doddle in far too many ways - there is more concern for the rehabiliation and future welfare of even the most hardened of the criminal lowlife than there is for truly effective punishment.

Family life in many instances has fallen apart, the UK has the highest abortion, single parenthood, divorce, juvenile crime rates in Europe and the massive rise in alcohol and drug abuse over the past five to ten years, with all the problems that all this causes, is now legendary.

Labour is fantastically good at producing a whole lot of fantastically good schemes and plans for solving this problem and that problem - all produced in very glossy documents - but that's as far as it ever goes. The latest report today shows that their handling of the chronic asylum seeker problem - a huge influx of migrants from the Third World - has been nothing less than a chaotic shambles. Out of the very many thousands of such people falling into this category only one family has been deported. Huge numbers of people who are registered for deportation from this overcrowded island nation of ours are still here after God knows how many years - and many of these mysteriously disappear into the ether - never to be seen again officially - probably still here claiming social welfare benefits by the use of stolen NI numbers, free housing, free healthcare and heaven only knows what else for which the hardworking (those of us still with jobs) are paying out of our grudgingly but dutifully paid taxes.

Originally Posted by Essex_Man

Alll I here about England form English people. They all tell me it gone to the dog. It now almost a police state. Crime is out of control and people are being stab everywhere. I believe non of it. So what has change I haven't been back in 10 years. I intend to go for a holiday and see my family and have a good explore of my homeland. Tell me it's not gone to the dogs. What has change in England why is everyone so concern about safety.

Originally Posted by Biiba

I've lived my whole life (39 years) in the UK. I think the UK is a beautiful country and has a lot going for it, but over the last 10 years or so these are the changes I've noticed:-.......... All I'm trying to say is that it's not any better or any worse but it has changed over the last 10 years or so

Originally Posted by Elvira

Whilst the rest of the world has remained the same?

Originally Posted by Biiba

I've lived my whole life (39 years) in the UK. I think the UK is a beautiful country and has a lot going for it, but over the last 10 years or so these are the changes I've noticed:-

1. Political correctness has gone mad - it's unacceptable to say you're from England! Scotland, Wales and Ireland are fine but if you say you're English for some reason it rubs people up the wrong way England is always referred to as the UK and you're British...

2. It's now frowned upon to send Christmas cards that say 'Happy Christmas' in case it upsets anyone not of the Christian religion!

3. The population has risen quite dramatically in towns and cities, therefore the UK is now a much busier place than it once was - the roads are very busy in general as there are more car owners than ever before.

4. There are security cameras everywhere! I'm sure I read somewhere that the UK has more surveillance/security cameras than almost anywhere else in the word...

5. House prices have risen dramatically, but not in line with salary/income therefore it's more difficult to purchase your first home and get on the property ladder.

6. Smaller villages seem safer than most main towns or cities, however housing is more expensive there, and in some villages the property prices have been driven higher by well paid commuters or people purchasing second/weekend homes. Lots of people can no longer afford properties in the villages they have been raised in

7. It seems to me that there is more of a class divide than there used to be - There are high flyers that earn enough to live somewhere nice, there are everyday working families that struggle to live a comfortable life, then there is a new underclass of families where they have never worked and have no intention of working as they can earn more claiming benefits than if they were working. It's quite a sad state of affairs really

8.In general, I find that because our lives are so busy, people are more stressed and therefore ruder (though some people are still nice )

9. In supermarkets and shops (not local newsagents etc) cheques are no longer accepted, and they look at you gone out if you pay by cash!!! Most people use debit or credit cards.

10. The metric system has replaced the imperial system so you no longer buy a pound of butter or a quarter of sweets - it's 100g of sweets and 500g of butter. Road signs are still in miles though!

I love the UK but find it a much more stressful place than it used to be, and I've lived in the same house since 1991 so I've watched the places take change. If you can afford it there are still some beautiful places to live and visit but the cost of living is quite high - petrol is expensive though cars are cheaper than they used to be.

I don't think the UK is really any more dangerous, but prolific drug use increases crime and street violence so there is more crime due to more drug addicts (my husband is a police officer and tells me this all the time)

All I'm trying to say is that it's not any better or any worse but it has changed over the last 10 years or so

Originally Posted by Biiba

I've lived my whole life (39 years) in the UK. I think the UK is a beautiful country and has a lot going for it, but over the last 10 years or so these are the changes I've noticed:-

1. Political correctness has gone mad - it's unacceptable to say you're from England! Scotland, Wales and Ireland are fine but if you say you're English for some reason it rubs people up the wrong way England is always referred to as the UK and you're British...

2. It's now frowned upon to send Christmas cards that say 'Happy Christmas' in case it upsets anyone not of the Christian religion!

3. The population has risen quite dramatically in towns and cities, therefore the UK is now a much busier place than it once was - the roads are very busy in general as there are more car owners than ever before.

4. There are security cameras everywhere! I'm sure I read somewhere that the UK has more surveillance/security cameras than almost anywhere else in the word...

5. House prices have risen dramatically, but not in line with salary/income therefore it's more difficult to purchase your first home and get on the property ladder.

6. Smaller villages seem safer than most main towns or cities, however housing is more expensive there, and in some villages the property prices have been driven higher by well paid commuters or people purchasing second/weekend homes. Lots of people can no longer afford properties in the villages they have been raised in

7. It seems to me that there is more of a class divide than there used to be - There are high flyers that earn enough to live somewhere nice, there are everyday working families that struggle to live a comfortable life, then there is a new underclass of families where they have never worked and have no intention of working as they can earn more claiming benefits than if they were working. It's quite a sad state of affairs really

8.In general, I find that because our lives are so busy, people are more stressed and therefore ruder (though some people are still nice )

9. In supermarkets and shops (not local newsagents etc) cheques are no longer accepted, and they look at you gone out if you pay by cash!!! Most people use debit or credit cards.

10. The metric system has replaced the imperial system so you no longer buy a pound of butter or a quarter of sweets - it's 100g of sweets and 500g of butter. Road signs are still in miles though!

I love the UK but find it a much more stressful place than it used to be, and I've lived in the same house since 1991 so I've watched the places take change. If you can afford it there are still some beautiful places to live and visit but the cost of living is quite high - petrol is expensive though cars are cheaper than they used to be.

I don't think the UK is really any more dangerous, but prolific drug use increases crime and street violence so there is more crime due to more drug addicts (my husband is a police officer and tells me this all the time)

All I'm trying to say is that it's not any better or any worse but it has changed over the last 10 years or so

Originally Posted by Biiba

I've lived my whole life (39 years) in the UK. I think the UK is a beautiful country and has a lot going for it, but over the last 10 years or so these are the changes I've noticed:-

1. Political correctness has gone mad - it's unacceptable to say you're from England! Scotland, Wales and Ireland are fine but if you say you're English for some reason it rubs people up the wrong way England is always referred to as the UK and you're British...

2. It's now frowned upon to send Christmas cards that say 'Happy Christmas' in case it upsets anyone not of the Christian religion!

3. The population has risen quite dramatically in towns and cities, therefore the UK is now a much busier place than it once was - the roads are very busy in general as there are more car owners than ever before.

4. There are security cameras everywhere! I'm sure I read somewhere that the UK has more surveillance/security cameras than almost anywhere else in the word...

5. House prices have risen dramatically, but not in line with salary/income therefore it's more difficult to purchase your first home and get on the property ladder.

6. Smaller villages seem safer than most main towns or cities, however housing is more expensive there, and in some villages the property prices have been driven higher by well paid commuters or people purchasing second/weekend homes. Lots of people can no longer afford properties in the villages they have been raised in

7. It seems to me that there is more of a class divide than there used to be - There are high flyers that earn enough to live somewhere nice, there are everyday working families that struggle to live a comfortable life, then there is a new underclass of families where they have never worked and have no intention of working as they can earn more claiming benefits than if they were working. It's quite a sad state of affairs really

8.In general, I find that because our lives are so busy, people are more stressed and therefore ruder (though some people are still nice )

9. In supermarkets and shops (not local newsagents etc) cheques are no longer accepted, and they look at you gone out if you pay by cash!!! Most people use debit or credit cards.

10. The metric system has replaced the imperial system so you no longer buy a pound of butter or a quarter of sweets - it's 100g of sweets and 500g of butter. Road signs are still in miles though!

I love the UK but find it a much more stressful place than it used to be, and I've lived in the same house since 1991 so I've watched the places take change. If you can afford it there are still some beautiful places to live and visit but the cost of living is quite high - petrol is expensive though cars are cheaper than they used to be.

I don't think the UK is really any more dangerous, but prolific drug use increases crime and street violence so there is more crime due to more drug addicts (my husband is a police officer and tells me this all the time)

All I'm trying to say is that it's not any better or any worse but it has changed over the last 10 years or so

Originally Posted by Sally Redux

Yes, buying sweets in metric amounts must be really stressful

Get real.

Originally Posted by king kong

what about bananas

Originally Posted by Sally Redux

Political correctness gone mad I tell ya.