Re: Is it really that bad?
 

Whilst history may back up those opinions, I'm not so sure that they are sustainable in the long term, certainly not in a country with limited resources. Eventually the immigrants become older and dependant, would the answer be then to encourage more immigration and so on ad infinitum? A human ponzi scheme that will eventually collapse?

Re: Is it really that bad?
 

Not really. Like most western countries, the UK had a baby boom post WWII and has a relatively low birth rate. Your concern was the diminishing number of "workers" to support all the (baby boomers) now going into retirement. One way to address that issue is well-targeted immigration which has the effect in changing that ratio in favour of workers and thus making up that shortfall. Additionally, by the time these immigrants reach retirement age, the number of "natural born" retirees will be diminishing. If immigrants contribute more to the economy than they "cost", I don't see a ponzi scheme here. And many studies of immigration suggest they do just that.

Re: Is it really that bad?
 

Granted a lot can be learnt from previous studies on immigration, however, unless the models in those studies have the exact same criteria as the current situation is in the UK, they lose at lot of their relevance. For example, some countries have a bigger land mass, some have inferior and therefore less costly, social safety nets and even in the UK itself, immigration in the 50's & 60's is completely different than it is today.

Immigrants in the 60's filled the gaps in employment in northern mill towns with cheap(er) labour. Now those jobs have been lost, ironically to even cheaper labour in developing countries, leaving that generation of immigrants and their descendants with fewer options, more unemployment and the social problems and economic pressure that mass unemployment brings to an area and yet we still encourage more immigration.

Two key lines from your last post......

"well targeted immigration"

&

"If immigrants contribute more to the economy than they "cost" "

IMHO I don't see current UK immigration as being "well targeted" which makes the "if" on the second key line a very big if indeed, thus making previous studies on immigration which you refer to, irrelevant to the current situation.

Re: Is it really that bad?
 

Where would you move to?

Re: Is it really that bad?
 

Somewhere that houses are equally downvalued.

Re: Is it really that bad?
 

arizona.

Re: Is it really that bad?
 

The population figures were a wee bit scary it has to be said.....both a culling and a repatriation exercise are out of the question though, but two items of good news were announced both yesterday and today......

Yesterday Tuesday 17/07/12: a larger than expected drop in the inflation rate.

Today 18/07: An overall fall in the number of unemployed people in the UK, the largest since 2009, but a rise of approx 6,000 in the number of people claiming JSA.

Re: Is it really that bad?
 

Hmmm, interesting data just released. It didn't mention that 65% of reported statistics are invented numbers.:D
Note the data is reported as "fall in unemployment" as opposed to "rise in employment".
I contributed to the "fall in unemployment". Too much cash in bank to claim JSA, too old to continue my career yet still pre-retirement age. Not wanting to stack shelves at Tesco's. I have given up being unemployed and am living on savings.

Re: Is it really that bad?
 

No it's not that bad

However it really is shit and unless you have lost the will to live, really should be avoided

Can't understand anyone missing the rain, grey skies, whole towns of miserable people, closed pubs, expensive petrol, having to wear welllies to wade through waist deep rain sodden dog shit on the pavements, aldi cardboard breakfast cereal, tasteless pork, fat free beef, value toilet paper, inner cities that resemble middle east labour camps, boring little diesel cars, 6 month waiting lists to see a hospital consultant, miserable small damp houses you couldn't swing a cat in even if the RSPCA would let you, miserable damp people, cats who who wish you you would swing them so they can be put out of their abject misery of living in miserable damp houses with miserable damp people.
I did my spend my last 2 years in the uk, before going overseas, living in Preston which may have influenced my opinions

Re: Is it really that bad?
 

Good grief. Either Preston bears no relation to the rest of Britain, or you really weren't a happy chappy when you lived here :lol:

Went to ask the cats if they are miserable here, but they're both lying on their backs asleep in a patch of sunlight, so decided not to disturb them. Will check in with them later before popping down to the pub on the corner.

Re: Is it really that bad?
 

You really need to stop shopping at Aldi - M&S is a far superior experience.

Re: Is it really that bad?
 

:hysterical:

Re: Is it really that bad?
 

Actually having living in Preston a little time, I do believe there are a couple of areas like that. Remember location, location, location.

Re: Is it really that bad?
 

There was an article in The Economist a few weeks ago singing Preston's praises in contrast to similar-sized northern cities.

Re: Is it really that bad?
 

I lived in Preston from 1969-1984 when emigrated to US. I go back as often as I can. I stay with friends in areas like Cottam, Longridge etc. I only go to Preston as most of my friends live there. If I were ever to move back though I would choose not to live in Preston.