What makes Britain completely crap?
#256
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Re: What makes Britain completely crap?
Let me begin by saying that I concede, as the FT has indeed spelled out on a number of occasions in recent months that the Eastern Caribbean is saddled with issues ref drug trafficking and related crime, bad government, unsustainable debt and lack of a vision for the future, not helped by a brain drain,
St Lucia has never wrestled its way out of third world status and the bulk of the population wouldn't know what to expect if it had - hence the problem. In the UK, we at least have the reasonable expectation that there is sufficient talent to bring to bear on any given problem to be able to right the previous wrongs, having first recognised them as wrongs. Some folks wouldn't give rat's arse about this domestic stuff here on Island as they drive around in their latest Audi or Honda SUV and they can live a fine isolated life, but it (the above - top) bothers me in true Don Quixotic style (much like Russell Brand - I guess, in some respects)
but the UK seems to be for ever dealing with the same old underlying issue of DEBT and resultant necessary cuts in the pipeline. We've been on about it on here for the longest while as THE ISSUE to be concerned about and here we go again. The UK cannot raise taxes* as it would cut off the one escape route and avenue to a future which would be caused by a re-burgeoning business/industrial sector - what else could there be to pay the bills?
Anyway, check what success Francois Hollande is having with raising taxes in an uncompetitive France.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/...ublic-finances
See also the FT (source) itself.
* I do however believe that there could be better strategic meetings held by the likes of HMRC, to work out how the collect taxes rightfully owing but not collected, which appear to currently be in excess of 30 billion quid.
St Lucia has never wrestled its way out of third world status and the bulk of the population wouldn't know what to expect if it had - hence the problem. In the UK, we at least have the reasonable expectation that there is sufficient talent to bring to bear on any given problem to be able to right the previous wrongs, having first recognised them as wrongs. Some folks wouldn't give rat's arse about this domestic stuff here on Island as they drive around in their latest Audi or Honda SUV and they can live a fine isolated life, but it (the above - top) bothers me in true Don Quixotic style (much like Russell Brand - I guess, in some respects)
but the UK seems to be for ever dealing with the same old underlying issue of DEBT and resultant necessary cuts in the pipeline. We've been on about it on here for the longest while as THE ISSUE to be concerned about and here we go again. The UK cannot raise taxes* as it would cut off the one escape route and avenue to a future which would be caused by a re-burgeoning business/industrial sector - what else could there be to pay the bills?
Anyway, check what success Francois Hollande is having with raising taxes in an uncompetitive France.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/...ublic-finances
See also the FT (source) itself.
* I do however believe that there could be better strategic meetings held by the likes of HMRC, to work out how the collect taxes rightfully owing but not collected, which appear to currently be in excess of 30 billion quid.
Last edited by Pistolpete2; Mar 7th 2014 at 1:24 pm. Reason: (much like Russell Brand - I guess)
#257
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Re: What makes Britain completely crap?
I agree about the brilliant shows on this country and they do indeed celebrate the many wonderful things about Britain. It is more the gutter press that seem to thrive on the doom and gloom. The quality papers not so much.
#258
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Re: What makes Britain completely crap?
By gutter press you are presumably referring to the Financial Times? They have boobs on page 1 - Government boobs!
#259
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Re: What makes Britain completely crap?
This thread is set up as a loaded question really, isn't it?
A much more objective question would be "What's crap about Britian", or perhaps more accurately, "What things are crap in the UK?"
That is an easier question to answer because while the UK itself isn't crap, things like the UKIP and channel 4 programmes about dogging and men with tits absolutely are
A much more objective question would be "What's crap about Britian", or perhaps more accurately, "What things are crap in the UK?"
That is an easier question to answer because while the UK itself isn't crap, things like the UKIP and channel 4 programmes about dogging and men with tits absolutely are
#260
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Re: What makes Britain completely crap?
This thread is set up as a loaded question really, isn't it?
A much more objective question would be "What's crap about Britain", or perhaps more accurately, "What things are crap in the UK?"
That is an easier question to answer because while the UK itself isn't crap, things like the UKIP and channel 4 programmes about dogging and men with tits absolutely are
A much more objective question would be "What's crap about Britain", or perhaps more accurately, "What things are crap in the UK?"
That is an easier question to answer because while the UK itself isn't crap, things like the UKIP and channel 4 programmes about dogging and men with tits absolutely are
Last edited by Pistolpete2; Mar 7th 2014 at 1:33 pm. Reason: particularly if you had to raise interest rates to defend the pound a la Turkey
#261
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Re: What makes Britain completely crap?
Well indeed, and one could post from that standpoint, but the inability to address the DEBT issue could well turn out to be all-consuming, particularly if you had to raise interest rates to defend the pound a la Turkey, unless you can do a Richard Branson and move to your own island, while still claiming to be an interested Brit.
#262
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Re: What makes Britain completely crap?
Certainly has me bothered, for MYSELF - the disenchanted folks that is
Last edited by Pistolpete2; Mar 7th 2014 at 1:46 pm. Reason: Certainly has me bothered, for MYSELF. - the disenchanted folks that is
#263
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Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: What makes Britain completely crap?
I agree with that, but expectations (of lifestyle - things like the NHS taken for granted, benefit streams, state pensions) can cause folks to become particularly disenchanted when they have to miss out and this is at the crux - certainly from where I stand on the MBTTUK section (altruism in my own little way, rather than trying to put the kibosh on the best laid plans of others)
Certainly has me bothered, for MYSELF - the disenchanted folks that is
Certainly has me bothered, for MYSELF - the disenchanted folks that is
#264
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 175
Re: What makes Britain completely crap?
Here you're assuming you knew what was in the mind of the other jurors. It is very hard to believe that 11/12 convicted on "no proof". The more likely scenario is that the 1/12 didn't understand the proof, although not having been there, I can only speculate.
You're also assuming that if you were tried in Britain that the jury would be as incompetent as you perceive the one you sat on was. This is definitely a faulty assumption.
You're also assuming that if you were tried in Britain that the jury would be as incompetent as you perceive the one you sat on was. This is definitely a faulty assumption.
I wouldn't trust any jury in Britain, knowing that, there is virtually no vetting process, anyone can do it. I can think of plenty of people who would be incompetent as jurors.
#265
Re: What makes Britain completely crap?
They more or less admitted it, they were 'professional jurors', i.e. they volunteered - unemployed or retired. They had made up their minds before the case was even heard. Without going into details, it was obvious to me the other person was the guilty party, and distressing as it was a child abuse case. So, the other party got off scot free, and the accused had their child taken away.
I wouldn't trust any jury in Britain, knowing that, there is virtually no vetting process, anyone can do it. I can think of plenty of people who would be incompetent as jurors.
I wouldn't trust any jury in Britain, knowing that, there is virtually no vetting process, anyone can do it. I can think of plenty of people who would be incompetent as jurors.
It's not clear to me what kind of case you are referring to. 'Taking a child away' sounds like a family court case, but these are not tried by a jury. A criminal case has no power to take a child from a parent, although, obviously, a prison sentence will have the same effect.
#266
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 175
Re: What makes Britain completely crap?
At the end of the day you might have not been able to afford your property if you were born and grew up in France. Even if the land you bought is cheaper, how many young French people there can afford it and would they get a job that pays the mortgage? People who claim they can afford to retire in France are only lucky that they had a strong pound. Some people don't need loads of Land and even in Germany many are happy with a tiny garden or a balcony. We have a half acre site and I enjoy it, but some of my friends just couldn't be bothered having a huge garden. I'm also sure that some people can't afford a farm in Northern Ireland, but others can. Some actually do enjoy living there and I enjoy living in the Rep of Ireland. I speak the language, have a job here and if I want to go to France I can be there in less than 2 hours. Nobody said Britain is the most wonderful place, but people forget that they can only have what they have because they were born in Britain.
You, like some others, obviously know very little about France, and yet I live here, and I've lived in the UK - that must count for something.
On the contrary, I couldn't have what I wanted because I was born in Britain. I've moved house many times, every time further away from where I was born, because just like today's young, house prices were too high - and I remember 11% mortgages! I've worked all my life, never claimed benefits, but bear in mind that it only needs something like illness or divorce to be thrown into the works, and you're back at the bottom of the heap again.
#267
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 175
Re: What makes Britain completely crap?
You can't be a 'professional juror' in the UK. You can't volunteer either.
It's not clear to me what kind of case you are referring to. 'Taking a child away' sounds like a family court case, but these are not tried by a jury. A criminal case has no power to take a child from a parent, although, obviously, a prison sentence will have the same effect.
It's not clear to me what kind of case you are referring to. 'Taking a child away' sounds like a family court case, but these are not tried by a jury. A criminal case has no power to take a child from a parent, although, obviously, a prison sentence will have the same effect.
Last edited by Harvester523; Mar 7th 2014 at 7:01 pm.
#268
Re: What makes Britain completely crap?
Actually, I'm a retired solicitor who specialized in child abuse cases.