Re: Spain is poor, UK is rotten
 

Worldwide, or haven't you noticed ?

Re: Spain is poor, UK is rotten
 

what just like corruption :eek:

would never happen in Blighty you know old chap
:rofl:

Re: Spain is poor, UK is rotten
 

I don't think I've done that? :confused: What I object to is people who label "the Spanish" as a whole, suggesting they are all the same, lazy, unimaginative, can't provide good service, or whatever the Theme of the Day is. It's careless stereotyping, that's all, some comments are very unfair so I feel a need to speak up and defend them.

I don't mind people commenting on negative aspects of Spain if its based on experience, but they should realise there are good and bad things about all countries and all nationalities. I'm certainly not in the "Spain good, Britain bad" camp. Basically I'm stuck here, so I make the most of it. Check my signature line! :)

Re: Spain is poor, UK is rotten
 

You have :lol:to excuse DOM, he doesn't do much Spanish news

Re: Spain is poor, UK is rotten
 

Dom, you may not have noticed but I have been trying to take a little heat out of a very provocative and offensive thread title and first post with a touch of humour to avoid another mud slinging session.

My other comment was simply to demonstrate the irony in the title, not to get involved in any further p!ssing contests which sadly appeared to be the main aim of the original poster.

Re: Spain is poor, UK is rotten
 

Not at all, the title relates to the impression of Spain and the UK given by two television programmes I watched last night, both about hungry people in those two countries

I was hoping for a discussion about relative poverty, whether people really are hungry, the way the media portrays them etc etc, but that seems to be beyond everybody

Re: Spain is poor, UK is rotten
 

The two opening paras are such absolute tosh,they're not really worthy of serious consideration.

As for Brits being unkind and uncaring then you really are demonstrating your total ignorance and vindictiveness for all to see.

I would be surprised if there is a single expat on this thread who has never given to help out a worthy cause.

Now please explain to me why any Brit would give to a particular worthy cause unless they "cared" and believed in what they were doing ?

As for freely giving an active helping hand to those in need in all senses of the word, I see it every single day back in the UK.

Not only that, but consider all the Brits who have given up comparitively easy lifestyles in order to help desperate causes in such places as Africa and Worldwide, where conditions are far far worse than here in Spain.

I shall therefore repeat my assertion that your thread title and opening posts are insulting and offensive in the extreme, crossing the line and scraping the bottom of the barrel even by your own usual deplorable standards.

Re: Spain is poor, UK is rotten
 

Sorry DD, I assumed that you may have written an essay or two in the past

I was analysing the concept based on the TV programmes I watched - and of which I summarised - and then concluded the impressions given about the nationalities at the bottom. The statements are about the text, not "all Brits" or "all Spaniards"

Obviously, not many people on here who would pass a GCSE :)

Re: Spain is poor, UK is rotten
 

Why do you say stuff like that Cman? Its odd, you know its gonna piss people off and get some backs up but you do it all the same and then when it all goes to shit people complain that everyone is bickering!

Re: Spain is poor, UK is rotten
 

I am gonna slot a news item here from Sur this week, In valencia an old lady was going back to her apartment, she sees through a window in a Finca opposite a naked man having sex with a dog! She called the Police and when they came around and knocked on the door the guy in the finca answered, still naked and with his penis erect. He promptly turned his anger on the dog, a German Shepherd and began to hit it:( He has been sentenced to 18 months in jail....so you see Dom, don't be so naive, there are deviants in all countries.

Re: Spain is poor, UK is rotten
 

:rofl:
Takes all sorts.
So what did he get put away for ?.... indecent exposure,:o having sex with the dog :blink: or beating the shit out of it :eek: ?

....or maybe 6 months for each.

Re: Spain is poor, UK is rotten
 

You really don't know much about the cost of living in the UK or the benefit system do you.

As of last April things like housing benefit are now capped, 'bedroom tax' if your home is larger than your needs etc. The cutbacks are impacting on many people, families and singles alike, gas and electricity price hikes are also way above inflation this year, it will be a bloody cold winter for a lot of folk on benefits.

I no longer do voluntary work with Age Concern (Age UK now) but can assure you there are many pensioners without a pot to pee in. We have a friend of my son's round three or four times a week, he's a nice lad, got a studio flat and all his benefits, doesn't smoke or drink and literally can't afford to feed himself after paying for power and rent (over his allowance). He's lucky, he's a graduate network engineer like my lad so he will find work eventually, lots of other youngsters are without skills in demand and for them the outlook is bleak.

Re: Spain is poor, UK is rotten
 

I watched a report when this house cap benefit reduction was first proposed.
The reporter intervewed some posh lady living in a fabulous mansion kitted out with the most luxurious quality furniture that money could buy.
I'm sure any Royal family would have been proud of it.
Having just been informed of the proposed tax she was indignant and told the reporter in no uncertain fashion,....
.
"This is simply not good enough, I am just not prepared to lower the standards to which I have become accustomed".

Re: Spain is poor, UK is rotten
 

I am trying to think of a literal translation of housing benefit, with the same meaning as English, and unbelievable as it seems in such a generous country as Spain, it does not exist.

And lets face it, if your son's friend lived in Spain with no job, he would still be living at home with his parents with no job seekers allowance whatsoever.
Which he could do if he chose to, in Spain no job means no choice of living alone with help from the gov for rent and living costs.

Given his situation which would you prefer?

Re: Spain is poor, UK is rotten
 

An old woman who I know (lost everything in Spain due to a wonderful financial advisor:frown:) returned to the UK. She has a housing association apartment, nice views over the sea close to Chichester, fully paid by HB and £140 per week plus all the other things like dental care. Not a fortune but no reason to need food banks and should be more than enough to pay heating for a 1 bed place.

The HB restrictions were brought out to placate all the taxpayers complaining about people living in detached 4 bed houses and claiming in full when they could take a 2 bed. Quite rightly so.