Is it just me, or does anyone else think this country is totally **** now?

[budwieser]

Is it just me, or does anyone else think this country is totally s*** now?
I keep looking at the papers and reading the news and the whole country has gone tits up i think.
We pay so much tax and it just seems that the immigrants get more than the hard working taxpayer who was born in this country. Am i wrong?
I work hard, probably about 55 hours a week and i`m taxed £700.00 a month on it. On top of that, i`m paying the tax on fuel, food everything else and council tax, when does it come to an end?
When do we actually get something back that benefits us?

[downquark1]

Don't watch/read the mainstream news. Everything seems brighter when you don't.

I like this country, and wouldn't want to leave it (and I have had job offers in the USA, NZ, and others).

I don't have a problem paying tax , which goes towards education, hospitals, and helping those less well off; just because a minority abuse it, doesn't mean it is wrong (imho).

I have got back
a) a reasonable standard of education for both my children
b) good health care for me and my family when needed
c) reasonable infrastructure for day to day living (council services, etc)
d) democratic (mostly) government
e) nice neighbours and friends

So in answer to your question,
a) No, I don't think this country is totally poo now
b) I have got lots back that benefits me and my family

[idi banashapan]

Originally Posted by budwieser

Is it just me, or does anyone else think this country is totally s*** now?
I keep looking at the papers and reading the news and the whole country has gone tits up i think.
We pay so much tax and it just seems that the immigrants get more than the hard working taxpayer who was born in this country. Am i wrong?
I work hard, probably about 55 hours a week and i`m taxed £700.00 a month on it. On top of that, i`m paying the tax on fuel, food everything else and council tax, when does it come to an end?
When do we actually get something back that benefits us?

i agree - if I were able to save enough money to move away, I would. unfortunately, I get taxed so much and pay all the rest on overpriced bills and produce, that I can't escape the Rubicon of the UK!!!

Bad news sells.

Is there a way out of the rat race?

Bah!Things were much worse in the 70's.

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by Incognitas

Bah!Things were much worse in the 70's.

True, just look at the fashion!

[v0id]

Originally Posted by Incognitas

Bah!Things were much worse in the 70's.

There was none of this political correctness *******s

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by v0id

There was none of this political correctness *******s

Really? Wasn't "women's lib" around in the 70's then?

While i agree with some of what the op says i think the bit about immigrants could have been left out.

[Mr_love_monkey]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

I have got back
a) a reasonable standard of education for both my children

Would you feel happy if you were starting out now? - do you not feel education has gone down hill?

Originally Posted by foreverwar

b) good health care for me and my family when needed

Hmm.. pretty much luck of the draw though, isn't it? hospital conditions are terrible (depending on where you go), they're unclean (we recently went, and the consultant had to spend 5 minutes cleaning blood off one of the pull down lights from the ceiling that seems to have been there for days)

Originally Posted by foreverwar

c) reasonable infrastructure for day to day living (council services, etc)

Hmm.. can't disagree with you too much there - but it is pricey - but I guess you can't have reasonable service and get it for free.

Originally Posted by foreverwar

d) democratic (mostly) government

democratically elected anyway

Originally Posted by foreverwar

e) nice neighbours and friends

That's funny, your neighbours didn't seem so keen

[Osem]

It seems to me that most of the problems in this country are in large part due to the increasing demand for services by an increasing population. Immigration and longevity are both factors in that - it's just a pity HMG didn't consider those things when making some of their major decisions.

I know quite a few well edcuated professional people who've emigrated and more are heading that way - these are not the sort of people UK can afford to lose!

[Nugget]

Originally Posted by budwieser

Is it just me, or does anyone else think this country is totally s*** now?
I keep looking at the papers and reading the news and the whole country has gone tits up i think.
We pay so much tax and it just seems that the immigrants get more than the hard working taxpayer who was born in this country. Am i wrong?
I work hard, probably about 55 hours a week and i`m taxed £700.00 a month on it. On top of that, i`m paying the tax on fuel, food everything else and council tax, when does it come to an end?
When do we actually get something back that benefits us?

In fairness bud, if you're paying 700 quid tax a month, then you're earning far more than any immigrant who's come to the country to find work

[BBKing]

I keep looking at the papers and reading the news

There, I suspect, is your problem. Which papers? Try this for size:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/me...ws-780672.html

Am i wrong?

If you base your opinions on the papers I think you base them on, it's a nailed on certainty.

[chickendippers]

Yes, it is just you.

I'm currently wracking up a nice £20,000 debt just to educate myself, but I'd still rather do it in the UK then anywhere else.