Was our country ever content?

Rochdale_Pioneers

The frothers would have you believe that pre-97 the world was milk and honey. All our country's ills - all of them - are personally the fault of Gordon Brown.

bitemebankers

Maybe "content" is the wrong word, but there was certainly far more optimism in the 50s and 60s. There was a sense that we could make the country a better place than what had gone before and, in many ways, people were right. Britain is a fantastic place now compared to in the 20s and 30s. The problem is that most of those who instigated change in the 50s are now very old or deceased, and few people can remember how crap this country was when it was run exclusively for the benefit of the wealthy right-wing.

Masomnia

bitemebankers wrote: »

Maybe "content" is the wrong word, but there was certainly far more optimism in the 50s and 60s. There was a sense that we could make the country a better place than what had gone before and, in many ways, people were right. Britain is a fantastic place now compared to in the 20s and 30s. The problem is that most of those who instigated change in the 50s are now very old or deceased, and few people can remember how crap this country was when it was run exclusively for the benefit of the wealthy right-wing.

People were very angry at the bankers in the 30s for causing a financial crisis. Just as people have previously vilified the Rothschilds, the Fuggers, the Medicis... Some things never change. Kind of comforting in a way I suppose.

Graham_Devon

Rochdale_Pioneers wrote: »

The frothers would have you believe that pre-97 the world was milk and honey. All our country's ills - all of them - are personally the fault of Gordon Brown.

Yes, but when I voted labour in 97, I was told things could only get better.

Bunch of lying crooks took advantage of my voting virginity and sweet sweet innocence.

lostinrates

bitemebankers wrote: »

Well, quite. People go on about mod cons like life would grind to a halt without them,

maybe not grind to a halt but I'd certainly do less washing if I had to do it all by hand. It would also change what I wore and bought. I hand wash a few times a week..lingerie, jumpers etc etc, but things that spring to mind as problematic would be the clothes I wear for doing the animals in and....anything pale!

treliac

Rochdale_Pioneers wrote: »

All our country's ills - all of them - are personally the fault of Gordon Brown.

I'm soooo glad you've finally realised!

JasonLVC

We cannot ignore the impact on 'globalisation' or more to the point, Sky TV and the Internet.

Back in the old days, a good cover up was relatively easy, you just did it, the Evening Standard makes a small mention of it on Page 32, the Beeb would neglect to mention it and that's it, cover up sorted.

Today, the meerest whiff of a scandal is pinged across the world on forums and live news reels, gathering opinion and views like a rolling stone until it arrives on the doorstep of the person attempting the coverup and BANG, crashes through their door.

Be that expenses fiddling (Mr Chayter seems to be right upto his neck in fraud by the looks of things), David Kelly cover-ups, back hand deals with Lords or bankers - it's all coming out in the wash.

We've always had the scandals, just back in our parents day, they were blissfully unaware of them (and probably happier as a result!).....maybe, sometimes, we can have too much information?

Mr_Matey

I'd guess the people of Britain were quite content after each of the world wars. Happy to be alive and to see peace. The roaring 20s and all that...

Still, as it's been said, it's human nature to want things to be better, and as people grow old they see the past through rose-tinted glasses. So people will always complain that it was better "in my day" and want things to change to suit their views/needs.

She's not quite Aristotle, but as Ms Spears once said "Gimme gimme more, gimme more, gimme gimme more".

ukcarper

Mr_Matey wrote: »

I'd guess the people of Britain were quite content after each of the world wars. Happy to be alive and to see peace. The roaring 20s and all that...

Still, as it's been said, it's human nature to want things to be better, and as people grow old they see the past through rose-tinted glasses. So people will always complain that it was better "in my day" and want things to change to suit their views/needs.

She's not quite Aristotle, but as Ms Spears once said "Gimme gimme more, gimme more, gimme gimme more".

I'm not sure older people see the past through rose-tinted glasses things have changed some for the better some for the worst. To me it seems that some of the younger people seem to imagine everything in the garden was rosy back in the 70s and 60s I was there and I know it wasn’t.

bitemebankers

We've always had the scandals, just back in our parents day, they were blissfully unaware of them (and probably happier as a result!).....maybe, sometimes, we can have too much information?

So the solution to lying, cheating scumbag MPs and business leaders is to look the other way?

To me it seems that some of the younger people seem to imagine everything in the garden was rosy back in the 70s and 60s I was there and I know it wasn’t.

Most people have an instinct to hark back and imagine that the past was so much better. This usually corresponds to the time someone was in their 20s.