Stop Bloody Moaning!!!

chewmylegoff

Graham_Devon wrote: »

If you are doing OK, things are probably pretty grand.

If you are not, and, like many, have seen a decline in your living standards, this article is a bit hollow.

The comments on the article pick up on the overarching point in this column piece, which appears to be "I'm alright thanks, so quit moaning...."

Many will agree with his piece. Those people, will be, on large, doing alright... if not prospering from the recession. It's simply a viewpoint. But a viewpoint from someone who is privileged and probably completely unaware of how others outside of his social circle live.

^^ 3rd highest rated comment on the article.

British people who feel that they aren't doing "ok" are just delusional. Regardless of whether living standards have fallen a bit in the last few years, they are still way ahead of what the vast majority of the world' population have to deal with and even those who are the very worst off in our society have access to a generous benefits system which will house, feed, clothe and keep you warm in perpetuity. People complain when their living standards fail to increase year on year in a linear manner and blame the government. The reality is that no-one can deliver ever rising standards of living without intermittent periods of decline - it wouldn't matter whether the government was Tory, Labour, Martian or Graham_Devon.

vivatifosi

I heard an interesting comment piece on this the other day. Apologies, but can't remember where or get a link.

It made a lot of the points, but then talked about the counter-point and where the government is going wrong. For example, taking Hamish's often cited point, "we need more immigration". It talked about the demographics and how the indigenous population is not having enough children to replace itself. Therefore at a national level we do need immigration. However what has happened is that immigration has been patchy and so you end up with people migrating to particular areas, with the result that the local doctors surgeries and schools being unable to cope. The point was made that these issues are ultimately solvable if the government put its mind to it, but it relies on things like the census and is slow to move, with the result that resentment builds. In short you end up with dogma rather than pragmatic, realistic solutions.

Another point that the commentator meant was that the reasons for some of these issues goes unanswered. For example, why are services being cut when we used to be able to afford these things. Labour blames the banks (while conveniently forgetting their light touch legislation), Conservative blames overspending etc, but who is telling the truth? Is it somewhere in between?

Thrugelmir

chewmylegoff wrote: »

British people who feel that they aren't doing "ok" are just delusional. Regardless of whether living standards have fallen a bit in the last few years, they are still way ahead of what the vast majority of the world' population have to deal with and even those who are the very worst off in our society have access to a generous benefits system which will house, feed, clothe and keep you warm in perpetuity. People complain when their living standards fail to increase year on year in a linear manner and blame the government. The reality is that no-one can deliver ever rising standards of living without intermittent periods of decline - it wouldn't matter whether the government was Tory, Labour, Martian or Graham_Devon.

There's broader issues which I would summarise as a lose of culture and identity. Where people in some areas feel alienated. Despite living there all their lives.

shortchanged_2

The rise of a right wing party such as UKIP shows things aren't right in the UK. People become more hard line when times are tough.

chewmylegoff

Thrugelmir wrote: »

There's broader issues which I would summarise as a lose of culture and identity. Where people in some areas feel alienated. Despite living there all their lives.

That has happened throughout the ages, older people always hark back to how much better things were when they were younger; personally I prefer not being bound by Victorian values, culture and attitudes, for instance. Some people call it progress, other people call it the country going to the dogs...

Thrugelmir

shortchanged wrote: »

The rise of a right wing party such as UKIP shows things aren't right in the UK. People become more hard line when times are tough.

Nationalism is a natural reaction.

wymondham

shortchanged wrote: »

The rise of a right wing party such as UKIP shows things aren't right in the UK. People become more hard line when times are tough.

I would also echo if people feel they are not being listened to as well

wotsthat

shortchanged wrote: »

The rise of a right wing party such as UKIP shows things aren't right in the UK. People become more hard line when times are tough.

Shows how petulant people can be when, despite being feather-bedded from cradle to grave, they occasionally have to put up with a pea beneath the mattress.

Thrugelmir

wymondham wrote: »

I would also echo if people feel they are not being listened to as well

UK politics is very reactionary now. Lacks leaders of real integrity.

James_B.

Graham_Devon wrote: »

If you are doing OK, things are probably pretty grand.

If you are not, and, like many, have seen a decline in your living standards, this article is a bit hollow.

Why? Why the belief that the peak that you experienced is the "natural" or "just" level?

I don't really understand what sort of person can sit there with their income in the top 10% worldwide, and yest still feel that life is unfair.

To be born in England is still to win the lottery in life. To grow up with the education we have here, the safety net, and the stable society, and make it to adulthood without the ability to forge a successful life is not just hard to understand, its actually hard to forgive.