Stay or go? EU poll - Oh the irony.

Thrugelmir

gfplux wrote: »

I am more interested in how your politicians have failed you while you have been members of the EU.

The investigation into the relationship betwwen Ebay and the politicians of Luxembourg sums up the reality of the EU. In reality self interest rules. Is Jean Claude Juncker a worthy president of the EU? Let's wait and see.

slopemaster

gfplux wrote: »

..I and many other visitors from the EU think say and do the following
If I or they become ill get on the next available plane or ferry so to be treated at home,
Find public transport (in London) overcrowded for much of the day and sooooooo expensive.
If I drive between the channel ports and anywhere in England it is impossible to predict accurately how long the journey will take.
Etc, etc,
There may be other problems that you know better than I.

People are so rude - eg don't say "good morning" or "please can I have".
That's the other big thing I notice when visiting - but I don't suppose you can blame politicians for that.

ruggedtoast

gfplux wrote: »

This thread has calmed down a little so I feel I can dip my toes in to it. I do not wish to add or to detract from the debate on wether the UK should leave the EU. As a retired Brit who is resident in Luxembourg I will not have a vote. You will all do what you have to do when the time comes.

I am more interested in how your politicians have failed you while you have been members of the EU.

With a growing and ageing population that has been plain to see and predict since even the 1980's why today when I visit the UK do I and many other visitors from the EU think say and do the following,
I say most not all, perhaps that should be many,
If I or they become ill get on the next available plane or ferry so to be treated at home,
Find public transport (in London) overcrowded for much of the day and sooooooo expensive.
If I drive between the channel ports and anywhere in England it is impossible to predict accurately how long the journey will take.
Etc, etc,
There may be other problems that you know better than I.
What I do know is that much of the UK problems today have been caused my inaction by your politicians in building for the future in the 80's 90's and even now.
Hopefully the above comments will not result in my toe being burnt(flamed)

I'm not sure I picked up on all your points but for the main ones:

UK political planning has always been short-termist. Few governments will plan beyond the next election, and the Tory party's main policy objectives are always cutting taxes, privatising things, and handing out corporate welfare. There isn't a consistent centre ground political alliance as is common in Europe, therefore much of the UK 's infrastructure is pretty terrible. The lag isn't as bad as it once was (you no longer see baffled French tourists at King's Cross trying to figure out how to get on a slam door train).

The tube is crowded because it was the first one in the world and the tunnels are too narrow. Its expensive because people keep paying for it anyway. They can't physically run anymore trains and its awfulness doesn't put anyone off. If it were cheap people would be clinging to the roofs.

I'm not sure what your complaint is about driving. The roads are busy. But a tomtom with Live Traffic and your journey times will be more predictable.

Thrugelmir

ruggedtoast wrote: »

I'm not sure I picked up on all your points but for the main ones:

UK political planning has always been short-termist. Few governments will plan beyond the next election, and the Tory party's main policy objectives are always cutting taxes, privatising things, and handing out corporate welfare. There isn't a consistent centre ground political alliance as is common in Europe, therefore much of the UK 's infrastructure is pretty terrible. The lag isn't as bad as it once was (you no longer see baffled French tourists at King's Cross trying to figure out how to get on a slam door train).

The tube is crowded because it was the first one in the world and the tunnels are too narrow. Its expensive because people keep paying for it anyway. They can't physically run anymore trains and its awfulness doesn't put anyone off. If it were cheap people would be clinging to the roofs.

I'm not sure what your complaint is about driving. The roads are busy. But a tomtom with Live Traffic and your journey times will be more predictable.

Try driving in Hamburg in the rush hour. :eek:

Then you'll realise how good the UK is.

gfplux

Thrugelmir wrote: »

The investigation into the relationship betwwen Ebay and the politicians of Luxembourg sums up the reality of the EU. In reality self interest rules. Is Jean Claude Juncker a worthy president of the EU? Let's wait and see.

Not sure of your point. Are you unhappy that your politicians don't have enough self interest (in the UK) because that was partially my point.
Mr Juncker does not suffer fools gladly witness who he does not get on with. Many in Luxembourg would like him back home as the "new ones" lack experience and Mr Junker has that in spades.

gfplux

Rugged toast, thank you for your reply you spent a lot of words but if I understand correctly you agree with my first two points.
Your point about the traffic. With good traffic information you can predict how late you will be for your appointment, but only after you have set out on your journey. I personally don't like that sort of predictability.
However if you agree with my points why are you and more people not angry about it.

gfplux

When my wife first came to England she worked in Kensington. We lived in N20 and she would catch the train/tube everyday.
As she often remarked, when there was an announcement about a cancelation or delay (a regular occurrence) all she would hear was the agited rustle of newspapers by their angry readers. She said Parisians would never stand for it and there would be demonstrations until things improved.
Perhaps she was exaggerating?
High expectations never did any harm and that is another thing missing from the UK.

CLAPTON

gfplux wrote: »

When my wife first came to England she worked in Kensington. We lived in N20 and she would catch the train/tube everyday.
As she often remarked, when there was an announcement about a cancelation or delay (a regular occurrence) all she would hear was the agited rustle of newspapers by their angry readers. She said Parisians would never stand for it and there would be demonstrations until things improved.
Perhaps she was exaggerating?
High expectations never did any harm and that is another thing missing from the UK.

One wonders why so many Parisians come to live in London; presumably they are the ones with low expectations.

CLAPTON

gfplux wrote: »

Not sure of your point. Are you unhappy that your politicians don't have enough self interest (in the UK) because that was partially my point.
Mr Juncker does not suffer fools gladly witness who he does not get on with. Many in Luxembourg would like him back home as the "new ones" lack experience and Mr Junker has that in spades.

Mr Juncker corruptly colluded with large foreign companies to increase the tax take in Luxembourg at the expense of poorer countries in the EU.
I can believe that the people of Luxembourg would welcome him back.