After all this Socialist clap-trap, the UK offers the lowest quality of life in Europe! What's your opinion?

Question

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/pressass/20080715/tuk-british-life-quality-falls-short-6323e80.html

After all this "Kow-Towing" to the European Union,we still get the Sh1tty End of the stick!

What's this Government of Jocks think it's doing?

Answer 1

It's quite true. Look at the figures regarding stress, childhood and work related. Where has all this come from? This farce of a government sent the death knell ringing through production eleven years ago and we have little or nothing left now. They could have prevented the loss of jobs in the car industry, chocolate and steel industries also. Instead of which it's gone abroad. We are GB Service - nothing more or less, almost totally tied into tourism. Even the once great Rolls Royce is floundering. Investment in them over the years has returned poorly £1.27 last year for £1000 worth of shares. Due to the open borders Blair policy we now have a country over run by eastern european gangs and somalis, russians, chinese, etc etc. When you read about the stabbings who is doing it - it's the new boys on the block! Our confidence in law and order is at an all time low as is their ability to perform around targets. Our health service can't even look after mothers about to give birth and if they manage to get onto a ward are left to fend for themselves. The hospital cleaning targets haven't been met, they're still full of mrsa. Morale in our armed services is zilch - most of them want to get out due to low pay and poor esteem. Education - ours is the laughing stock of europe - they haven't even finished collecting the last SATs papers and yet the head of the marking company has told the government that it's all marked and graded! The incompetent fool who was ultimately responsible for the loss of the CD with the data of 2.5million citizens on it has been given - not the sack - termination of contract with a £2million pay off! There's more and more but i'm feeling depressed!

Answer 2

Labour hasn't been socialist since 1994. Grow up.

Answer 3

Its been going like this for a long time, socialist policy has been seen for what they are, and now the results are plain for all to see, we are undoubtedly worse off, with higher taxes than ever, a much lower standard of living and a government who are out to punish people for trying to make a living.

ordinary joe public taxed to the hilt, soon won't be able to drive a car, fuel too expensive and insurance going through the roof on older cars, and ultility bills hitting an all time high.

People come here from other countries like Poland and Romania because its rubbish where they live especially the wages.

Answer 4

and we get the worst weather...

Answer 5

I don't actually agree... I've lived in France and I've lived in Italy, and to be honest there's not much wrong withthe UK. Esp in relation to Italy whose economy is going down the pan as fast as you can flush it. We like to complain, no matter where we are. In Italy, it was recently published in "La Repubblica", a respected national newspaper, that ITALIANS are the worst off in Europe for quality of life. It's the "poor me" syndrome, the fact that you can make statistics say anything you want, and the fact that bad news sells newspapers much faster than good news does... Ok, we could be better off. The pseudosocialists in the government have f*cked us over royally. But we need to get a grip and quit complaining! I've seen abject poverty in some parts of the world and people still smile, laugh and share what little they have whereas in Europe I'm likely to here someone wailing that they can't afford to buy a Playstation 3 and how it's all the governments fault, while bickering with their mates over whose turn it is to buy the 50p bag of crisps. Grow up and get some perspective!

Answer 6

I was brought up in the UK since the 1940's. England in the 40's after the war was a very poor country but everyone had high spirits. Life through the 50's was tough.

Today you have everything. Motor cars, TV's, Holidays abroad, mobile phones, ipods etc. It's simple, go back to what we had in the 40's & 50's and you will have more money in your pockets. Stop moaning, they didn't moan like this in the years after the war, they got on with life as best they could.

In real terms everyone is a lot better off than everyone was in the 1970's, it's just that everyone has overstretched themselves.

Answer 7

Hi...

I couldn't agree more.

I'm sure their are alot of happy people out there. But for me living in the UK is just awful. It's all about work, work, work!!

'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy'.

The UK is full of 'dull boys'. It's depressing, it feels to me like there's no fun. Everyone's miserable.

If you don't have a high paying job, you feel like c**p. Which is most of us!!

Arhhhh :(

Good question.. *

Answer 8

I think they want us to be the poor relation of Europe and when were are they will all be in the Bahamas spending all the money they have accumulated from the taxpayers of this country.

We will be the laughing stock of the world because we, the British public, will have allowed it to happen without hardly a protest!!!!

That's my honest opinion.

Answer 9

Hi

The thing that annoys me is now the country's in the s**+*, old Badger wants everyone to settle for a low wage increase, I'd rather have the percentage of what they've awarded themselves than a percentage of what I'm earning, I think old Badger's got a cheek asking that, he took no notice of us when we asked the government to lower taxes and the cost of living, to all those who were for it...aren't you all glad we're in the E.U now?and it hasn't finished yet, keep an eye on the unemployment figures and factory closers the government will try to keep that quiet and play it down, sorry but the bad times haven't really started yet.

Ray. West York's. U.K.

Answer 10

its true most asylum seekers i know want to move because of the low wages and high living costs in the uk

many go to america or germany for a better standard of life  they are not told about council tax gas prices or tv licences when they apply to move to the uk

too many people are on the sick or working for minimum wage in the uk , its low quality for lots of people

Answer 11

Another magnificent triumph for the nanny government philosophy!

Answer 12

How do you explain the presence of all the immigrants from eastern Europe then.Why do they choose Britain above Germany Italy or France or why not just stay put if Britain is so bad.

  Edit: do you have any evidence that what you are saying is true or is it just something that you heard in the pub.

Answer 13

I agree with you on all points...... you work all your life, and end up with a paltry pension, and everything to pay, and its getting worse. Prices are now going up, and it will not be long before we are all on the bread line.Each and every  Government we have had always manage to line their own pockets, and  look forward to a healthy pension to put in their back pocket, but expect us who have worked to scrimp along on the small income they decide for us.The whole lot of them make me sick, as compassion is not part of their programme.

Answer 14

i thinks its all lies what you say....

...I'm doing alright, getting good grade, futures so bright i gotta wear shades...

the people with low quality of life are just losers who  suffer from the  poverty of low aspiration and would rather eat chips, live on hand-outs watching Tricia & jeremy kyle all day...chavs the lot sod them.

Answer 15

at least you don't have to worry about going bankrupt if you get sick, being a slave to the automobile, or getting shot.

Answer 16

Nice question old lad, but  the answer might not be what you expected. According to a 117 page report of 2003 (http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/pubdocs/2...

the UK is far from  being “the rearguard” of Europe in terms of Quality of Life. Whether this is thanks to Labour or an inheritance of  past governments is another matter. In many items the UK is in the top 3, in one particolar item, alas, it’s just ahead of the rearguard (Quality of Health service 10th with 6,4, Quality of Social Services  13th with 5,8, average for both 12th). The curious thing is Britain is ahead in “capital oriented” items and behind in “social” items, which  poses the question: does Labour read these reports and if so, do they have their “worker oriented” priorities right? Bottom line, here’s the rating (10 is top 1 is bottom): Life satisfaction

Denmark 8,4  Finland 8,1  Austria 7,8  Luxembourg 7,8  Belgium 7,7  Ireland 7,7  Germany 7,5 (7,2)   Holland 7,5  Spain 7,5  UK  7,3  Malta 7,3,   Italy 7,2,  Cyprus 7,2 Slovenia 7,0  France 6,9  greece 6,8 Cechya 6,5  Poland 6,2  Rumania 6,2  Portugal 6,0  Estonia 5,9  Hungary  5,9  Slovakia  5,7  Latvia 5,5  Lithuania 5,4  Turkey  5,6  Bulgaria 4,4 .

A far cry from Britain’s hey day, but still. The surprise is in the the jump forward in “happiness” (7,8) compared to “satisfaction” (7,3). So, as a sociologist, what can I say? Brits are happy but not as satisfied with their lot under Labour as other “leaders”.

“all that glitters is not gold”: although I agree on many points and especially on the substance of the reply – I must underline the “glitter” aka  poor reliability of the source - la Repubblica, which, living in Rome for the past 25 years, is one of the papers I have to read (Sung Tsu - study the enemy). They are top gun in the “shooting yourself in the foot” squadron, a National sport; once staunch supporters and whitewashers of  that git Prodi, they are now blackballing all they can on Italy’s “desperate predicament”, which is pure bunkum. The above data, produced by a serious non - political European organization, shows only a 0,1 point between Italy and the UK, both "quite satisfied". In terms of "wealth" (GNP) Italy is not  far off from the UK, but where it does lag very far behind is in “competitive edge”, with a very poor mark for “ government planning, trade unions and  public services”.  I do agree wholeheartedly that we should not gripe, in any part of Europe, we’ve been used to having the “best” (and to he..ll with the great unwashed) for far too long, it’s time we gave a discount to the rest of the World. The point of the present “Question” is, however, correct, the UK is being short changed in the very areas that post-war Britain, where I grew up, was once the proud leader: social services (we used to call it another name, but it meant above all National Health, kiddies milk, school scholarships, council estates), and we definitely cannot blame Maggie this time round. As an Expat Yorkshireman I hope Britain gets her priorities straight, so the lads and lasses will stop moaning and pull their thumbs out.

Answer 17

Why are all of you in Britain complaining ?.  I thought your real estate was on fire and you were rolling in dough.  That's the impression I get over here.  You made a killing selling your houses and then buy a house in Spain and a house in Brighton and the rest you spend.  So isn't this the way it is?  What about the health care system?  Pretty good I hear.  Hmm I guess it isn't all tea and crumpets for all.  Sad

Answer 18

Check out what uSwitch.com actually does. They are not exactly an unbiased source. No doubt tomorrow or the next day there will be another "report" stating that the UK is a veritable utopia.

Strange how the "over enthusiastic" media are ready to seize on negative statistics to push an overtly political agenda or quote research findings that are five years out of date.

Answer 19

This is because of consistent long-term underspending on the national infrastructure as a large proportion of the public won't accept realistic taxation levels.  It's no coincidence Sweden, for example, has amongst the highest taxation levels in Europe and one of the highest qualities of life.  If you want decent health services, transport networks, etc, they have to be paid for.

This is NOT just down to Labour over the last ten years but is a very long-standing problem.  For a bit of historical perspective, I know someone who moved from Belgium to the UK more than ten years ago. One of her friends asked her why as, to them, Britain was a third world country.  Then there was the workmate from New Zealand who told me (in 1992!) that NZers considered Britain a 'third world country that pretends to be westernised'...