3.04.2006
The UK – it's like eating a pie full of shit
A simple idea. I was wondering recently that many other countries on a similar economic level with the UK don't have an expensive NHS; don't have a large navy and an army with soldiers all over the world. This means these other countries must have more money to spend on internal affairs like greater government subsidy for TRAINS, for example. Our trains services are not getting the help, management and direction they need, they just rot. And how about more money for the pensioners who get so little compared to some other similar countries. For such a high tax country, SO MANY things are just not good enough! Where is this money going?
I get the impression these other quiet countries, like Sweden, Denmark and Japan, are putting everything that have into developing and moving forward, sorting out their own problems more so (eg higher and older population, crime, education and making life good and easier for their citizens). Whereas we prefer to act like we are still some glorious and powerful Empire that must look after countries that cannot look after themselves. It's a honourable thing to be an altruistic country but we must focus on ourselves more. The internal rot is everywhere and growing. Neglected estates boil with indignation.
And the NHS: an amazing achievement I know; it's just a shame it seems to be such a disorganised mess and that so many are forced to go private anyway, even if they cannot afford to. I guess what really grates is the fact we pay high taxes but still catch dirty, primitive, late trains; walk through shit-encrusted litter strewn streets; buy a chocolate bar from some miserable sod; avoid lowly ignorant youth and then get home to find our washing machine has broke down and getting someone to fix it quickly, without complication and not piss you off in any way is damn near impossible.
