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[STMO999]

There's a common thread here, and it's called nostalgia. No doubt our parents thought the 70's and 80's were horrendous compared to their teddy boy youth. The kids of today will no doubt mourn the passing of the noughties.
Remember, you were looking at the world through young, fresh eyes 30 years ago. Now we're just........old fogies.

[cruisetopoland]

Hi everyone,now we all know that Britain is not the same country that we all grew up in,but do you think its better or worse.
I myself think that its all gone downhill fast since this wonderful goverment we have opened our borders to all this so called aslyum seekers,who have little to offer the UK but take everythink offered.
We are fighting a war that we will never win,and had no business to be there in the first place.
We have MPs who have their snouts in the trough,if it was anyone else they would have been charged with fraud.
We have coppers who will fine you for blowing your nose in your own car.
etc etc etc etc,
I,m sure some of you will support me,while others will shoot me down,but everyone is intitled to their own thoughts aren,t they.
                            Alfie

God, sounds like the Daily Mail has got to you 

Living in a small town community helps as people are accountable for their actions and cannot get away with things they would in a large anonymous city.

We moved out of a city into Leominster-a place where if you swear at the dozy driver in the car in front of you, you will soon meet them again, in the pub or supermarket-so you avoid the issue and relax!

Without the high-tech available now, I may have died at age 16 and my wife/son too in childbirth, my niece at 2 and my brother in law at 30, so starting with that as a base things have improved for us.

I think the answers on this thread will be as much about optimism and pessimism as the state of the country  :-/

[kevinminton]

Hi everyone,now we all know that Britain is not the same country that we all grew up in,but do you think its better or worse.

Better, by far. But still not perfect by a long way.

Two cars, two mobiles, a million tvs, dishwasher, auto washing machine, foreign holidays ... a lot bettre than when I grew up (dob 1956).
 I can go to any country in Europe at a moment's notice for 99p or whatever.
25 days paid leave a year, paternity leave ...
My children don't get mumps / measles and all the other stuff I did. Each of them weighs more than my brother and I did put together (not really) - but they're also taller & stronger to match.
Sure, police may fine you for blowing your nose but they will also stop the tw*ts using their phone while they're driving. And not having insurance, MOT etc. And drink-driving has virtually disappeared. And what about the wonderful West Midlands Serious Crime Squad?

I agree with your comment about the curent system of government - but although many MPs etc may have lost the plot & lost touch with reality, the election system itself is pretty good. As a MOP you can walk into  Westminster & see democracy at work.

I spoke to a man from Nigeria - bodies stuffed in wells, police shooting you at roadblocks, "elected" leaders who expect to rule like kings. Let's not forget how lucky we are compared to most other countries & what was heer in '50s and '60s. IMHO stop moaning & do something about it!

Totally agree Kevin, and although I romance about the 1950s & 60s what we have now in terms of standard of living is FAR better. Just to add one important point to your list Kevin, I no longer see children going around with the results of polio as I used to as a kid; oh, and too many not very old men going around coughing up their lungs!!

Thanks Elizabeth for the support. You also reminded me about being able to sit on public transport and go to pubs etc without having to breathe other people's cigarette smoke. A decision by this government? (Not sure of facts here).

K

[jereboam]

It's better now.  Not a lot, and not in all ways.  All the things people are complaining about now used to happen then (whenever then may have been) only we didn't have the media to spread it around.

Do you really believe we didn't have MPs and bankers on the make 50/100/200/500 years ago?  No paedophiles, bent coppers, drunkenness?  No illiterates, psychopaths, racists?

If you want to know what life was like 150 years ago, and have a very enjoyable read, have a look at the Flashman novels.  If you want to know what life was like 200 years ago, and have an utterly depressing read, try anything by Thomas Hardy.  For 100 years ago, D.H. Lawrence (misery). 

For 50 years ago, post here.  You can make up your own mind whether that's gloom or hilarity.

As I said in an earlier post today, plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.

[cruisetopoland]

Hi everyone,now we all know that Britain is not the same country that we all grew up in,but do you think its better or worse.

Better, by far. But still not perfect by a long way.

Two cars, two mobiles, a million tvs, dishwasher, auto washing machine, foreign holidays ... a lot bettre than when I grew up (dob 1956).
 I can go to any country in Europe at a moment's notice for 99p or whatever.
25 days paid leave a year, paternity leave ...
My children don't get mumps / measles and all the other stuff I did. Each of them weighs more than my brother and I did put together (not really) - but they're also taller & stronger to match.
Sure, police may fine you for blowing your nose but they will also stop the tw*ts using their phone while they're driving. And not having insurance, MOT etc. And drink-driving has virtually disappeared. And what about the wonderful West Midlands Serious Crime Squad?

I agree with your comment about the curent system of government - but although many MPs etc may have lost the plot & lost touch with reality, the election system itself is pretty good. As a MOP you can walk into  Westminster & see democracy at work.

I spoke to a man from Nigeria - bodies stuffed in wells, police shooting you at roadblocks, "elected" leaders who expect to rule like kings. Let's not forget how lucky we are compared to most other countries & what was heer in '50s and '60s. IMHO stop moaning & do something about it!

Totally agree Kevin, and although I romance about the 1950s & 60s what we have now in terms of standard of living is FAR better. Just to add one important point to your list Kevin, I no longer see children going around with the results of polio as I used to as a kid; oh, and too many not very old men going around coughing up their lungs!!

Thanks Elizabeth for the support. You also reminded me about being able to sit on public transport and go to pubs etc without having to breathe other people's cigarette smoke. A decision by this government? (Not sure of facts here).

K

Agreed, the smoking ban has improved our lives massively 

Now an ex-smoker

[kevinminton]

Kevin M,Thanks for your views. What kind of life and country do you think your children and grandchildren will inherit from this goverment in the future.
          Alfie.
         

Good question. Still working on the answer ...

What I would like to see is a mature & considered development from a "rights" culture to a "rights and obligations" culture.

"Human rights" was a proper developement after the terrible things that happened before, in & around the second world war. But Britain, Europe & the world is 60 yrs on now, so "we" should move on to respect also our mutual obligations to each other. Discuss.

[Tony H]

A lot of posters have added well concidered and thought out replys to this thread which should be applauded, however my simple overview of the whole situation of this country is that government whoever may be in power in the near future needs to take a step back and do a full reality check of everything that effects the indiginous population of what was once this great country

[alfie]

Hi everyone,The recent new law that I do agreed with is the no smoking law/ban in pubs etc.
I do like a pint or two,but before the ban besides breathing in secondhand smoke your clothes would also stink of baccy smoke (horrible).
I was also a smoker in the 70s,glad that I kicked the habit.
                 Alfie.

[jonnycool]

Some very interesting replies here. Life has obviously improved in hundreds of ways with new technology and advances in medical science but yes, I still yearn for the days when as kids we could go out and play on nearby wasteland without (too much) fear of being beaten up by strangers or even abducted. I wouldn't even let my kids out on the street these days TBH, because kids on motorbikes, scooters and in cars come screaming up and down without a second thought.
    Another thing I don't like about today's world is the compensation culture that goes hand-in-hand with the crazy health and safety rules that dominate the news these days.
   I've got so much more than my parents ever did though

[STMO999]

Some very interesting replies here. Life has obviously improved in hundreds of ways with new technology and advances in medical science but yes, I still yearn for the days when as kids we could go out and play on nearby wasteland without (too much) fear of being beaten up by strangers or even abducted. I wouldn't even let my kids out on the street these days TBH, because kids on motorbikes, scooters and in cars come screaming up and down without a second thought.
    Another thing I don't like about today's world is the compensation culture that goes hand-in-hand with the crazy health and safety rules that dominate the news these days.
   I've got so much more than my parents ever did though

But you live in Wales. We were discussing the developed world.

[jonnycool]

At least I spelt it all right

[STMO999]

At least I spelt it all right

Congratulations

[jonnycool]

I thank you

[cruisetopoland]

Interesting point, location....

If you live in a rural area but have access to great medical care, fast broadband, excellent local services etc, you are somewhat immune to the growing problems elsewhere on a day to day basis.

We do not suffer the issues of the city-we are without huge crime, hooligan culture, speed bumps, endless speed cameras, overcrowding, attrition, etc

We have access to the benefits of modern life, without many of the drawbacks  :-/

[STMO999]

Interesting point, location....

If you live in a rural area but have access to great medical care, fast broadband, excellent local services etc, you are somewhat immune to the growing problems elsewhere on a day to day basis.

We do not suffer the issues of the city-we are without huge crime, hooligan culture, speed bumps, endless speed cameras, overcrowding, attrition, etc

We have access to the benefits of modern life, without many of the drawbacks  :-/

But, living in the countryside, you have to put up with yokels and slovakian potato pickers.