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[Dishevelled Den]

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.

That’s a splendid point K, this very important element in how society at large prepares itself for sustained and progressive development in a world, the commercial and cultural elements of which seem to shrink at an alarming rate thanks to technology, will be crucial in whether we succeed or fail in building a society worth living in.

[Dishevelled Den]

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  :-/

The disadvantage of this however CTP, is the utter reliance on personal transport.  Living in a rural location surrounded by farms, munching sheep and cow's arses I would be - and indeed am -  at a distinct disadvange if I were to depend on the megre services offered by public transport.

[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  :-/

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

Yokels can be xenophobic, the potato strawberry pickers a victim of their country's economy-and by working hard, lead an example to the yokels by their actions. 

A bit simplistic maybe, but each has a point of view and mostly they both can partly see each others...

[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  :-/

The disadvantage of this however CTP, is the utter reliance on personal transport.  Living in a rural location surrounded by farms, munching sheep and cow's arses I would be - and indeed am -  at a distinct disadvange if I were to depend on the megre services offered by public transport.

A very valid point indeed.  I myself live within a short walk of our market town, but you hit the nail squarely on the head for many as lack of public transport being the key drawback of living in the countryside.

The worse thing about it is having to move away from your lifelong friends and community when you can no longer drive.
I deal with this a lot.

My situation, within 7 mins walk of the market square but with rural views works well-I can walk to the train and bus links, supermarkets, library etc etc.  I chose this for the reasons in previous posts-I am not from this area, but wanted a nice place to settle for life-with as many positives and few negatives as possible.

We could have retired (in early thirties) to Poland three years ago, when property here was £££ and Poland was cheap, plus exchange rate excellent; but neither of us wanted to leave England.  Now we could just about buy a decent flat and still both have to work.

UK has issues, but as said we luckily avoid most of them by living where we do.

I revisit my old houses in the Midlands and can imagine how many now feel-most of them are in areas which have gone downhill  :-/

[Nickbat]

One of the greatest problems we face in our society is a feeling of helplessness.

We have endured so much political correctness rammed down our throats over the past decade, it is hard to know where to start.

Essentially, by government diktat, many of our freedoms have been eeked away, ostensibly to make our lives better.

So,
We can't have a smoke in a pub anymore and anyway, the pubs are closing at a frightening rate.

We can't drive in a relaxed manner for fear that we may stray over the limit and get several points on our licence. We're being watched constantly.

We can't tell a risqué joke in case we're deemed sexist, racist, homophobic.

We can't defend our properties lest we end up being charge with assault.

...and as shown recently, we can't even blow our nose when sitting in a traffic jam.

..and much else.

The problem with all this is that  thing is we can't seem to do anything about it. The government has achieved total power over the smallest parts of our lives. It has politicised all our great institutions.

And, to rub salt in the wound, as it were, the Members of our esteemed Parliament have achieved all this whilst having their noses firmly in the trough.

Deep frustration is building up in society. There is a complete disconnect between the lawmakers and the masses.
        

[Dishevelled Den]

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  :-/

The disadvantage of this however CTP, is the utter reliance on personal transport.  Living in a rural location surrounded by farms, munching sheep and cow's arses I would be - and indeed am -  at a distinct disadvange if I were to depend on the megre services offered by public transport.

A very valid point indeed.  I myself live within a short walk of our market town, but you hit the nail squarely on the head for many as lack of public transport being the key drawback of living in the countryside.

The worse thing about it is having to move away from your lifelong friends and community when you can no longer drive.
I deal with this a lot.

My situation, within 7 mins walk of the market square but with rural views works well-I can walk to the train and bus links, supermarkets, library etc etc.  I chose this for the reasons in previous posts-I am not from this area, but wanted a nice place to settle for life-with as many positives and few negatives as possible.
We could have retired (in early thirties) to Poland three years ago, when property here was £££ and Poland was cheap, plus exchange rate excellent; but neither of us wanted to leave England.  Now we could just about buy a decent flat and still both have to work.

UK has issues, but as said we luckily avoid most of them by living where we do.

I revisit my old houses in the Midlands and can imagine how many now feel-most of them are in areas which have gone downhill  :-/

I can understand that desire C, this view tends to compensate for the relative isolation.

[Dishevelled Den]

One of the greatest problems we face in our society is a feeling of helplessness.

We have endured so much political correctness rammed down our throats over the past decade, it is hard to know where to start.

Essentially, by government diktat, many of our freedoms have been eeked away, ostensibly to make our lives better.

So,
We can't have a smoke in a pub anymore and anyway, the pubs are closing at a frightening rate.

We can't drive in a relaxed manner for fear that we may stray over the limit and get several points on our licence. We're being watched constantly.

We can't tell a risqué joke in case we're deemed sexist, racist, homophobic.

We can't defend our properties lest we end up being charge with assault.

...and as shown recently, we can't even blow our nose when sitting in a traffic jam.

..and much else.

The problem with all this is that  thing is we can't seem to do anything about it. The government has achieved total power over the smallest parts of our lives. It has politicised all our great institutions.

And, to rub salt in the wound, as it were, the Members of our esteemed Parliament have achieved all this whilst having their noses firmly in the trough.

Deep frustration is building up in society. There is a complete disconnect between the lawmakers and the masses.
        

As in Kevin's earlier post Nick, this fundamental element is one of the more important to consider when we, as a society, look to the future in anticipation of having something worthwhile to live for and contribute to.

[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  :-/

The disadvantage of this however CTP, is the utter reliance on personal transport.  Living in a rural location surrounded by farms, munching sheep and cow's arses I would be - and indeed am -  at a distinct disadvange if I were to depend on the megre services offered by public transport.

A very valid point indeed.  I myself live within a short walk of our market town, but you hit the nail squarely on the head for many as lack of public transport being the key drawback of living in the countryside.

The worse thing about it is having to move away from your lifelong friends and community when you can no longer drive.
I deal with this a lot.

My situation, within 7 mins walk of the market square but with rural views works well-I can walk to the train and bus links, supermarkets, library etc etc.  I chose this for the reasons in previous posts-I am not from this area, but wanted a nice place to settle for life-with as many positives and few negatives as possible.
We could have retired (in early thirties) to Poland three years ago, when property here was £££ and Poland was cheap, plus exchange rate excellent; but neither of us wanted to leave England.  Now we could just about buy a decent flat and still both have to work.

UK has issues, but as said we luckily avoid most of them by living where we do.

I revisit my old houses in the Midlands and can imagine how many now feel-most of them are in areas which have gone downhill  :-/

I can understand that desire C, this view tends to compensate for the relative isolation.

Very nice indeed.  I had to make the choice between a killer view and everything else; the short walk to getting fresh bread and newspapers on a Sunday Morning clinched it 

[Amigo]

One of the greatest problems we face in our society is a feeling of helplessness.

We have endured so much political correctness rammed down our throats over the past decade, it is hard to know where to start.

Essentially, by government diktat, many of our freedoms have been eeked away, ostensibly to make our lives better.

So,
We can't have a smoke in a pub anymore and anyway, the pubs are closing at a frightening rate.

We can't drive in a relaxed manner for fear that we may stray over the limit and get several points on our licence. We're being watched constantly.

We can't tell a risqué joke in case we're deemed sexist, racist, homophobic.

We can't defend our properties lest we end up being charge with assault.

...and as shown recently, we can't even blow our nose when sitting in a traffic jam.

..and much else.

The problem with all this is that  thing is we can't seem to do anything about it. The government has achieved total power over the smallest parts of our lives. It has politicised all our great institutions.

And, to rub salt in the wound, as it were, the Members of our esteemed Parliament have achieved all this whilst having their noses firmly in the trough.

Deep frustration is building up in society. There is a complete disconnect between the lawmakers and the masses.
        

Precisely. This single post has the whole she bang sewn up in a reasoned & constructive manner whilst getting all relative points through succinctly. Well put Nick.

[cruisetopoland]

One of the greatest problems we face in our society is a feeling of helplessness.

We have endured so much political correctness rammed down our throats over the past decade, it is hard to know where to start.

Essentially, by government diktat, many of our freedoms have been eeked away, ostensibly to make our lives better.

So,
We can't have a smoke in a pub anymore and anyway, the pubs are closing at a frightening rate.

We can't drive in a relaxed manner for fear that we may stray over the limit and get several points on our licence. We're being watched constantly.

We can't tell a risqué joke in case we're deemed sexist, racist, homophobic.

We can't defend our properties lest we end up being charge with assault.

...and as shown recently, we can't even blow our nose when sitting in a traffic jam.

..and much else.

The problem with all this is that  thing is we can't seem to do anything about it. The government has achieved total power over the smallest parts of our lives. It has politicised all our great institutions.

And, to rub salt in the wound, as it were, the Members of our esteemed Parliament have achieved all this whilst having their noses firmly in the trough.

Deep frustration is building up in society. There is a complete disconnect between the lawmakers and the masses.
        

Precisely. This single post has the whole she bang sewn up in a reasoned & constructive manner whilst getting all relative points through succinctly. Well put Nick.

Maybe I am in denial, but it seems like Daily Mail sensationalisation to me-most of this has some grounding in fact but highlighting the extremes does not represent normality-it just sells newspapers  :-?

[jereboam]

One of the greatest problems we face in our society is a feeling of helplessness.

We have endured so much political correctness rammed down our throats over the past decade, it is hard to know where to start.

Essentially, by government diktat, many of our freedoms have been eeked away, ostensibly to make our lives better.

So,
We can't have a smoke in a pub anymore and anyway, the pubs are closing at a frightening rate.

We can't drive in a relaxed manner for fear that we may stray over the limit and get several points on our licence. We're being watched constantly.

We can't tell a risqué joke in case we're deemed sexist, racist, homophobic.

We can't defend our properties lest we end up being charge with assault.

...and as shown recently, we can't even blow our nose when sitting in a traffic jam.

..and much else.

The problem with all this is that  thing is we can't seem to do anything about it. The government has achieved total power over the smallest parts of our lives. It has politicised all our great institutions.

And, to rub salt in the wound, as it were, the Members of our esteemed Parliament have achieved all this whilst having their noses firmly in the trough.

Deep frustration is building up in society. There is a complete disconnect between the lawmakers and the masses.
        

Precisely. This single post has the whole she bang sewn up in a reasoned & constructive manner whilst getting all relative points through succinctly. Well put Nick.

On the other hand, we don't have polio, smallpox and untreatable diseases like syphilis and tuberculosis threatening us.  We live 20 years longer partly because we don't die from emphysema and other environmental and occupational diseases.  We have advanced surgery to put us right when the fantastic medicines we have today can't do it. 

We have entertainment and communications available to everyone on a scale inconceivable 50 years ago.  We may not look after the elderly as well as we should, but at least we don't lock them away in lunatic asylums any more.  We go to the Algarve, not Skegness. 

If you choose to live in a rural setting, fine.  If you're worried about being cut off when you can no longer drive, think about this: 50 years ago country dwellers didn't have a choice.  Nor did they have telephones, televisions and the internet.  They may have had more busses and trains, but if they weren't dead by 70, they were probably too crippled by rheumatism to actually go anywhere.

And as for the masses beng disconnected from the lawmakers - when and where was it ever any different?  The Paris communes?  Israeli kibbutzim? Possibly.  Whole nations?  Probably not since Sparta.

We've never had it so good.

[Dishevelled Den]

One of the greatest problems we face in our society is a feeling of helplessness.

We have endured so much political correctness rammed down our throats over the past decade, it is hard to know where to start.

Essentially, by government diktat, many of our freedoms have been eeked away, ostensibly to make our lives better.

So,
We can't have a smoke in a pub anymore and anyway, the pubs are closing at a frightening rate.

We can't drive in a relaxed manner for fear that we may stray over the limit and get several points on our licence. We're being watched constantly.

We can't tell a risqué joke in case we're deemed sexist, racist, homophobic.

We can't defend our properties lest we end up being charge with assault.

...and as shown recently, we can't even blow our nose when sitting in a traffic jam.

..and much else.

The problem with all this is that  thing is we can't seem to do anything about it. The government has achieved total power over the smallest parts of our lives. It has politicised all our great institutions.

And, to rub salt in the wound, as it were, the Members of our esteemed Parliament have achieved all this whilst having their noses firmly in the trough.

Deep frustration is building up in society. There is a complete disconnect between the lawmakers and the masses.
        

Precisely. This single post has the whole she bang sewn up in a reasoned & constructive manner whilst getting all relative points through succinctly. Well put Nick.

Maybe I am in denial, but it seems like Daily Mail sensationalisation to me-most of this has some grounding in fact but highlighting the extremes does not represent normality-it just sells newspapers  :-?

I think Nick makes some very important observations here C.

The end result of the points made - and many more - has been responsible, in large measure, for the steady erosion in how we, as individuals, perceive our quality of life to be in society.

It is important to highlight how our patterns of behaviour are being altered by government will, as the drip feed nature of these constantly up-dated and burgeoning regulations seem to pass over the heads of many.

[Nickbat]

One of the greatest problems we face in our society is a feeling of helplessness.

We have endured so much political correctness rammed down our throats over the past decade, it is hard to know where to start.

Essentially, by government diktat, many of our freedoms have been eeked away, ostensibly to make our lives better.

So,
We can't have a smoke in a pub anymore and anyway, the pubs are closing at a frightening rate.

We can't drive in a relaxed manner for fear that we may stray over the limit and get several points on our licence. We're being watched constantly.

We can't tell a risqué joke in case we're deemed sexist, racist, homophobic.

We can't defend our properties lest we end up being charge with assault.

...and as shown recently, we can't even blow our nose when sitting in a traffic jam.

..and much else.

The problem with all this is that  thing is we can't seem to do anything about it. The government has achieved total power over the smallest parts of our lives. It has politicised all our great institutions.

And, to rub salt in the wound, as it were, the Members of our esteemed Parliament have achieved all this whilst having their noses firmly in the trough.

Deep frustration is building up in society. There is a complete disconnect between the lawmakers and the masses.
        

Precisely. This single post has the whole she bang sewn up in a reasoned & constructive manner whilst getting all relative points through succinctly. Well put Nick.

On the other hand, we don't have polio, smallpox and untreatable diseases like syphilis and tuberculosis threatening us.  We live 20 years longer partly because we don't die from emphysema and other environmental and occupational diseases.  We have advanced surgery to put us right when the fantastic medicines we have today can't do it. 

We have entertainment and communications available to everyone on a scale inconceivable 50 years ago.  We may not look after the elderly as well as we should, but at least we don't lock them away in lunatic asylums any more.  We go to the Algarve, not Skegness. 

If you choose to live in a rural setting, fine.  If you're worried about being cut off when you can no longer drive, think about this: 50 years ago country dwellers didn't have a choice.  Nor did they have telephones, televisions and the internet.  They may have had more busses and trains, but if they weren't dead by 70, they were probably too crippled by rheumatism to actually go anywhere.

And as for the masses beng disconnected from the lawmakers - when and where was it ever any different?  The Paris communes?  Israeli kibbutzim? Possibly.  Whole nations?  Probably not since Sparta.

We've never had it so good.

I understand what you are saying J, but the point is that many industrialised countries share all these benefits, without the loss of individual freedom.

We ARE the most CCTV-observed nation on the planet.

We DO have some of the most draconian laws with regard to freedom of speech and personal liberty.

Finally, the UK has dropped out of the top ten economically-free countries for the first time ever.

http://www.adamsmith.org/blog/politics-and-government/britain-is-no-longer-free-201001274740/

I stand by what I posted earlier. 

[cruisetopoland]

One of the greatest problems we face in our society is a feeling of helplessness.

We have endured so much political correctness rammed down our throats over the past decade, it is hard to know where to start.

Essentially, by government diktat, many of our freedoms have been eeked away, ostensibly to make our lives better.

So,
We can't have a smoke in a pub anymore and anyway, the pubs are closing at a frightening rate.

We can't drive in a relaxed manner for fear that we may stray over the limit and get several points on our licence. We're being watched constantly.

We can't tell a risqué joke in case we're deemed sexist, racist, homophobic.

We can't defend our properties lest we end up being charge with assault.

...and as shown recently, we can't even blow our nose when sitting in a traffic jam.

..and much else.

The problem with all this is that  thing is we can't seem to do anything about it. The government has achieved total power over the smallest parts of our lives. It has politicised all our great institutions.

And, to rub salt in the wound, as it were, the Members of our esteemed Parliament have achieved all this whilst having their noses firmly in the trough.

Deep frustration is building up in society. There is a complete disconnect between the lawmakers and the masses.
        

Precisely. This single post has the whole she bang sewn up in a reasoned & constructive manner whilst getting all relative points through succinctly. Well put Nick.

Maybe I am in denial, but it seems like Daily Mail sensationalisation to me-most of this has some grounding in fact but highlighting the extremes does not represent normality-it just sells newspapers  :-?

I think Nick makes some very important observations here C.

The end result of the points made - and many more - has been responsible, in large measure, for the steady erosion in how we, as individuals, perceive our quality of life to be in society.

It is important to highlight how our patterns of behaviour are being altered by government will, as the drip feed nature of these constantly up-dated and burgeoning regulations seem to pass over the heads of many.

People like sensational stories, so tabloids and pub-experts whip it up to get noticed-they have a ready market.

AFAIK many things have improved, some things are worse-it is as much to do with human nature as politicians but the whole whingeing and stirring it up is pointless and futile.

If you feel society needs changing, do something about it-set up a political party and see it through.

The worst thing about modern culture is pointless moaning: thinking you could do it better but not doing it is part of our "I'm an expert, but will leave someone else to sort it out, while I whinge" culture 

[Nickbat]

Precisely. This single post has the whole she bang sewn up in a reasoned & constructive manner whilst getting all relative points through succinctly. Well put Nick.

Thank you for your gracious comments.