Quote from Arquebus: "All I am pointing out is that the downward spiral of degradation of society (which involves virtually everything) is unstoppable.......The UK will probably be a 3rd world country by the time I kick the bucket." I thought this was interesting enough to start a new thread. What do you think, should we be pessimistic? Are we on a downward spiral with no hope? Or is this view needlessly pessimistic? I don't have a view yet. I'll weigh in when I find I don't agree with you.
People have been saying this for decades, if not centuries, mainly retired colonels living in Tunbridge Wells. The truth is that some things get better, other things get worse. The "going to the dogs" brigade look only at the latter and ignore the former. If you want to see a country which is going to the dogs, look at Zimbabwe, N Korea, or Syria - then think yourself very lucky to be in the UK.
Sure we are not the world power we were, and most probably think thats a good thing given what we did to become that power, but resilience and perseverance is in our DNA...I'm certain my grand parents were saying the same we do. If we were to be marginalised, it would be by a superstate Eu, but then So would everyone else in Europe be assimilated...we'll all be speaking German and eating sausage....at least Hitler was clear of his goal to conquer and upfront about it
If we're going to the dogs it's your fault ,teach your kids respect for themselves and others . Have honour and dignity. Failing that punish every bugger that deserves it. Put the velvet slipper away and get the iron fist out
But we're not are we? The whole world is speaking English and Chinese - but especially English. If I was of another tongue, I'd be worried by now. And sausage? German sausage? Not really. We're all eating pizza. Of course, we could collaborate more with the Germans (I'm sure they'd like to) and see what we can learn from them and them from us. But no. The Germans are all speaking our language. We're not making much effort to learn theirs. There is cultural imperialism - but it's all one-sided and not as you suggest. Nor will it be.
Green hat on Depends who you listen to. Some people will have you believe that everything is all fine and dandy in the garden. Others with a more realistic point of view can see it's all going to hell not so very slowly and as equally as surely. When the proposed power cuts for the winters of 2015-16 take effect some people might start to change their minds. Some people are fortunate enough to believe that it is a civilised society/world that we live in. We couldn't be further from the truth if we tried. By 2050, there will be nigh on 8 billion people on this planet all trying to survive on ever depleting and ever increasing financially, resources. We flick a light switch and take it for granted is a massive understatement. Multiply by 8 billion, 24/7/365r If you stand back and look at the globe as a whole, and see how we have organised and manipulated it into what we want it to be, right now. Sooner or later something has to give. Just because we live on a safe little island just off mainland Europe doesn't make us immune to this reality. Fact. It is unsustainable. Collapse of society, in some form, is inevitable. It is simply a matter of when, and what will the repercussions (sic) be? Cheery bastard in't I? Green hat off
Well, this implies that the world is going to the dogs rather than just the country. I suspect that that is a view that may be unnecessarily pessimistic. Small anecdote: I was at the Geneva Motor Show a week ago. What struck me was how fuel efficient many cars have become and the increasing fuel efficiency to come. What was done with a gallon a few years ago is now done with half a gallon. It's amazing what people can do with a gun to their heads. I think that this will continue apace. On the other hand, working in the computer industry shows the flip side of the coin. Products are planned for obsolescence after a few months. For example: the Mini iPad, launched in October, which has failed to be delivered in any real quantities until about a week ago, is probably going to be replaced in a month or so by a better one. This was inevitable. They could have given it the chip which is in the bigger one, or the same quality of screen. They purposely didn't so that people will junk them after a few months and get another one. My iPhone 4 can't cope with Siri, although the 4S can. There is no reason for this: it's just limited on purpose to get me to buy an iPhone 5, or iPhone 6 when it inevitably surfaces later in the year. This sort of thing is deeply depressing and unsustainable.
Glidd, I hear what you're saying about a gun being pointed, and yes, it's good news. At this present moment in time the planet as a whole has used over a half of it's known oil reserves. From 1859 when oil was first discovered to about 1980 we, as a planet, used a quarter of known supplies. In the 30 odd years since, we have used another quarter of known supplies - half of known supplies gone. So, yes we need to be more economical with oil supplies - but we won't be, at least not in a way that will have any long term advantage worldwide. I will say this for the last time on this forum - we are in the shit. New technology is fine, wonderful in fact. But pray, answer me this one question. When you consider that all the major world economies are oil driven, when that oil is no longer available, what, are we going to make all this wonderful save the world technology from? But as you've already implied, perhaps the question should be: Is the world going to the dogs?
The modern economic model has been built upon the assumption that never ending growth will make debt sustainable, this is deeply flawed. The growth we have seen in the second half of the 20th century was built on debt, effectively a bubble, and now growth has stalled leaving no real prospect of repaying or even reducing that debt. The structural problems are just not being addressed. The credit bubble has burst and demand just isn't there, the government borrows one out of every four that it spends, we need to reduce spending or get a return to growth yet I can't see either happening any day soon. Economically we are deeply in the shit. Then there is the sense of entitlement that pervades every sector of society. Then there is the Health and Safety bandwagon. Then there is the Great Global Warming scam that will cost us all dear. Then there is an education system that churns out higher grades at the same time as universities introduce remedial classes in basic subjects. So I think the answer to your question is YES.
Is the UK going to the dogs? Not even in the slightest. Crime is low, kids are generally quite well educated and behaved, there is plenty of work about, and the economy is one of the better ones out there.(none of the above is sarcasm BTW) we were recruiting last year, from ten people due to come to the interview only three turned up - we had to resort to handing out career opportunity fliers in the city centre.. we still have around 30 vacancies across the UK. I live in a reasonable size city but its quiet and secure, we have low gun crime, and the normal person can go about their daily business without fear of violence or intimidation. We do ok. Oddly enough, the people who dub themselves 'patriots' are usually the largest group of detractors.
Well said.. poverty in the UK is having a CRT widescreen instead of an LED flatscreen. No car bombs, no ethnic cleansing, no mass starvation...
I like going to the dogs occassionaly. A bit of a flutter and less drunkeness than at horse racing meets. I only go once/twice a year but I find it a friendly and entertaining evening. With a few quid to spare it's a nice family time. Cyprus going tits up should help too, more horse meat for the dogs to munch on etc.
Which country uses most of the earth's resources per capita? To what extent is the damage to the environment (globally) due to the above? Where have both of the worst financial meltdowns in the history of the banking industry originated?
It's quite shocking that we are so rich in this country we replace things like tv's based on trend rather than need. We have a CRT widescreen in the living room downstairs, its a 100hz Sony, and it works perfectly, there is NOTHING wrong with it, yet we are struggling to give it away when we move, it is completely valueless. I drive a decent car, its tidy, reliable, very well equipped but as its 10 years old (out of its 25 year life span if properly maintained) its worth only 1/20th of its new price, and not much mire than a reasonable suit (I paid just £995) The only way we can render such usable items so worthless is by being very very rich.
1) What proposed power cuts? Who is proposing them, where and why? 2) Which is your favourite film, Mad Max or Escape from New York?
