Idiots just keep on breathing.

Seriously though, unemployment, rising gas prices, President Bush, rising violent crime, where oh where to begin.

marktheshark wrote: The ACLU, Hurricane Rita and yes Iraq is even pissing me off!

Have to agree with you on the ACLU.  But don't forget NOW.

Trouserpress wrote: Assisting America in Iraq and the f**king up thereof, the continued presence of a LYING, INSINCERE AND UNTRUSTWORTHY MAN as our leader (and no, this isn't a case of "all politicians", I'm referring to the way in which Blair mislead his country about the reasons for going to war) and the plague of Jimmy Carrs that are invading TVs across the land.

Mr. Carr is not that funny.

anyway, i think our president is much worse than Blair, with all due respect to your opinion.

the president

congress

the president's cabinet

FEMA and the Dpt. of Homeland Security (only because they don't know what they're supposed to do, the idea of them is good though)

the increasing demands of the workforce by employers

and the overwhelming beaurocracy of the US

less simplicity in life

After the Olympic games we have a serious ecomonical problem here ...We'll be able to overwhelm it but i'm afraid that this won't happen too soon.Too bad that everybody here doesn't give a f*ck about it...They will soon i'm afraid

The government.

... I forgot, the opposition too

cobb wrote: I live in 'the lucky country'. Worst thing I have to worry about is that we have not one decent progressive band to talk about.

ac/dc

UK?

Every six months or so this drunken Swede turns up dressed in a clown suit.......stinking of urine and cheap cider...

Tony R wrote: UK? Every six months or so this drunken Swede turns up dressed in a clown suit.......stinking of urine and cheap cider...

Good lord ... is that the price you pay for a defeat to Northern Ireland?

Trouserpress wrote: maidenrulez wrote: cobb wrote: I live in 'the lucky country'. Worst thing I have to worry about is that we have not one decent progressive band to talk about. ac/dc AC/DC are about as progressive as my nipples!* *Just for clarification, my nipples are not at all progressive.

just kidding

ac/dc is not progressive music they are Stagnated music...they have been stuck to exactly the same riffs for 30 odd years

You'd have to have my top (or bottom) 10 I'm afraid (although they are in no particular order)....

1) We have a criminal housing shortage with up to 1,000,000 children with no permanent address, while the ownership of second/holiday homes is going through the roof.

2) We are running out of landfill sites, and yet local councils won't put money into proper recycling schemes.

3) We have an ailing, privatised public transport structure, which is so poor in rural areas, that it forces familes to travcel practically everywhere by car.

4) We are STILL in Iraq, with no possibility of parole...

5) Our town and city centres are not safe to walk around at night, unless you fancy the prospect of being kicked unconscious by a drunk chav.

6) Drug related crimes are causing a spiralling Gun culture in many of our cities, while theft from shopping centres and burglaries are rising.

7) The overall gap between Rich & Poor in this country is growing every year, despite the fact that we have a nominally socialist government.

8) A significant portion of the younger generations of ethnic minorities are becoming increasingly detatched from our society, marginalised and alienated from the idea of citizenship.

9) Our increasing obsession with 'Celebrity' is breeding false values, landing many yuong people into incredible levels of personal debt, as they strive to keep up with an image of a lifestyle they think they are entitled to.

10) Isolationism within society...the rise of domestic violence, one parent families, children in care, and the fact that no-one seam to know, or care, who their neighbour are any more...

.....do any of our overseas forum members still think that Britain would be a great place to live?

.....do any of our domestic forum members think that I'm overstating the case?

Angeldust wrote: What's the worst thing that's happening in your country these years ?

the recent government elections ... there is no real winner, so the country will be without an effective government.

cobb wrote: maidenrulez wrote: cobb wrote: I live in 'the lucky country'. Worst thing I have to worry about is that we have not one decent progressive band to talk about. ac/dc Yeah, we kick ass in rock, but it ain't progressive (ps. do you really like a band that has a 40 and some year old man dressed in a school boys uniform?)

Heh nah angus is fair enough but i dont like ac/dc incredibly boring music...and the bee gees where originally from australia as i recall

marktheshark wrote: BaldJean wrote: marktheshark wrote: The Doctor wrote: marktheshark wrote: The ACLU, Hurricane Rita and yes Iraq is even pissing me off! Have to agree with you on the ACLU.  But don't forget NOW. AKA National Association of Gals (NAG)! hmm, Mark, 2nd time you disappoint me. the ACLU? I am more worried about the decline of civil liberties in my former home country I can't condone an organization that aids terrorists Jean. Do you?

Does that mean that you're also against the CIA?

marktheshark wrote: Syzygy wrote: marktheshark wrote: BaldJean wrote: marktheshark wrote: The Doctor wrote: marktheshark wrote: The ACLU, Hurricane Rita and yes Iraq is even pissing me off! Have to agree with you on the ACLU.  But don't forget NOW. AKA National Association of Gals (NAG)! hmm, Mark, 2nd time you disappoint me. the ACLU? I am more worried about the decline of civil liberties in my former home country I can't condone an organization that aids terrorists Jean. Do you? Does that mean that you're also against the CIA?   Depends on which terrorists they're supporting. I can only guess that you must have top security clearance and know all this. Right?

Disengenuous remark of the week award goes to The Shark.

C'mon Mark surely youre not invoking Plausible Denialbilty on us?

BitchBrew wrote: LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES

with Velvy on the loose, i think you have bigger problems to worry about.

• Poverty
• Corruption
• Organized crime
• Illiteracy
• Drugs
• ...
• .....
• .......

Happen you are right on the results Fan, but the cause IMO is that people have no sense of responsibility and are allowed to get away with it. Speaking as a member of a minority group that is. English born, married (once), own kids (none from other relationships), employed (31 years), one house.

The housing shortage is not through lack of building but vast changes in social structure - more single people with money to buy. In an island the size of ours it doesn't take much to upset the balance. Population size hasn't gone up drastically - compared with the demand for housing in the last 20 years or so.

Nobody is interested in recycling - it's too easy and too cheap to buy heavily packaged goods that get thrown away. So why not buy less things or not buy things so well packaged.

You missed out the car culture by the way. Don't forget we had a good public transport system before mass car ownership. And people were prepared to accept and work within the provision of PT!

Point number 9 is a good one. Why do we minor celebrities out of people who run up massive debts, have disgusting houses and are socially challenged?

Can't see much happening to change though.

limeyrob wrote: The housing shortage is not through lack of building but vast changes in social structure - more single people with money to buy. In an island the size of ours it doesn't take much to upset the balance. Population size hasn't gone up drastically - compared with the demand for housing in the last 20 years or so.

You make some good points, but this one I'll pick up on just briefly.  I wouldn't go as far as to say that property is theft, but it is a limited resource which we have to own sparingly, and with consideration for others.

There are whole swathes of the countryside where the average starter home is seriously out of the range of young local people (like round here) because they are bought up by retiring people from the South East of Birmingham.  Some places in Cornwall, Devon & Norfolk Broads have over 90% of their housing under second home ownership.

I don't think its right to say there are single people with money to buy....the spare money in this country of mostly with the 50 plus bracket...but its single people with a desperate need for somewhere to live, to such an extent that they are willing to pay out more than half their salary on rent.......in places like here, where a 1 room bedsit will go for over £400pcm (and I don't live in the South East!).

The house prices are so dear in England, that even the Basking sharks are moving north to Scotland.

However i think it is a bit much picking on one parent families, not all of them have chosen to be single, but are and try to carry with their lives. The UK ain't a bad place to live, there are some parts i'd rather not go to, but others i'd give my right arm for. Every country has something wrong with it, regardless. As for the Iraq war, we went in for the reasons but got rid of the right man and his cronies. Blair maybe a liar, which politician isn't, but at leasst the rest of the world didn't have Thatcher, or the sneering Tories in power for 17 years.

The Bush Admin.

So much wasted potential after 9/11, he coulda been a great president.

crimson_wizard wrote: The house prices are so dear in England, that even the Basking sharks are moving north to Scotland. However i think it is a bit much picking on one parent families, not all of them have chosen to be single, but are and try to carry with their lives. The UK ain't a bad place to live, there are some parts i'd rather not go to, but others i'd give my right arm for. Every country has something wrong with it, regardless. As for the Iraq war, we went in for the reasons but got rid of the right man and his cronies. Blair maybe a liar, which politician isn't, but at leasst the rest of the world didn't have Thatcher, or the sneering Tories in power for 17 years.

I'm afraid that most who are in one parent families have chosen to be.  Either they were never married to begin with and had children (and this is a choice and a choice which disgusts me), or they were married and chose to get divorced.  There are only a very few circumstances in which someone is a single parent who did not choose to be a single parent, and those circumstances would be abandonment by the other spouse, or severe abuse by the other spouse which makes it unsafe for the spouse to remain in the marriage.  Everything else is a choice. 

Don't get me wrong, I am not making a judgment call here about divorce or about those who have been divorced (I myself am familiar with that institution - who would have thought it - but fortunately no children were produced from my rather short marriage).  Nor do I believe that people should stay together for the sake of the kids.  I am simply stating that getting a divorce is a choice.

NetsNJFan wrote: The Bush Admin. So much wasted potential after 9/11, he coulda been a great president.

You actually think he could have been a great president?  I don't think he has the potential to be a sh*tty president.

The fact every day that passes bring us closer to english/american culture... Montréal english popultion percentage increase each day, so is the way people speaks and act there. I am not racist, but I doubt no one would like his home country to be invaded by another culture. What if London would suddently became 50% french and everyone there would start speaking an awful mix of both languages?

Cluster One wrote: Two words: Celine...Dion...

Holy crap!  you win.

King of Loss wrote: NetsNJFan wrote: The Bush Admin. So much wasted potential after 9/11, he coulda been a great president. You actually think he could have been a great president?  I don't think he has the potential to be a sh*tty president.

I do.  After 9/11 he had such a united country.  He could have really been great aftre that.  But no.

NetsNJFan wrote: King of Loss wrote: NetsNJFan wrote: The Bush Admin. So much wasted potential after 9/11, he coulda been a great president. You actually think he could have been a great president?  I don't think he has the potential to be a sh*tty president. I do.  After 9/11 he had such a united country.  He could have really been great aftre that.  But no.

i can understand why we went to war in iraq, we were still on edge about wmd's and 9/11. now, when we found no wmd's and no truth to the claim that iraq was seeking enriched uranium, bush should have been impeached and the head of the cia fired (along with many higher-ups). the way we went into war was as arrogant and single-minded as when nepoleon invaded russia, and we are still suffering greatly because of it. the climate in the us now just makes me want to leave. i'll be glad when bush is gone.

you know, i really only started paying attention to the news and following politics with the bush administration and it is really disheartening. if things do not get better with the next president, i'm moving to europe.

Paradox wrote: Destroying of countryside to build houses and roads

Same problem and I'm fed up as they are building new houses opposite my house, I hate the Council in my area.

Drew wrote: The lack of unique food

You still got the hamburger....

Extended pub opening hours and the belief of this Government that this will somehow stop people drinking so much.

Basically our problem is lager.

You make some good points, but this one I'll pick up on just briefly.  I wouldn't go as far as to say that property is theft, but it is a limited resource which we have to own sparingly, and with consideration for others.

There are whole swathes of the countryside where the average starter home is seriously out of the range of young local people (like round here) because they are bought up by retiring people from the South East of Birmingham.  Some places in Cornwall, Devon & Norfolk Broads have over 90% of their housing under second home ownership.

I don't think its right to say there are single people with money to buy....the spare money in this country of mostly with the 50 plus bracket...but its single people with a desperate need for somewhere to live, to such an extent that they are willing to pay out more than half their salary on rent.......in places like here, where a 1 room bedsit will go for over £400pcm (and I don't live in the South East!).

B*****ks, How do you get the boxes around previous comments?

Anyway.

I can only comment in my experience. I work with a fair number of 25s-35s and a reasonable proportion of them live on their own in their own houses. We don't work in high flying jobs - just ordinary office jobs. In earlier days there wouldn't be such a high proportion of single occupancy dwellings due to our social structure. I agree that the cost of housing is far too high but, again in my earlier days, mortgage rates were in double figures and my first mortgage took at least half of my income. In fact I had to have two jobs to fund my prog vinyl habit. (I  had a look at my vinyls the other day and noticed that an average album from the mid 70's was £3.50. - my salary was just under two grand. Modern equiv is about 16 grand for the same job - £27 equiv for a CD today??) I don't think there is much difference in the ratio of income v mortgage/rent these days now that interest rates are a lot lower. We also expect more today from our disposal income. I didn't have a car till I was 29, no mobile to fund and all the other stuff we (think) we need today. I still live on a train/bus route to work. Yes, times change but the one constant fact is that we should live within our means.

I agree with you entirely about second homes. It is scandalous that people are allowed to have second homes in areas crying out for reasonably priced accommodation. My job is connected with the rural scene and I see on a regular basis just what effect it is having in the countryside, which in turn affects everywhere else. I'm not totally in favour of, more a reluctant acceptance, but if I understand what you are saying, if a couple from Birmingham sell their house for a cheaper place in the country then market forces must play a part. Granted they may not be contributing much to their new area but if it wasn't for the flipping second home owners perhaps the problem wouldn't be as severe. Not that I am in favour of the extremist action a couple of decades ago in Wales, but I can appreciate their frustration.

I agree totally with your view in your first paragraph but these days people only look after number one and basically couldn't give a damn about anyone else. Hasn't the recent fuel scare farce demonstrated this? I also feel that little is being done about developing brown field sites because that is more expense.

I could go on but TTFN

PS. I had a listen to Proto Kaw - maybe next month. I'm getting a bit of pressure?!

BitchBrew wrote: LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES

Fencesitters for me.

Also, I have a question..what would be a better place to visit..Western or Eastern Europe?

stonebeard wrote: NetsNJFan wrote: King of Loss wrote: NetsNJFan wrote: The Bush Admin. So much wasted potential after 9/11, he coulda been a great president. You actually think he could have been a great president?  I don't think he has the potential to be a sh*tty president. I do.  After 9/11 he had such a united country.  He could have really been great aftre that.  But no. i can understand why we went to war in iraq, we were still on edge about wmd's and 9/11. now, when we found no wmd's and no truth to the claim that iraq was seeking enriched uranium, bush should have been impeached and the head of the cia fired (along with many higher-ups). the way we went into war was as arrogant and single-minded as when nepoleon invaded russia, and we are still suffering greatly because of it. the climate in the us now just makes me want to leave. i'll be glad when bush is gone. you know, i really only started paying attention to the news and following politics with the bush administration and it is really disheartening. if things do not get better with the next president, i'm moving to europe.

Me2!!!

I can't stand Neo-cons like him!!

marktheshark wrote: I've been pondering this for a good while. But as a vet without going into any Bush or Iraq rantings, I have to say it's the constant denigration of our armed forces. People who insist on saying that anybody with a military uniform is evil. And at the same time camouflage their hatred by saying "We support the troops, but don't support the war". BS! Right now there are people here who actually want as many troops killed as possible just for political advancement. Just like the people who just loved seeing as many people perish in the wake of Katrina for the same cause. It's one thing to hate your president. It's another to hate your country. Just ask Cindy Sheehan.

i think she's a fool. the reason she's protesting the war (from what i've heard) is the argument, "My son died in Iraq. It's the president's fault. I want him to apologize to me. He should recall troops from Iraq just because my son is dead." Look, i have respect for a grieving mother and the life that her son gave in this endless and enigmatic conflict is irreplaceable, but it is a major conflict and one death frankly doesn't make a difference. the way she is playing the innocent mother routine all while giving interviews to the media is dusgusting!

i do disagree with what you say about not supporting this conflict while still supporting the troops is BS. i do think this conflict (war) is a pointless, meandering walk in a desert hellhole but i completely support the brave troops carrying us through this mess.

the sad thing is that we cannot pull out of Iraq, what is necessary, until stability is atttained. however, i do not think stability will ever be attained as long as a US presence is over there. Hence we come to the problem. since i see no true solution, i say we somehow ensure that those responsible for the war never hold any influential position for the rest of their lives. in a democracy, i do not know how this will be possibl. but other than a war crimes trial for everyone in the white house and pentagon responsible, this is fair, IMO.

marktheshark wrote: I've been pondering this for a good while. But as a vet without going into any Bush or Iraq rantings, I have to say it's the constant denigration of our armed forces. People who insist on saying that anybody with a military uniform is evil. And at the same time camouflage their hatred by saying "We support the troops, but don't support the war". BS! Right now there are people here who actually want as many troops killed as possible just for political advancement. Just like the people who just loved seeing as many people perish in the wake of Katrina for the same cause. It's one thing to hate your president. It's another to hate your country. Just ask Cindy Sheehan. I've kept my mouth shut over Cindy because she's a grieving mother and has every right speak out on the cause of her loss, including the commander-in-chief. But now she's protesting almost every military move this country is doing. Including rescue and evac operations in New Orleans. And not to mention passing judgement on Israel. Sorry, but she's now crossed the line.

You know.  I agree with you 100% on this issue.  I often disagree with the government in this country, but I love my country and would stand up for it if it took my last breath.  As to your comment about wanting as many troops killed as possible for political advancement, it's funny.  I was just talking with my girlfriend last night about how those on the far left as well as those on the far right care much more about causes than they do about people.  People be damned so long as their cause is advanced.  And they really don't even care about the people who would benefit from their cause.  All they care about is the cause itself.  I think it makes them feel important to have a cause.

The Doctor wrote: marktheshark wrote: I've been pondering this for a good while. But as a vet without going into any Bush or Iraq rantings, I have to say it's the constant denigration of our armed forces. People who insist on saying that anybody with a military uniform is evil. And at the same time camouflage their hatred by saying "We support the troops, but don't support the war". BS! Right now there are people here who actually want as many troops killed as possible just for political advancement. Just like the people who just loved seeing as many people perish in the wake of Katrina for the same cause. It's one thing to hate your president. It's another to hate your country. Just ask Cindy Sheehan. I've kept my mouth shut over Cindy because she's a grieving mother and has every right speak out on the cause of her loss, including the commander-in-chief. But now she's protesting almost every military move this country is doing. Including rescue and evac operations in New Orleans. And not to mention passing judgement on Israel. Sorry, but she's now crossed the line. You know.  I agree with you 100% on this issue.  I often disagree with the government in this country, but I love my country and would stand up for it if it took my last breath.  As to your comment about wanting as many troops killed as possible for political advancement, it's funny.  I was just talking with my girlfriend last night about how those on the far left as well as those on the far right care much more about causes than they do about people.  People be damned so long as their cause is advanced.  And they really don't even care about the people who would benefit from their cause.  All they care about is the cause itself.  I think it makes them feel important to have a cause.

sometimes a cause is greater than the individual. example: WW2.

Wake up MTS.  The ACLU doesn't support our country.  I wouldn't be shocked if the ACLU planned to fly planes into our buildings.  They hate everything that lives within the normal boundaries of our society.

marktheshark wrote: stonebeard wrote: marktheshark wrote: I've been pondering this for a good while. But as a vet without going into any Bush or Iraq rantings, I have to say it's the constant denigration of our armed forces. People who insist on saying that anybody with a military uniform is evil. And at the same time camouflage their hatred by saying "We support the troops, but don't support the war". BS! Right now there are people here who actually want as many troops killed as possible just for political advancement. Just like the people who just loved seeing as many people perish in the wake of Katrina for the same cause. It's one thing to hate your president. It's another to hate your country. Just ask Cindy Sheehan. i think she's a fool. the reason she's protesting the war (from what i've heard) is the argument, "My son died in Iraq. It's the president's fault. I want him to apologize to me. He should recall troops from Iraq just because my son is dead." Look, i have respect for a grieving mother and the life that her son gave in this endless and enigmatic conflict is irreplaceable, but it is a major conflict and one death frankly doesn't make a difference. the way she is playing the innocent mother routine all while giving interviews to the media is dusgusting! i do disagree with what you say about not supporting this conflict while still supporting the troops is BS. i do think this conflict (war) is a pointless, meandering walk in a desert hellhole but i completely support the brave troops carrying us through this mess. the sad thing is that we cannot pull out of Iraq, what is necessary, until stability is atttained. however, i do not think stability will ever be attained as long as a US presence is over there. Hence we come to the problem. since i see no true solution, i say we somehow ensure that those responsible for the war never hold any influential position for the rest of their lives. in a democracy, i do not know how this will be possibl. but other than a war crimes trial for everyone in the white house and pentagon responsible, this is fair, IMO. Ok Stone, fair enough. But you have to think from the soldier's head. Here you are volunteering to serve your country, and then you start hearing on the Armed Forces Network that what you're doing is wrong, you're duped into this, the president is a liar, ect ect... Guess what happens Stone? They start having feelings of depression, inadequecy and uselessness. Can you do your job to the fullest under those conditions? Here's a good one. The ACLU wants to sopena all the Abu Graib "abuse" pictures and videos from the Pentagon to be displayed in public on the news simply for the so-called principle of freedom of the press. All this will do is encourage more terrorism and aid the enemy AND endanger our troops even more. Obviously the ACLU doesn't support our troops.

i don't want our troops morale to be affected by a discussion among civilians. they're the ones who have to fight in this sad conflict. but this does need to be discussed. this is surely one of the biggest blunders in the history of the united states, assuming it never gets resolved, and i personally don't think it will be resolved.

i think that bush may be (though i may be wrong, but it would make sense if it were ture) a bit glad in a way because of hurricanes katrina and rita, for it's taking people's minds of iraq, which he has far less support for now. remeber, bush's approval rating is at about 40% (i'm not quite sure, but its close to that) and that is not good. his recent actions, such as placing a majority of the blame for the delayed response to katrina on state and local authorities, bring doubts in even the most consevative minds of his authenticity, commitment, and honor. i do be lieve, though, that he eventually took a small bit of the blame for the delayed response to katrina, but he rarely ever admits a fault in his actions or the actions of his administration.

as for the "abu graib scandal," anyone who cares about it already has seen the pictures or knows what happened, so i see no need to spread the pictures out across every medium. the ACLU is as corrupt at the Tammany political machine was in the 1800s.