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> I simply do not understand how anyone can think that the UK is a first-world country if they have ever lived in a real one before. While I am fully on board
by anyoneamous 3y ago
> I simply do not understand how anyone can think that the UK is a first-world country if they have ever lived in a real one before.
While I am fully on board with the sentiment that we are circling the drain, can you be more specific about where is actually better? I'm interested both from the perspective of potential emigration, but also trying to be rational rather than sensationalist - if I'm stuck here, I want a clearer picture of what "good" looks like.
My current sense is that a country like Switzerland is probably what most Brits would be happiest with (myself included), but that is not compatible with our national self-identity as a "major player" which is falling behind. Sometimes I think we'd be better off giving up the nukes and handing out UN security council seat to India, but that is not exactly an easy sell for a politician.
- iLoveOncall 3y agoI lived in France, Luxembourg and the US, compared to the UK all feel like if you stepped 100 years in the future, especially Luxembourg. I didn't experience much of the social services in the US so I won't expand on them, but in Luxembourg and France you get world class healthcare for free or very cheap (even for foreigners) in a timely manner, you get years of unemployment benefits, public transportation is better and cheaper (free in LU), transportation overall is better and cheaper (UK trains are notoriously horrible), etc.
- anyoneamous 3y agoSo the obvious question is: what's the catch? France is the best comparison of those you mentioned - their GDP and budget deficit are similar to the UK, so where is the extra money coming from to fund this world class healthcare, generous unemployment, and higher class public transport?
- osullivj 3y agoHigher income tax