An Unexpected Discussion
Jan. 13th, 2003 01:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
addersljLast Saturday night, over dinner in the bar of our hotel, Lorna and I had a discussion I never thought I would have. We talked about emigrating. In particular, we talked about moving to the US. (Lorna is a US Citizen, with long-term permission to reside in the UK. She's technically dual nationality.)
People who have known me for a long while will probably be surprised by this. I love Britain and have always been proud to be British, However, I'm seriously beginning to wonder if the Britain I love exists any more. As I watch gun crime spiral, social security abuse increase and any sense of pride in the UK vanish, I start to wonder "why?"
Why do I stay? Why do I love this country? Why do we put up with this? More and more of my friends grow frustrated with the way the tax money they've worked hard to earn is being spent. They grow more and more frustrated with politicians who seems unable to do anything but chase short-term popularity or line their own pockets. When you start missing Margaret Thatcher, you know something is deeply wrong.
Our Government seems not to have the guts to deal with growing crime, fraud, managerial incompetence within the public services and immigration. We seem unable to make a judgment about what is right and wrong, and make decisions based on practical expediency rather than moral standards or any degree of political philosophy. Society is breaking down because nobody thinks in term of society any more. They merely think in terms of their own pleasure and convenience. That doesn't work in the long-term, though. If you put no work into maintaining the society that facilitates your own pleasure and convenience, you'll soon find that your ability to achieve them is compromised.
Do I want to sit through that painful process, or would I rather be somewhere that has already found some answers to these problems?
Don't get me wrong, I think America has some serious problems. However, I think, as a society, it seems to be fundamentally more honest than the UK at the moment. Yes, Americans are extremely interested in themselves and their own pleasure, but they are open about it and, wonder of wonders, they seem to love their country for giving them the freedom to pursue their own happiness. More, they seem to be happy to fight to protect those liberties.
It was only a discussion. We're very far from making any form of decision. But, for the first time, the option is on the table.
People who have known me for a long while will probably be surprised by this. I love Britain and have always been proud to be British, However, I'm seriously beginning to wonder if the Britain I love exists any more. As I watch gun crime spiral, social security abuse increase and any sense of pride in the UK vanish, I start to wonder "why?"
Why do I stay? Why do I love this country? Why do we put up with this? More and more of my friends grow frustrated with the way the tax money they've worked hard to earn is being spent. They grow more and more frustrated with politicians who seems unable to do anything but chase short-term popularity or line their own pockets. When you start missing Margaret Thatcher, you know something is deeply wrong.
Our Government seems not to have the guts to deal with growing crime, fraud, managerial incompetence within the public services and immigration. We seem unable to make a judgment about what is right and wrong, and make decisions based on practical expediency rather than moral standards or any degree of political philosophy. Society is breaking down because nobody thinks in term of society any more. They merely think in terms of their own pleasure and convenience. That doesn't work in the long-term, though. If you put no work into maintaining the society that facilitates your own pleasure and convenience, you'll soon find that your ability to achieve them is compromised.
Do I want to sit through that painful process, or would I rather be somewhere that has already found some answers to these problems?
Don't get me wrong, I think America has some serious problems. However, I think, as a society, it seems to be fundamentally more honest than the UK at the moment. Yes, Americans are extremely interested in themselves and their own pleasure, but they are open about it and, wonder of wonders, they seem to love their country for giving them the freedom to pursue their own happiness. More, they seem to be happy to fight to protect those liberties.
It was only a discussion. We're very far from making any form of decision. But, for the first time, the option is on the table.
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no subject
Date: 2003-01-13 07:52 am (UTC)"What tea would you like?"
"Oh, Assam if you have it, Earl Grey if not."
"Just Decaff or Regular here, honey."
Her expectation is coloured by one too many experiences like that.
no subject
Date: 2003-01-13 07:58 am (UTC)Re:
Date: 2003-01-13 08:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-01-13 08:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-01-13 08:02 am (UTC)In my more tea snooty stages of life, I also have had little issue with finding loose tea at speciality stores. I'm just too lazy nowadays. I've also lost the teaball that Blue's sister gave us.
Hmmm. You know, Earl Gray might be just the thing right now for my sick tummy.