I hate the UK

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There's a heck of a lot of generalization and, to be blunt, not very informed comments in some of these posts. One poster refers to supposedly endless strikes and power cuts in the 1970s: this is largely a propaganda myth, revolving around the National Union of Mineworkers strikes in 1972 and 1974. I can clearly remember that we had ONE power cut in the '72 strike, and TWO in the '74 strike in our area, which was not untypical. The three day week was an inept, unnecessary and short-lived gamble by Prime Minister Heath to turn the population against the miners before the general election of February 1974, and it failed.

There were serious problems in the pre-Thatcher era, but the country is in a worse state today. Right up to the early 1980s, one could buy a nice flat, even in parts of London, for around 2.5 times the average wage, whereas now people would have to pay over 10 times their income even in the worst areas of the capital.

And I do agree with the view that the privatizations of the Thatcher era and the more recent ones have led to a serious deterioration in our public services. Basic bus and train fares are the most expensive in Western Europe, and utility companies supplying electricity, gas, water and broadband provide a mediocre product and shocking customer service at high prices.

I find the area of the U.K. I live in that the general populous are becoming more and more racist and intolerant. I've seen people I generally like a respect swinging towards either the far left or far right. It's like the media has ramped up its brainwashing and people are reacting accordingly.

Some years back I stayed in South Wales for my uni there (dropped out soon after, however) and boy did they hate Thatcher there! To be honest I'd never paid much attention to politics before then, but my economics classes quickly became hate-fueled rants against the conservatives and probably did have some influence on my own political leanings, over years, mind you. There are good folk out here. I recently found some when I decided to take the leap and help out the Green Party pick up everyone else's litter in my local area. It felt good; small, frequently ridiculed movement or not. The current government and May herself: not a fan. It feels like you can only really choose between the Tories and Labour to have a vote that 'counts', though. The former is far too fond of policies I very much disagree with (why ESA?), and the latter is tearing itself apart.
In the mean time my sister alongside her long-term American boyfriend have both completed their doctorates, highly educated and both employed by their university, yet they cannot afford even a foothold on the housing ladder. The prices are definitely insane in heavily contested areas. Her partner is also facing the end of his Visa stay and has been put in a very upsetting position, where unless he manages to earn more, he'll have to leave the UK.

Some mistakes were made before Thatcher too.

Social housing was built in large ghettos. That was a bad idea.

It created a them and us mentality. There were areas where lots of tower blocks were put close together with few amenities. There's nothing inherently wrong with high rise buildings. We should have built them mixed into low rise streets so they didn't become so stigmatized and a law unto themselves.

In some places in the UK that was actually done. Where I live (a seaside town in the north) they have built one tower block at the end of the main shopping street. It's near the main road and a supermarket and shops. It doesn't seem to have any problems.

Often that has been a recent problem with this country. People have got away with terrible planning decisions. Not enough scrutiny of council decisions being made. The housing building process needs overhaul.

It doesn't matter which Party is in so called power the Civil Service call the tune. PFI (private funding of hospitals) brought in under the Conservatives, and Labour made a big fuss about it. It was expanded considerably in 1996 and then expanded much further under Labour. Alan Milburn announced that "when there is a limited amount of public-sector capital available, as there is, it's PFI or bust. Of course rich men are making a fortune out of it all.

Something big going on this morning.

Election to be called? May stepping down over health? Military action? Something with the Royals?

^ Yep, it's Game On!

And no doubt 'Game Over' for one or two of our political big shots in a few weeks time....

Biggest landslide election ever.....sadly

Well done England.

Keep voting Tory.

We Scots are off.

It's not us, it's you.

Enjoy post-brexit low wages, no rights and being ruled by posh idiots who sell off your NHS.

Thatcher was an evil witch, laid the foundation for what was to come.

Tories have 1 MP in Scotland, you have no mandate.

Which part?

I'm an SNP member and have a keen interest in Scottish politics.

Enjoy brexit.

We fund it ourselves.

All money is given to Westminster, we are then given some pocket money back which we can spend as we see fit.

Health of our nation is very important.

Educating our young adults is crucial, regardless of their background and income.

Scottish nationalism is civic.

May want to educate yourself on what that means.