A disillusioned European :-(
Discussion
Basically I started the post and was having a chat to fellow French residents about the situation , most of whom I know personally, all of a sudden there was loads of anti EU posts which you can imagine for us Europeans living in France is red rag to a bull.
Perhaps you should try starting your own thread?
Terryg4
Perhaps you should try starting your own thread?
Terryg4
What has struck me about so much of the Brexit arguement, not just on this thread, is how the Brexiteers focus seems to be almost entirely money based and the idea that everyone will be so much richer once we leave. You do all realise that a fair and balanced society that tries to be of benefit to everyone isn't just about how much profit you can gain in monetary terms, there is more to it than that....no?......oh well. Enjoy your bank statements.
Russwhitehouse said:
What has struck me about so much of the Brexit arguement, not just on this thread, is how the Brexiteers focus seems to be almost entirely money based and the idea that everyone will be so much richer once we leave. You do all realise that a fair and balanced society that tries to be of benefit to everyone isn't just about how much profit you can gain in monetary terms, there is more to it than that....no?......oh well. Enjoy your bank statements.
You're not alone there Russ. I was only saying to my wife last night, they all bang on about how well the UK will be doing. Well I hope they do and all that extra cash they earn from being able to work 70 hours a week makes up for the fact they've no life. Since moving here I earn 1/2 of what I did in the UK (wasn't on great money there) but I have a fantastic life style. As such I have realized money does not make you happy.Basically I started the post and was having a chat to fellow French residents about the situation , most of whom I know personally, all of a sudden there was loads of anti EU posts which you can imagine for us Europeans living in France is red rag to a bull.
Perhaps you should try starting your own thread?
Terryg4
Perhaps you should try starting your own thread?
Terryg4
Fair enough Terryg4 - it was just the generalisation of all the vote leave idiots I objected too. Having read through the full thread now I am back on my PC instead of a small phone screen, I see your point about a discussion and trolls. Motto - read the damned thread before replying. :-)
Still object to the generalisation though, despite posting from my place in Pays de la Loire :-)
Still object to the generalisation though, despite posting from my place in Pays de la Loire :-)
Russwhitehouse said:
What has struck me about so much of the Brexit arguement, not just on this thread, is how the Brexiteers focus seems to be almost entirely money based and the idea that everyone will be so much richer once we leave. You do all realise that a fair and balanced society that tries to be of benefit to everyone isn't just about how much profit you can gain in monetary terms, there is more to it than that....no?......oh well. Enjoy your bank statements.
Amazing claim. Yesterday it was ALL about immigration. Now it's all about money.Now have a little think about that "fair and balanced society" and consider how the EU was designed to take away any kind of democratic control by the peoples of the countries within it.
Then look at shenannigans like a handful of nations successfully angling for subsidies for themselves in sugar production, whilst imposing penalties on UK producers.
And EU destruction of the UK fishing industry.
Stuff like this is far from fair and balanced.
We are now free to trade with the rest of the world and look forward to fuller bank statements in future, whist expecting them to decline in the short term.
Never mind, ex pats, enjoy your declining EU economy...
mybrainhurts said:
Never mind, ex pats, enjoy your declining EU economy...
Do you know MBH, it doesn't seem to me that I live in your declining economy...I know most Frenchies and we expats don't worry about having the latest fully loaded metal, but when we do venture out of our houses (that are on average 50% larger than yours) we do so on beautifully surfaced roads with roundabouts and verges planted out with wild flowers and very few traffic jams. We (or at least I) shop in very large modern supermarkets that put UK supermarkets to shame for quality, cleanliness, price and choice, and I include Waitrose in that comparison. As a result of not buying everything that they can afford to, most French families and I suspect many expats have substantial savings, whereas a recent survey found that a third of UK middle class households would have difficulty paying an unexpected £500 bill. That makes it dodgy to run a second hand Polo.Taxes are higher here, although the overall tax take is not very different from the UK, but I would argue that the French get better value for money from their taxes than you do in the UK.
As regards slagging off the out voters, I can understand why many sectors of the UK community voted to leave, but many of them who had everything to lose? Why? What did they think they were voting for?
Steve.
Fatt McMissile said:
Do you know MBH, it doesn't seem to me that I live in your declining economy...I know most Frenchies and we expats don't worry about having the latest fully loaded metal, but when we do venture out of our houses (that are on average 50% larger than yours) we do so on beautifully surfaced roads with roundabouts and verges planted out with wild flowers and very few traffic jams. We (or at least I) shop in very large modern supermarkets that put UK supermarkets to shame for quality, cleanliness, price and choice, and I include Waitrose in that comparison. As a result of not buying everything that they can afford to, most French families and I suspect many expats have substantial savings, whereas a recent survey found that a third of UK middle class households would have difficulty paying an unexpected £500 bill. That makes it dodgy to run a second hand Polo.
Taxes are higher here, although the overall tax take is not very different from the UK, but I would argue that the French get better value for money from their taxes than you do in the UK.
As regards slagging off the out voters, I can understand why many sectors of the UK community voted to leave, but many of them who had everything to lose? Why? What did they think they were voting for?
Steve.
I voted put because there ain't no room left particularly in the South East. Last year on a Friday afternoon it took longer to drive to Brighton and back from Hertfordshire (Never saw any accidents)then it takes me to drive to the French Alps from Calais. Taxes are higher here, although the overall tax take is not very different from the UK, but I would argue that the French get better value for money from their taxes than you do in the UK.
As regards slagging off the out voters, I can understand why many sectors of the UK community voted to leave, but many of them who had everything to lose? Why? What did they think they were voting for?
Steve.
mybrainhurts said:
Oh lord, giveth me an wall, upon which I might bangeth mine head, until it doth jolly well hurt...
PS...I'll give the EU ten years until it implodes.
What exactly in Europe will implode? We are Europe?PS...I'll give the EU ten years until it implodes.
And looks like the reverse domino effect is coming into play ........ Or is it that the EU countries have had a look at what's happening in the UK and thought .....NO FU*KING WAY!
IFOP survey: Support for EU up post-#Brexit vote:
89% Poland
81% Germany +18
81% Spain + 9
75% Belgium + 11
67% France + 19
59% Italy +4
hunton69 said:
I voted put because there ain't no room left particularly in the South East. Last year on a Friday afternoon it took longer to drive to Brighton and back from Hertfordshire (Never saw any accidents)then it takes me to drive to the French Alps from Calais.
That's not changing soon, or anything to do with immigrants, that's all about a government that wants everything in the SE and won't move work to the regions.I don't want to knock my homeland but I do wonder where the money goes.French towns are as a rule clean,tidy,grass mowed etc.
The EU has problems,bloody massive ones,finance,migration etc but because most expats are insulated from them by having very little debt,not having to work as hard as in the UK,not paying a morgage,not servicing debt and living in a bubble,the problems are largly ignored because they don't affect our lives.
The EU has problems,bloody massive ones,finance,migration etc but because most expats are insulated from them by having very little debt,not having to work as hard as in the UK,not paying a morgage,not servicing debt and living in a bubble,the problems are largly ignored because they don't affect our lives.
mybrainhurts said:
Amazing claim. Yesterday it was ALL about immigration. Now it's all about money.
Now have a little think about that "fair and balanced society" and consider how the EU was designed to take away any kind of democratic control by the peoples of the countries within it.
Then look at shenannigans like a handful of nations successfully angling for subsidies for themselves in sugar production, whilst imposing penalties on UK producers.
And EU destruction of the UK fishing industry.
Stuff like this is far from fair and balanced.
We are now free to trade with the rest of the world and look forward to fuller bank statements in future, whist expecting them to decline in the short term.
Never mind, ex pats, enjoy your declining EU economy...
You do realise that much of the problem with the deepsea fleet is as a result of UK fisherman selling their quotas to european outfits? The average skipper/owner will clear around twenty to thirty grand at the end of the year, having been at sea for three hundred or so days once crew have been paid, boat maintenance and gear repairs, fuel etc have been paid for. Alternatively, they can sell their quota for about a quarter of a million and not leave port. You do the maths. The reason so many are tied up in Aberdeen, Peterhead etc. Not because of the cursed and evil EU.Now have a little think about that "fair and balanced society" and consider how the EU was designed to take away any kind of democratic control by the peoples of the countries within it.
Then look at shenannigans like a handful of nations successfully angling for subsidies for themselves in sugar production, whilst imposing penalties on UK producers.
And EU destruction of the UK fishing industry.
Stuff like this is far from fair and balanced.
We are now free to trade with the rest of the world and look forward to fuller bank statements in future, whist expecting them to decline in the short term.
Never mind, ex pats, enjoy your declining EU economy...
Russ
You mentioning quota , I think that's the next thing that people will realise. Having sat through 5 hours of treasury meetings apparently the EU have the agricultural quota for trading with the rest of the world ........ Not the UK
When the UK exits it's farmers also are f*cked!
Have a good weekend
Terry
Ps we've booked up to do the local rally on the 11th September in the Elan :-)
You mentioning quota , I think that's the next thing that people will realise. Having sat through 5 hours of treasury meetings apparently the EU have the agricultural quota for trading with the rest of the world ........ Not the UK
When the UK exits it's farmers also are f*cked!
Have a good weekend
Terry
Ps we've booked up to do the local rally on the 11th September in the Elan :-)
I really do hope the UK does well but would love the Brexiteers to explain exactly what they think that means? More money or more life? I know which I'd want, a better life, don't really care about money so long as I have enough to feed, cloth and house my self.
I have friends in the UK who have decently paid jobs, flash cars, nice houses, £100 a month Sky packages to watch on their 55" tv's but have to pay other people to raise their children, or clean their houses because they are too busy working. Thing that really bothers me about the whole debacle is a lot of the population is chasing the capitalist, consumer dream they've been sold and not what really matters.
You hear all about how these bloody foreigners coming over here getting given housed. That's nothing to do with the EU, that's a UK gov decision. Or the fact the UK is one big tower block with people stacked on top of people. Again, a UK gov decision, nothing to do with EU. I completely agree with these two points but leaving the EU won't address them.
I have friends in the UK who have decently paid jobs, flash cars, nice houses, £100 a month Sky packages to watch on their 55" tv's but have to pay other people to raise their children, or clean their houses because they are too busy working. Thing that really bothers me about the whole debacle is a lot of the population is chasing the capitalist, consumer dream they've been sold and not what really matters.
You hear all about how these bloody foreigners coming over here getting given housed. That's nothing to do with the EU, that's a UK gov decision. Or the fact the UK is one big tower block with people stacked on top of people. Again, a UK gov decision, nothing to do with EU. I completely agree with these two points but leaving the EU won't address them.
What part of the UK are you comparing with FMM?
Just to get some balance, I come from the Bath area in the South West and the Southern suburbs of Paris just can't compare. The lack of picturesque gardens and the abundance of ugly architectural disharmony and dogs s
t covered streets (including the few grassy areas) is depressing.
This is a brand new retirement home in the area. No, it's not in the middle of being built, it's finished. Yes, that is a bare galvanised metal fence and gate. Yes, those are rough wooden battons stuck on the outside and yes that is the final finish.
Add aggressive driving, universally poor (i.e. nonexistent) customer service and general lack of the concept of courtesy and personal space and there's enough to drive you mad.
However, we live in a massive house with a gym and studio in the basement. I agree the roads are better and less busy here although around Paris it's a bit tough. British one-car-stuck-behind-the-other driving does drive you mad too. The general pace of life is slower here and the food culture is great and the weather is better.
I'd love to have a house in each country and do 6 months of the year in each but that's not possible with work.
Funnily enough, it's the lack of courtesy that grates the most.
Just to get some balance, I come from the Bath area in the South West and the Southern suburbs of Paris just can't compare. The lack of picturesque gardens and the abundance of ugly architectural disharmony and dogs s
t covered streets (including the few grassy areas) is depressing. This is a brand new retirement home in the area. No, it's not in the middle of being built, it's finished. Yes, that is a bare galvanised metal fence and gate. Yes, those are rough wooden battons stuck on the outside and yes that is the final finish.
Add aggressive driving, universally poor (i.e. nonexistent) customer service and general lack of the concept of courtesy and personal space and there's enough to drive you mad.
However, we live in a massive house with a gym and studio in the basement. I agree the roads are better and less busy here although around Paris it's a bit tough. British one-car-stuck-behind-the-other driving does drive you mad too. The general pace of life is slower here and the food culture is great and the weather is better.
I'd love to have a house in each country and do 6 months of the year in each but that's not possible with work.
Funnily enough, it's the lack of courtesy that grates the most.
According to some figures I saw last year, there are roughly the same number of French expats in the UK as Brits in France. The difference is that while many of the Brits in France are retired or semi retired, staying in France because it's a good place to sit in the sun and drink wine. The bulk of the French in the UK are here to work, because it's a good place to build a business or hopefully even make a fortune.
We are clearly doing something right.
We are clearly doing something right.
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