UK needs change

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eeyylx	UK needs change	Lead	[-]
Registered Member Posts: 1 ( 5-May-2008 00:54:11) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I am an engineering student in UK. After spend 7 yrs in college ( include PHD) I still can not understand british politics. There are five questions that I can't find good answers. 1: Why UK gov allows the aslynum seekers to stay in this country? Asylum seekers may have troubles in their own countries. But is this an excuse to stay here? Do british really like the people from those trouble countries? 2: where are the polices? We were always told that Gov puts more police officers on the streets. But where are they? I have never seen them on the street. Is that realy difficult to sent more police men and women on the street? Is that because the cost or lack of interest? 3: NHS. I grow up in China and I doubt that free health service is fair. We used to have free health service system (paid by Gov and state own corporations) but eventually it collapsed due to the privitization. The NHS is now getting more expensive than ever and it doesn't provide enough service. In future we will have more demand on health care. Is it still possible that British gov can provide free health service? Or if UK gov has enough CASH to provide free health care 4: Infrustructure 7 yrs ago i was shocked when I saw the heathrow airport and thr giant british car parks. Today though most of my friends are shocked because the poor standard of british infrustuctures ( roads , airport, hospitals). Heathrow airport ( the so call britain's main gate for the world ) gives extremely bad impression to any one from China. Compare with Beijing airport T3 and shanghai airport T2 Heathrow looks like an 60yrs old man walking on the street. But why not build a new one? BAA and BA are among the richest aviation corporation in the wolrd . how long it takes to get the planning permission? 5: planning permission I have no idea why people in UK needs a planning permission. I think it is a bannrier for economy and general public. UK is now a country with 60 million people. it is impossible to keep all the old things that used to be proud of. I thinks it is the time to change. Skyscrapper , new rail way, high way & ports are needed to face the 21st century challenge.
eeyylx		#1	[-]
Registered Member Posts: 2 ( 5-May-2008 01:06:56) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	oh yes i foget question 6 : science and engineering . UK economy is heavily depends on high tech products like RR engine, millitary equipments and aviation products. But I havn't heard any large gov led research programs for a long time. Many nations are trying to have a larger share in high tech market. It seems that British Gov dosen't like any spending on science and engineering. Many of my collegue ( PHD in electronics and computer science )are now planning to go back or go to US due to the funding shortage here in UK. In fact many of them have a better living standard in their own countries. Uk wants high skilled workers to stay here while reject those people from Middle east with poor education background. But it seems like that this Gov is doing exactlly the opposite . Forcing PHDs and engineers away and keep the poorly educated workers to stay here. Because enginners are paid the same as waiters in chinese take way. I hope the Gov spend more on college and universities. Many Chinese decide not to come here because the pay and the facilities.
Zen9		#2	[-]
Posts: 3506 ( 5-May-2008 21:42:57) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Things are complicated eeyylx, and one rather needs to spend a lot of time to get a grip on how a nations politics work. However......a few answers that might help 1. Under the UN convention on Asylum all signatories (states that signed up to this) are obliged to provide asylum for genuine asylum seekers. These rules where set up in the aftermath of WWII, following the experiences during that war and the events preceeding it. UK is one of the many nations that where signatories of this and was involved in its drafting all those years ago. 2. Police, are there if you look for them but yes they are perhaps not as visible as they once where. I have seen them on the street in every city I've gone to and often see them around my home town. 3. NHS healthy workers are efficient and productive workers, health like food and water are prerequisits for the ability to earn money and pay tax. It also needs to be seen in the light again of WWII, healthy people make healthy soldiers which are better fighters than unhealthy people. UK has lots of cash, but there are clearly problems with the NHS system, which would make for a VERY long and complicated debate. 4. Infrastructure is a big problem, or should we say set of problems and only parts of this are going to be tackled. Airports are only the half of the story, and Frankly London does'nt need another airport, but rather there needs to be more development outside London in the rest of the country. Worse is the motorway network, that has London sitting right at the center of most of it and thus blocking up transport going elsewhere. The most obvious requirement now is to produce a major motorway from Bristol to either Portland or Southampton allowing freight to bypass London altogether. Planning permission. UK is not a totalitarian state, so government must obay the people or at least take account of their concerns. It cannot ride roughshode over the people even for their own good without being punished in elections and even replaced. It is a representative democracy, and as such a party winning an election to government is supposed to perform what it has promised to do and promised not to do as well.
eeyylx		#3	[-]
Registered Member Posts: 7 ( 6-May-2008 00:27:00) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I think it is the right time to re think the infrustructure and planning permission. It is now obvious that the lack of roads ports and rail ways are damaging the UK economy. I can also feel people's willing of building more airports and roads. Again this is a question between politic interest and national interst. The lab Gov will not even think about building any major roads under its rule. because it fears that they might be turn down in a general election. The only hope is a tory party Gov who seems in favor of putting national interest ahead of politic interests. and i hope the third run way and an extra terminal to be built as soon as possible.
eeyylx		#4	[-]
Registered Member Posts: 8 ( 6-May-2008 00:30:47) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	The current chinese gov is in fact an right wing Gov. Its policies look remarkbley similar to the tory's. May be this country needs another "iron lady".
JNiemczyk		#5	[-]
Posts: 6318 ( 6-May-2008 17:04:39) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Uk wants high skilled workers to stay here while reject those people from Middle east with poor education background. Current rules are that we have to chose UK, or EU residents first before looking for skilled migrants from outside the EU. I have no idea why people in UK needs a planning permission. Have you ever been to EU countries with weaker planning laws? They're full of half finished buildings; the planning laws are there to stop people and developers going mad and building things that are either dangerous, or unsuitable, or will impact on a communities quality of life. It's why we also have speed limits on the road, or are they a barrier to economic development too? If the planning laws are liberalised builders will use it to trample all over communities and build what they want where they want it, and damn everybody else. I know what they are like from personal experience. People do have a right to object to something that may adversely effect their lives, and yes, governments of all stripes sometimes don't do things because it may cost them votes. Pesky thing democracy, isn't it? I can also feel people's willing of building more airports and roads. I always thought it was the opposite. New roads and airports tend to be unpopular. AFAIK last time they were in power the Tories didn't seriously alter the planing laws, presumably because many of those who object to developments are Middle English Tory voters. The most obvious requirement now is to produce a major motorway from Bristol to either Portland or Southampton allowing freight to bypass London altogether. There's a plan for a freight only railway to run from Liverpool to the Channel Tunnel that never seems to get off the ground, but which might do a lot of good. The plan is to build it to Continental standards and have double decked containers. To me it looks like a good idea, but it has never attracted support from government.
Zen9		#6	[-]
Posts: 3512 ( 6-May-2008 23:53:19) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	There have been several rail plans for bypassing London, from what you've noted to a full blown deep tunnel, but somehow they get off the ground so Londons congestion is still strangling the rest of the country. I'll also add here the thought that we don't want to loose our cultural heritage in mass bulldozing of what is old, we had that in the post war periode and it lead to some right nightmares of which many a town and city has never recovered. Never recovered that is not from the Luftwaffe but from the 'reconstruction' that followed. Since tourism is a significant component of the economy, and considering how those countries that did destroy vast amounts of their own heritage have since regretted it I see no reason for us to make that mistake again. Further more consider the mighty 'spagetti junction' at Birmingham, a wonderful work of motorway planning let down by cheap and shoddy concrete which has cost more in repairs far more than it ever saved at the time. Oh and lets add the Commonwealth in for good measure, where lots of people share our language and ideals. Its perhaps the most pernicious evil that resided inside the whole EU business that it seeks force us to favour foreigners to family and seperate us from our own who are spread around the world. Last Edited By: Zen9 6-May-2008 23:55:41. Edited 1 times.
eeyylx		#7	[-]
Registered Member Posts: 9 ( 7-May-2008 02:03:54) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	i don not agianst the culture and heritage. But we are living in a real world. there are more people living on the planet and this country need more house and road to accomondate the growing population. There is a demand from the public for better housing and living standard too. In the near future the construction of large scale infrustructure is inevitable. I also have to notice that new and modern buildings are MUCH better than those post war buildings. The 21th century architecture is far more advance than the old one.
JBG.historypolitics...		#8	[-]
Registered Member Posts: 66 ( 7-May-2008 10:24:43) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	"Oh and lets add the Commonwealth in for good measure, where lots of people share our language and ideals. Its perhaps the most pernicious evil that resided inside the whole EU business that it seeks force us to favour foreigners to family and seperate us from our own who are spread around the world." In the late 80s my English born British passport holder mother took me to the old country to meet the rels, see as much of the sights as we could in 2 or 3 weeks etc. At Heathrow there were three queues for incoming passengers. UK, Commonwealth and others. The C'wlth queue was huge and after waiting 10 mins after she got through her queue my mother got to haranguing the customs people and got me bumped up over masses of Pakistanis, Jamaicans etc. The point is that the resources provided for dealing with C'wlth persons was totally inadequate and I got the impression that they really didn't care if I was there or not. Jonathan
JNiemczyk		#9	[-]
Posts: 6320 ( 7-May-2008 11:52:26) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	The 21th century architecture is far more advance than the old one. Yes, let's demolish the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City so that we can fit in more modern infrastructure while we're at it. Didn't the French get some deal when the EEC was founded to deal with their ex-colonies? As usual the UK missed the train and joined the part a bit late (to mix my metaphors). It certainly does not feel right treating our Commonwealth cousins the same as every other non-EU state.
Zen9		#10	[-]
Posts: 3514 ( 7-May-2008 14:16:40) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	For a while I worked in funiture deliveries and let me tell you houses built 60 years ago are far easier to move furniture in and out of than the majority of buildings built since 1960. I'd also add that glass has never been cheaper or more thermaly efficient yet a lot of modern housing lacks window size and thus are very dark inside. Also a lot of windows are remarkably wide but quite short, which is much more restictive to the view outside. Low ceilings are psychologicaly clostrophia inducing and frankly are not aesthetic in any sense. Quite a comparison with the so called 'bad' old houses. So no modern houses made in the UK with methods that have'nt really changed since 1920 are not better and often much worse. Also bulldozing great architecture that happens to be old or in the way is lazy thinking, there is always a better solution. As for JBG.historypolitics.....I care, my family cares, most of those I know who have family around the world care, so don't assume that just because the government of the day is made up of a bunch or Euro-obsessed idiots that that is representative of the real feelings of the British people.
JNiemczyk		#11	[-]
Posts: 6322 ( 7-May-2008 14:35:01) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Also bulldozing great architecture that happens to be old or in the way is lazy thinking, there is always a better solution. That reminds me that there was a plan in the '60s to bulldoze a motorway through the middle of Edinburgh (just as the M8 does in Glasgow). It would have gone right through the Old Town and the Royal Mile. Thankfully for our tourist industry never mind posterity, the local residents were able to get it blocked. Britain has already lost a lot of great historical architecture because of short-sighted urban planning in the '60s, the last thing we need to do is to destroy more of it. I remember visiting a town in England full of blue plaques recording historic buildings, each one ended with the words 'demolished in the Nineteen Sixties'. Having high ceilings is a real boon; I've got plenty of shelving space for my books and magazines. I don't know how I would cope in one of these modern houses.
Zen9		#12	[-]
Posts: 3516 ( 8-May-2008 14:21:40) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Meanwhile the old "Slow and Dirty" that ran from Poole to Bristol is gone, which means you have to go to either Exeter or Southampton and change to get to Bristol. As I've said before if theres scope for development its in new access to Portland and a connection direct to Bristol. Portland is ideal for a container port, all it lacks is a decent bridge and bypass of Weymouth. Far easier than tunneling under London. Speaking of which was'nt there a proposed new crossing of the Thames Estury? AS for rail, going TGV is madness, it won't be operable for ten years by which time it will even more out of date than it is now. MagLev is the future and a ideal way of reducing the need for internal flights. Theres even a mad idea to tunnel under the sea to Dublin! Surely it would be easier to tunnel from Scotland to Belfast?
JNiemczyk		#13	[-]
Posts: 6334 ( 8-May-2008 14:31:13) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	MagLev is the future and a ideal way of reducing the need for internal flights. The only problem I can see with MagLev is that it can not run on any other railway line. The great advantage of conventional trains is that they can run on pretty much any line if necessary, for example if they have to divert to avoid engineering works.
eeyylx		#14	[-]
Registered Member Posts: 16 ( 8-May-2008 20:40:26) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	i think we have a culture problem here in uk. The bad experience of 1960s planning strategy. but the biggest problem is the lack of experience of modern architecture in UK. most of ordinary bristish citizens go to european countries which have very little modern buildings. I hope the brits go to asia and especially China to experience the latest architecture. can I post any pitcture here to show a littile about chinese public transport and infrustructure.
JNiemczyk		#15	[-]
Posts: 6337 ( 8-May-2008 21:03:59) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	most of ordinary bristish citizens go to european countries which have very little modern buildings. I hope the brits go to asia and especially China to experience the latest architecture. So how much of it is on green field sites and how much has been built in place of historic architecture? Will the Chinese government demolish the Forbidden City to make room for more modern offices? I've been to the States, which has plenty modern architecture, but even they do not destroy wholesale what historic buildings they have. I think that despite living here for a while you don't yet understand British culture. I wouldn't expect to understand Chinese culture after only a few years.
Zen9		#16	[-]
Posts: 3517 ( 8-May-2008 21:56:36) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	You forget Jan, they have bulldozed vast areas of the old cities in China, wiping out a lot of what used to exist, they can do that in a Communist Authoritarian state where the people can't stop them. Such as the new Olympic facilities in Beijing. After all history means indentity and one not under control of the Party, therefor to the revelutionaries who wish to wipe out the indentities of the peoples of the world in order to build their utopia, history and old buildings are a literal threat to their grand idea. Consider South Korea where every building they have that predates the Korean War is now a treasure to be preserved, even more so if it predates the Japanese occupation, so little of that earlier world being left to see. As for the 1960s, the glorious reveloution in architecture (which is really pre-WWII) was enforced, and we got to live with the long term consequences of imposing alien architecture on us. Made worse by the usual attitude of government and so much of it was just bad design, passed off as 'the new way'. Lets take the supposed wonder of the French Motorway system, in overview it is feat of logic and good design, and motoring along on it the surface is wonderfull.......its just the actual design of the roads is rubbish. UK motorway is far better in design, just rubbish in materials and overview.
JNiemczyk		#17	[-]
Posts: 6338 ( 8-May-2008 22:14:33) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	You forget Jan, they have bulldozed vast areas of the old cities in China, wiping out a lot of what used to exist, they can do that in a Communist Authoritarian state where the people can't stop them. Yes that pesky thing democracy getting in the way. Maybe we should adopt some of the Chinese ways. Made worse by the usual attitude of government and so much of it was just bad design, passed off as 'the new way'. Just look at how much of it is now being demolished (I wonder if future generations will hate us for doing that?). For example much of the '60s housing round here is being replaced by modern construction.
Zen9		#18	[-]
Posts: 3519 (10-May-2008 00:11:03) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Good design has every right to survive, bad design only as an example of what not to do.

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