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I should feel proud that we have a National Health Service that cares for all free of charge, but I am not, because it is highly inefficient and is taken for granted by many, who seem to abdicate all responsibility for their health. I know it is unaffordable in its present format but it has become a political pawn to be played by each party against each other.
I should feel proud that we have a Welfare State that looks after those that are unable to look after themselves, but I am not, because it encourages all the wrong behaviours from one generation to the next, acts as an economic migrant magnet and feels like a dagger in the back for most hard working people who do not receive benefits or tax credits and have a far harder life trying to balance work, the home, the family and the bills.
I should feel proud that we have a Criminal Justice system that seeks justice but I am not because it is heavily waited in favour of the defendant and the skills of the lawyer and encourages complexity to maximise lawyer incomes.
I should feel proud that we are part of a greater union in Europe, but I am not, because it interferes, creates bureaucracy and inefficiency and cannot even produce audited accounts.
I should feel proud that we welcome people from all countries, but I am not, because it is putting too great a strain on our services, housing and welfare costs. The so called economic benefits that we are told about only look at a tiny fraction of the whole picture.
I should feel proud that we have an all inclusive free Education System, but I am not, because it has been manipulated by politicians, examiners, teachers and Unions to paint it in the best light. The reality is that it is going backwards in terms of producing students with the right qualifications and behaviours. The comprehensive system does not work. It often forces middle class families to make real sacrifices and pay for private education.
I should feel proud that we send almost 9 out of 10 students to University, but I am not, too many of them are doing pointless courses in over hyped colleges, racking up huge amounts of debt. Is the purpose to educate or take them out of the unemployment figures?
I should feel proud that we live in a Democracy, but I am not because we do not. We live in a country where effectively we have two parties who play a game of basking in the glory of winning the election for 1 year, trying to run the country for 2 years then spending the next two years trying to win the next election. Governments are more interested in not upsetting the electorate and bribing them, than doing what is right for the country. Everything is short term, never looking ahead more than 5 years. No small parties that represent popular opinion have a chance. If a coalition works then why not have PR.
I should be proud that we encourage capitalism but I am not, because all we actually do is to encourage greed, recklessness and debt. Nothing is regulated to prevent any of these things happening, hence the banking crisis. However there will be many more businesses going to the wall, not because they are unsuccessful but because the debt burden and interest payments are too high. Boardroom pay has spiralled out of control. They are not paid the going rate. There are plenty of talented people who would do the job for less.
I should be proud that we are trying to diversify into renewable energy production, but I am not, because we are moving too slow and not maximising the economic and jobs benefit to the country.
I should be proud that we are starting to recycle, but I am not, because we do not do enough in terms of collection, recycling or productive use of non-recyclables. The world has limited resources.
I should be proud of Britain but increasingly that view is challenged for all the above reasons.
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