Modern day progress is an illusion.

[JohnD]

Some examples for you.

"The study, published in the Lancet, followed trends in every country from 1950 to 2017.

In 1950, women were having an average of 4.7 children in their lifetime. The fertility rate all but halved to 2.4 children per woman by last year.

But that masks huge variation between nations.

The fertility rate in Niger, west Africa, is 7.1, but in the Mediterranean island of Cyprus women are having one child, on average.

In the UK, the rate is 1.7, similar to most Western European countries."

and

Whenever a country's rate drops below approximately 2.1 then populations will eventually start to shrink (this "baby bust" figure is significantly higher in countries which have high rates of death in childhood).

At the start of the study, in 1950, there were zero nations in this position."

 

[Vinty]

The problem with women having less children is that you end up with a demograpghic imbalance.
Too many old folk and not enough youngsters to pay to support them.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Can you imagine what it would be like if all the branch lines still existed ( yes naysayers we know it costs money unaffordable blah blah blah ) virtually no congestion reduced traffic on the roads, cleaner air, less noise.
The rail network this country had was once fantastic. The car is now rendering itself useless.

Progress ? Hardly and that's just travel ........when I grew up everybody knew everybody locally that's hardly the case now !

Have you forgotten the thick horrible, thick, yellow smogs we suffered back then - so thick you could chew the air?

The rationing which continued through to 1954?

All the diseases for which there was not cure?

The cold, drafty homes, where the only place which was warm, was in front of a coal fire.

Some homes with no baths and the toilet a walk down the street, or out to the back garden.

The early deaths/ shorter lives.

 

[JohnD]

The early deaths/ shorter lives.

That would cure vinty's imbalance problem.

We're lucky that, for the moment (decreasing numbers of) fit young foreigners are still willing to come and prop up our failing Heath and Care services, paying in more tax and NI that they get out.

 

[Notch7]

Tuberculosis

Of course improvement in healthcare and increase in mortality are a benefit of living in modern times.

But discussing the change in the way we live is still valid. Perhaps more so given the rapid change in our high streets. Planning for the future should consider these things.

The articles raises some interesting points, despite it being a Daily Mail article.

 

[Vinty]

That would cure vinty's imbalance problem.

We're lucky that, for the moment (decreasing numbers of) fit young foreigners are still willing to come and prop up our failing Heath and Care services, paying in more tax and NI that they get out.

The answer to that is British women need to produce more children.

 

[Vinty]

Have you forgotten the thick horrible, thick, yellow smogs we suffered back then - so thick you could chew the air?

The rationing which continued through to 1954?

All the diseases for which there was not cure?

The cold, drafty homes, where the only place which was warm, was in front of a coal fire.

Some homes with no baths and the toilet a walk down the street, or out to the back garden.

The early deaths/ shorter lives.

Happiest days of your life back then.

 

[JohnD]

Happiest days of your life back then.

Rose tinted cataracts.

 

[Vinty]

That would cure vinty's imbalance problem.

We're lucky that, for the moment (decreasing numbers of) fit young foreigners are still willing to come and prop up our failing Heath and Care services, paying in more tax and NI that they get out.

However if foreigners adopt the British model then we will end with a shortage of foreigners.

 

[Notch7]

, paying in more tax and NI that they get out

But not much

Studies examining the fiscal impact of migrants have produced different results, although in all cases, the impacts have been estimated at less than +/- 1% of GDP

 

[Brigadier]

Happiest days of your life back then.

• In the last 45 years suicide rates have increased by 60% worldwide. Suicide is now among the three leading causes of death among those aged 15-44 (male and female). Suicide attempts are up to 20 times more frequent than completed suicides.

https://www.befrienders.org/suicide-statistics

While it is a happier time for many, or is not so for all....

 

[JohnD]

However if foreigners adopt the British model then we will end with a shortage of foreigners.

We already have a shortage of foreigners due to to Britain adopting the Brexit model.

I expect you'll be OK when Ireland is reunited and an EU member, though.

 

[Vinty]

• In the last 45 years suicide rates have increased by 60% worldwide. Suicide is now among the three leading causes of death among those aged 15-44 (male and female). Suicide attempts are up to 20 times more frequent than completed suicides.

https://www.befrienders.org/suicide-statistics

While it is a happier time for many, or is not so for all....

that is probably because we haven't had another world war.
Suicide rates apparently go down during wartime.

 

[Vinty]

We already have a shortage of foreigners due to to Britain adopting the Brexit model.

I expect you'll be OK when Ireland is reunited and an EU member, though.

Ireland will never" be reunited"unless by consent,

 

[JohnD]

shouldn't be long now.