| I no longer live in the UK, but it's the country I have the most experience with. Here's what sucks: 1) Overpopulation. Especially in England, especially in Southern England. One of the highest population densities in the world, and it really shows on the roads, trains and in how compact everything gets built. (Unlike the Netherlands which has similar population density, there are far fewer people on bicycles due to worse infrastructure.) 2) Unwise immigration policy that has ruined many of the most affordable parts of cities that would otherwise be desirable places for young people to live. 3) Stagnant and outdated culture. It's kinda pathetic in the 21st century that there's still a monarchy and unelected House of Lords. And that people actually defend it on the basis of "tourism". Also, the FPTP electoral system for the House of Commons creates an environment in which only majority/conservative viewpoints get represented politically. In the UK I felt like the political system was run by older generations for their own benefit only; there is very little of a culture in the UK of caring about or investing in the young. The tuition fees debacable is only the icing on the cake of this cultural tendency which runs pretty deep. 4) Government services such as healthcare and education vary enormously in quality from region to region, and the quality is usually pretty poor by international standards. The wealthy get private health insurance and send their children to private schools, which aren't an option for those not able or interested in paying twice. 5) Housing prices. Even engineers can't buy houses in the South. Also, a lot of the housing stock is fairly old. 6) Surveillance state and general unwarranted cultural paranoia. CCTV capital of the world. 7) Failed welfare state (there are A LOT of homeless, and a big underclass population) and failed labour movement (the only jobs which have unions are public sector jobs). |