Stop it – you’re making me really jealous!

Given that I hold passports from two of the member states I must admit I like the idea of being European although I do think that the current system will benefit from the changes Ben has outlined above.

There is quite a significant amount of opposition to the EU in Britain, however. We Brits are a patriotic lot and lots of people fear being ruled by Brussels and losing our currency. I personally think the EU will become a benefit to all states, although I think we will lose the pound soon. Doesn’t bother me but might stir things up a bit in Britain.

i wasn’t at the show but regardless of the whats and wherefores that people have been discussing I would say that I have encountered a lot of showing off in aviation in the short time I have been involved with it. There seem to be a lot of gung ho macho attitudes out there and generally from people with less experience and less powerful machines. I think maybe the point that Jorgo is trying to make is about showing off.

Let’s not start moderator bashing again people. Heard it all before. :rolleyes:

But how are you defining citizens? People who hold British passports? People who were born here? People who have lived here for a certain amount of time? I don’t really understand how to make a distinction given that immigration has been going on since the beginning of time. Somewhere along the line most people are probably immigrants.

😮 In that case I am a JF 😮

I have no option but to “beg off the state” because Blair and all the other parties have effectively written off the over 25s. If you are unemployed and unfortunate enough to be over 25, then there is absolutely NO meaningful job training available to you whatsoever. OK, there is the New Deal, but for under 25s (who only have to be unemployed for 6 months before they qualify for this scheme) there is a training allowance paid for them to work towards a recognised qualification. The New Deal for over 25s (who have to be unemployed for 18 months to qualify, if that’s not discrimination then I don’t know what is) does not provide any money for training towards a qualification because it is assumed that all over 25s have the necessary experience. If you don’t have the relevant experience there is nothing available to you are you are on the scrapheap my friend.

I think the general idea is that by the time you are 25 you are old enough to stand on your own two feet and not expect handouts by the state. I know huge numbers of people who have had dramatic career changes late in life. They did it through hard work and commitment and didn’t expect the state to hold their hand. There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world – if you want something you have to go out and get it. Simple as that. I have spent 3 years at higher education and plan to do two more before getting to a firm and working as a trainee for two years. It will have taken me seven years to get qualified. As a result I will be able to do a job I am interested in and command a good salary. I haven’t expected the state to fund my education and I would resent my future taxes going to the unemployed whingers with no commitment. I truly believe in the ability of the individual to better themselves and I can’t stand these attitudes.

I am sorry if this sounds radical but I do feel quite strongly about this issue. I have worked hard all my life and don’t see why I should end up paying for people who have opted out of effort until the age of 25 and then realised that you actually need to work for a living.

Ps. that was actually quite a right view for a ‘left wing whiner’ like myself. i’m even a member of Amnesty!!!! 😀

It makes me smile that an American could call multiculturalism ‘crap’ when their whole society is based on immigration!!!