Economic Exile

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3173709/The-Scottish-Nasty-Party-strikes-Mob-surrounds-Tory-MP-north-border-opens-food-bank.html Only some of the anti austerity campaigners were SNP yet once again the SNP are denigrated in the press. I know lots of SNP voters in my town from window posters, car stickers, them wearing badges and them campaigning. The majority of them are NOT english hating, jobless ruffians.....far from it! I imagine there are lots of discussions amongst the elite about how to eliminate the scottish problem of a large number of SNP voters/supporters

I don't mind tourists here, as long as there aren't masses of them like for example on a beautiful cornish beach . I'm biased about Dumfries and Galloway because I appreciate the low population and lots of lovely places to enjoy and discover. I find it very good for walking and enjoying nature. My ultimate favourite part of the uk though is the north west of scotland and the western isles.

Not really. The incumbent conservative here only retained his seat by just under 800 votes.

Time will tell for the masses! However right now the snp has been a force for good for the only Scottish conservative career politician mp David Mundell who has been promoted to scottish minister in the cabinet. Managed to hold his seat by just under 800 votes. Well done david, eh! No other candidates for the job though. Right place at the right time Edited to correct his majority.

I like a lot of your posts because I think overall everything about life is getting crappier so you're not alone. Thankfully I live in D&G South West Scotland which gets ignored a lot by tourists. Suits me fine because it's not over populated either and I can very often enjoy lovely places and nature in peace. Long may it continue

Yours is a good post too. I personally found the pre internet world a confusing place and didn't really know how to live in it with any or even a little bit of contentment. Like you, I have also found the internet (and other interests) has raised my awareness about what goes in the wider world and it's helped to liberate me to deal with living in what I think is an overall shit world with more contentment than I've ever experienced. A lot of questioning everything is always prevalent in my world though I agree with you that there will likely be attempts to put the genie back in the bottle. My feeling is that those in power do not like the masses getting a wide variety of information and ending up developing an ability to think for themselves. They also do not like how it can give people power to attempt to influence others who may be easily led, for example, to riot

Panicking here in Dumfries and Galloway today. Just had a leaflet from David (the only incumbent Conservative MP in Scotland) informing me that "the SNP surge is real and it's happening here in Dumfriesshire, Clydesale and Tweeddale as well as the rest of Scotland". Too late David, I've noticed it for a while! I'm feeling the panic when the poll came out very near to the referendum. Very entertaining and interesting indeed to watch events unfold! Can't remember the last time I sat up to watch the results come in for a UK election but will definetly be doing so this time. No idea what's going to happen but at least it's going to be interesting I think.

I live in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland which is part of the tramping ground of the only Scottish tory mp. Polls are showing that the snp may take the seat yet I have seen no tory campaigners, no tory signs in windows or on roadsides etc and have had no tory leaflets through my door.

Yes, the countdown begins.....again. Around about 15 years ago I began spoiling my paper in general elections and usually didn't vote but did occasionally in other local elections etc. This was initially because of disillusionment with how things are in the world in general. But increasingly because of growing revulsion towards the world of politics, bankers and corporations due to questioning everything and becoming even more disillusioned. However, last year when the poll was published showing 59 for independence in scotland and 41 against I was awoken from my slumbers. In two weeks I morphed from being an apathetic non voter to one who relished putting a cross in the box. For a Yes vote. The reason I became engaged to vote in the referendum was because although I know deep down that nothing much is going to change in the world, I fancy that I sensed the Westminster panic that poll produced. I found a lot of it hilarious but a lot of it was also deeply disturbing about the state of the uk and wider world. I'm glad I voted Yes in the scottish referendum because I think the large yes vote has challenged main party politicians. Having thought about it I'm going to vote in the general election because I thing my vote can add again to challenging the main parties. I do realise though that I'm not voting for candy land! For me, this general election is more interesting than usual because I fancy it's not likely to be a two party race.

A lotto winner from down south bought a listed building country pad with extensive grounds, swimming pool, equestrian facilities etc here a number of years ago. He's been trying to flog it for around 5 years now. No takers so far! The upkeep on those places must be very high. I wonder how much he has left out of his 11k win? Same in D&G regarding smaller houses......lots at stupid prices that get put up for rent or a silly 1k reduction while the vendor sits tight. But the buy to let group here prey on the desperate who sell for much less. The penny just hasn't dropped yet with the vendors who won't sell for less that there are few buyers who can pay their asking price.

I like this post. I'm not happy about the world I live in. It's not civilised at all in my opinion and I would like fundamental change. A world that accepts that all human beings have basic needs for shelter, water, food and warmth. If people have that without too much hardship or worry then many will be creative. I think that's what the powerful fear! For me, voting for the liblabcon just means voting to keep things as they are so none of them will get my cross. Not sure who I will vote for yet but I'm willing to take the risk to vote for any party who will set us on the road for change.

Yes, I believe we can't look back to the 90's and say that's how it may pan out. The world has changed now as it does! I've spoiled my paper for a number of years now in local/general elections. I voted in the scottish referendum and I will vote in the general election. Unsure who to vote for but definitely not for liblabcon. I'm late 50's and been a single parent for the past 16 years and know I am extremely lucky to have a modest little house with no rent or mortgage. Currently I have a 20 year old daughter racking up debt in 3rd year of a 4 year biology course who is independent and full of dreams for her future. It depends on how things pan out whether she will become angry/disillusioned. My son is 21 and not academic and since 16 years old until the past few months he was earning £75pw for more than a 40 hour week. He is an angry young man now. Both voted for the first time in the scottish referendum. I think we are living through a time when more and more people from all walks of life are feeling compelled to vote for alternative parties.

I hope the swiss situation, oil situation and declining retail profits etc are going to cause a crash. As for greed. Sadly, really don't think that will go away in the majority of humans. What you mentioned about Aberdeen previously. I know of a youngish oil worker who thinking life was rosy "bought" a 400k largish but fairly ordinary house IMO recently and now worried about their contract. To be honest I don't have much sympathy for people who think 400k for a house to live in is a good buy! But to be fair they are young and don't remember when you could get a house for 2/3 times your yearly pay. Lack of education and ability to think about the world you live in is probably a lot to blame 30 years ago I was lucky to be able to get a mortgage for twice my fairly modest salary for a small place in a nice coastal village. When I sold it in 2005, for a ridiculous price, because I had to I knew then that something really wasn't right with the economy. The world is a crazy place!

I don't think it will be a deliberate thing that cashiers do. I would guess they are totally bored and pissed off doing a supermarket cashier job on shit wage which seems to be part time only with tax credit top up if they meet the criteria. Often people moan to me about supermarket cashiers being offhand and not friendly. I just say, well imagine if that was your lot in life...would you be a happy vibrant person with a lot to be thankful for? I know I'd be thoroughly bored, unhappy and resentful if working at a till for minimum wage was the best job I could get!

I hope so. I have 2 young adult offspring and for them and all others who just want a home of their own my wish is for a crash and houses available to buy at a sensible price relative to income.

Yes I agree. As an anecdotal I know someone with a fairly well paid job who always shopped for food (and clothing) in M&S and other upmarket places eg farm shops. Wouldn't have even looked in budget places. Over the past couple of years I've noted a total change in her shopping habits because she's feeling skint. Rarely M&S now and more asda/aldi/lidl/poundstore/home bargains. Does a lot of shopping around and getting stuff at best possible price from different places. Even buys budget clothing now.

In my area which is the whole of D & G the property transactions have been down by roughly a third since 2008. Don't want to say too much online but I know this from someone I know well who has a business providing a service relative to property sales. There's a wide variety of property in this area and many have been for sale for years with no reductions. Only a few places sell quickly and since 2008 there have been a lot of reductions on properties which obviously helps with a sale. I know I'm lucky because I've benefited from HPI and three years ago because I had to downsize/clear mortgage I sold a place in my town after 18 months with a reduction of £20k. There's several in the same area that have been unsold for 1/2/3 years now because they believe what they're told about value and won't/can't/unwilling to reduce . Not a lot of new stock in my town for a few months now. Very little new to market

A Tesco opened in my rural town a number of years ago. I've always thought they were expensive in comparison to other major retailers as there are a few in the wider area so I only went in to buy odd things now and again and often walked out with nothing. For several years they seemed to thrive. However I've noticed over the past year or so that the car park is getting emptier. I've also bought more from them. For a while now Broccoli 49p per head, Sweet potatoes £1 per bag, Desiree Potatoes which I like £2 for 2 or 2.5kg bag, Stew pack with carrot, parsnip, turnip, and onion £1. More reductions on good coffee/oil/passata etc which I like. They seem to be struggling in my town! They've installed new fresh food cabinets and as mentioned further up the thread they've introduced a stand at the entrance with stuff Tesco perceives as bargains. There's also a Coop in my town whose car park is never busy. I'm surprised they're still open. Great place for picking up reduced items for the freezer. I've always been thrifty because I've had to be but I think more people are getting that way. I know several people who are car sharing and taking a 32 mile return trip to Aldi/Lidl at either Carlisle and Dumfries. I always check my receipt before I leave Tesco or any food retailer as I roughly add up as I put stuff in the basket. Quite often there is a mistake and I always query but that's the general inefficiency these days! If the population have to endure low wages no pay rises they'll cut back and shop around. No sympathy from me for Tesco or any retailers.

The prospect of this makes me laugh a lot. I hope I wake up tomorrow to hear this has happened. I'm under no illusion that ukip are ideal. Overall my belief is that barring miracles the uk is in a state of terminal decline. What I like is the shaking up of the two horse race between the current red and blues. I'm a scottish referendum yes voter as I viewed it as a way to give red and blue a wake up call. I immensely enjoyed the 10 day run up to the referendum! Reds may face a wipe out in scotland in the election. If ukip win this by election I think they will be on roll to win a lot of votes. For me, the shake up to the current political parties from snp and ukip are a good thing. A bit of entertainment as the uk goes down.

Spot on. Having reached aged 56 and observed life, this is how I think things are. I'm thankful to have this insight!

Yes I think it's very possible. Like you I've seen stuff on the internet where people have wood burners in caravans and even camper vans, garden "sheds"....and an up market trend for shepherds huts with a wood burner installed If I had to live in a caravan, or any small space, I would definitely want a wood burner. One site I've found is windysmiths? who makes smaller wood burners for small spaces. I personally would love to live in small space that needs little attention so I can get out and about more without being hassled by cleaning maintenance etc.

I really enjoyed watching that. Thanks for posting. What a creative guy...seems a bit manic but utilising it well. Wish I had a friend like him!

I'm seeing signs of this in my area. All just my personal observations from a fairly rural area. Many people I'm acquainted with in my area who have higher wage jobs and used to buy food frequently at m&s and other major food retailers are now going to budget retailers. They're also buying cheaper clothing and generally cutting back. Some have lost well paying jobs and now have lower pay so going through adjustment. Houses over £200k here in D&G are definitely harder to sell. Many have been on the market for years, over 5 in some cases. I have seen smallish reductions a lot but many just sit there waiting for that magic buyer. Some will not need to sell......yet! Houses under £200k are struggling also but there is more chance that someone has the funding. But still there are not enough buyers here with that kind of money. Under 100k have the best chance of selling here as many are bought then you see them up for rent. Inherited houses from all brackets get put on the market then a lot are put up for rent when they don't get a buyer. Transaction volumes here are a third of what they were pre 2008 (Someone I know well provides a service for solicitors in D&G which is related to conveyancing). I've thought for a while that the UK was in a downward spiral and that the majority of the population would gradually experience lower living standards and a lack of social mobility. Nothing has made me change my mind on that. I thought house prices would have fallen a lot by now here! It can't go on forever with these crazy high house prices, can it?

Pretty much sums up the current state of the uk! Homebase are downsizing, perhaps because in the foreseeable future they see the writing on the wall for their wares. No sympathy for them from me.

Pretty much sums it up. If voters have tried the ballot box for years to effect change for a better country to live in and found it hasn't worked then many will use the ballot box when they see an opportunity that has the potential to at least shake things up! Calling people dumb, uneducated, thick etc will make no difference. Many people from all walks of life will use their vote if they think things might change for the better or at least the status quo will be broken. My personal view is that the uk is in terminal decline, barring a miracle. But at least I'm deriving enjoyment from seeing the current main parties squirm at the prospect that their cosy little world could be about to change. Whether voting UKIP (or SNP in scotland) is good or bad is debatable. But, personally I dislike living in world where a huge amount of people really struggle to meet basic life needs like a decent home, decent food and adequate warmth. I personally have mainly not voted or spoiled my ballot paper for several years until I voted yes in the scottish referendum because I saw it as an opportunity to give a V to westminster and the current state of affairs. If the political upset and shake up continues I'm likely to actually mark an X in a box in foreseeable elections. If anyone wants to brand me as stupid, a beast, dim, a fool, uneducated etc well I don't care. A great big V to you!