Why is the UK struggling more than other countries?

[Chomper Higgot]

19 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Actually it would be cheaper for them to buy the ingredients and cook a healthy meal, but many are simply too lazy to do that.

 

So they buy ready meals off the shelf. Even then, there are ready meals that are healthy and the packaging clearly states fat, sodium content etc. but many are just not interested. Why buy fruit when you can buy crisps and chocolate?

 

All this talk of using food banks but the obesity levels in the UK are staggering. The same people also seem to be able to find the cash for bad tattoos as well.

 

Money for tats? Check

Money for fags? Check

Money for booze? Check

Money for iPhone? Check

Money for food? Blame the Tories for forcing me to get a job or use foodbanks.

Why not take time educate yourself on the the problem rather than trotting out gross pejorative generalizations?

 

https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/news/health-inequalities-and-obesity

[puchooay]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Wrong.

 

Poverty reduces choice and the high calorie, high glycemic index, high sugar foods are cheaper, hence the choice available to people on low incomes. 
 

Hence 

 

“The impact of deprivation on obesity rates is deeply concerning, with adults in the most deprived regions having almost double the prevalence of obesity compared with the least deprived (36% compared with 20%). The effect of deprivation upon childhood obesity is even more alarming. In 2018/19, the prevalence of obesity in children aged 10–11 was 27% in the most deprived areas and 13% in the least deprived areas. The gap in obesity prevalence between children from the most deprived and least deprived areas is stark and growing, with an increase from 8.5% in 2006/7 to 13.9% in 2018/19.”

 

https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/news/health-inequalities-and-obesity

So obesity has nothing to do with Coke, Pepsi, KFC, McD, BK, pizza......?

 

Wrong.

[RayC]

52 minutes ago, Saanim said:

There is a lot of what you insinuated. But yes, I do not trust any such poll. What about you? Are you familiar somehow with the Polish public?

And I'll repeat my challenge. What evidence do you have to dispute the findings of these surveys (other than your subjective bias)?

 

I'm not familiar with the Polish public but I imagine that the pollsters are? Presumably, these surveys were conducted in Polish?

 

52 minutes ago, Saanim said:

 

And I haven't known prof. Legutko until I read about his very good EU assessment. Do you think that's not true what he said?

 

 

 

 

I'd never heard of him either until two hours ago.

 

I found it difficult to understand what points he was trying to make. He stated that the EU parliament had failed its' citizens but gave no evidence to support that view. 

 

He then said that the European parliament was undemocratic because a MEP representing a French region wasn't subject to a vote by the Polish electorate: Maybe there is a better system to elect MEPs but he didn't offer an alternative. 

 

I found the whole thing a bit bizarre.

 

34 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

 

 

[RayC]

46 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

Did he mention how long before the EU collapses. 

No. Tune into next week's exciting episode.

[Chomper Higgot]

1 minute ago, puchooay said:

So obesity has nothing to do with Coke, Pepsi, KFC, McD, BK, pizza......?

 

Wrong.

All examples of processed highcalorie, high glycemic index, high sugar foods marketed to the poor.

 

So no, not wrong.

 

From the UK:

 

https://www.verdict.co.uk/fast-food-outlets-are-on-the-rise-in-england-especially-in-poorer-areas/

 

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/kfc-mcdonalds-target-poor-fast-5705820

 

Repeated in NZ:

 

https://i.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/82926715/fast-food-chains-target-poor-areas--marketing-expert

Repeated in Australia:

 

https://www.9news.com.au/health/sa-uni-study-finds-fast-food-outlets-more-likely-to-be-built-in-poor-areas/00266ad1-120f-4c73-bb13-caa49b108ff6

[puchooay]

24 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

What on earth does ‘a decent working week’ mean?

I work 5x8 hour shifts. My wife works 4x12. Both in the Healthcare industry. An industry with 50000 vacancies. Vacancies that can be filled by anyone. No experience required. A job my wife got within 2 weeks of getting her Biometrics card.

 

We live in SE England. An expensive area for housing. We pay £1000 a month rent per month. We make sure we don't over spend when times are good. That way we have something to fall back on in times not so good.

 

Our daughter too. Works in Healthcare. Had the job for 2 years. Only been in UK 2 years 6 months. She works hard and just got promoted. In those 2 years she has paid cash for a £6k card, moved into her own rented flat and saved money to travel to Thailand to visit her grand parents.

 

If we can do it, anyone can.

[puchooay]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

All examples of processed highcalorie, high glycemic index, high sugar foods marketed to the poor.

 

So no, not wrong.

 

From the UK:

 

https://www.verdict.co.uk/fast-food-outlets-are-on-the-rise-in-england-especially-in-poorer-areas/

 

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/kfc-mcdonalds-target-poor-fast-5705820

 

Repeated in NZ:

 

https://i.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/82926715/fast-food-chains-target-poor-areas--marketing-expert

Repeated in Australia:

 

https://www.9news.com.au/health/sa-uni-study-finds-fast-food-outlets-more-likely-to-be-built-in-poor-areas/00266ad1-120f-4c73-bb13-caa49b108ff6

So the poor are in the places I mentioned. Maybe they could save some money by cooking healthy food at home.

 

Last time I looked, fruit and veg were very good value compared to processed food.

[nauseus]

1 hour ago, RayC said:

Would Thatcher have pulled the UK out of the EU, or would she have fought for her beliefs inside the bloc? Both sides can make a case.

 

The only fact is that we will never know the answer.

She wouldn't have signed Maastricht if she had stayed PM - that means pulling out. 

[JonnyF]

16 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Why not take time educate yourself on the the problem rather than trotting out gross pejorative generalizations?

 

https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/news/health-inequalities-and-obesity

That doesn't contradict my argument. It says that many deprived people are obese. I am not arguing against that point, I have seen it for myself and have commented to that effect many times, albeit in a less PC way (I have observed it's often the tattoo covered, unemployed from the council estates with lots of young children in tow who are the most obese).

 

I am arguing that a lack of education and a negative culture is to blame, not a lack of money (since healthy food can be obtained for the same price as unhealthy food, and eating less food costs less than eating more food). Also, excess alcohol consumption and a lack of exercise in deprived areas with high levels of unemployment plays a large part in obesity, moreso than not being able to afford the healthy options in the supermarket.

 

Perhaps it is you that should educate yourself, instead of blaming the Tories for a lack of personal responsibility often found in certain socio-economic groups? 

[nauseus]

46 minutes ago, bannork said:

 

The western Balkan nations and Ukraine want to join the EU. Even Le Pen's daughter and the right wing current Italian leader have no intention of leaving the world's largest free trading bloc.

If anything, Russia's invasion of Ukraine has reminded Europeans how essential it is they are united. Both NATO and the EU benefit from this.

The EU is no deterrent to Russia. NATO does not benefit from its members - it's actually the other way round.

[Saanim]

1 hour ago, candide said:

In case there was any doubt (there wasn't), the Polish people certainly don't want to leave the EU after the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

It seems that you are not well versed with history of relation of Poland - Ukraine population, especially the one not so long ago. (However being afraid of off-topic...)

Just to remind you: the large area around Ukrainian Lviv had belonged to Poland before WW2 and the town name was Lwow.  

 

 

    

[RayC]

56 minutes ago, nauseus said:

She wouldn't have signed Maastricht if she had stayed PM - that means pulling out. 

Not so.

 

If Thatcher had refused to sign, there would have been no Treaty; she could have vetoed it 

 

Of course, she would have been under enormous pressure to sign - but Thatcher would have wanted concessions for doing so. The likelihood is that the Maastricht Treaty would have looked  been delayed, had opt-outs for the UK and looked different to what it did.

[candide]

@Saanim Lame deflection. My post was about the history of Poland-Russia relations.

[Saanim]

9 minutes ago, candide said:

@Saanim Lame deflection. My post was about the history of Poland-Russia relations.

No, it was not about the history...

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, puchooay said:

I work 5x8 hour shifts. My wife works 4x12. Both in the Healthcare industry. An industry with 50000 vacancies. Vacancies that can be filled by anyone. No experience required. A job my wife got within 2 weeks of getting her Biometrics card.

 

We live in SE England. An expensive area for housing. We pay £1000 a month rent per month. We make sure we don't over spend when times are good. That way we have something to fall back on in times not so good.

 

Our daughter too. Works in Healthcare. Had the job for 2 years. Only been in UK 2 years 6 months. She works hard and just got promoted. In those 2 years she has paid cash for a £6k card, moved into her own rented flat and saved money to travel to Thailand to visit her grand parents.

 

If we can do it, anyone can.

Good for you.

 

But let’s not have any of this 50,000 vacancies in the NHS that anyone can do.

 

If you want folk to believe you its important to keep your claims believable.

 

 

[Kwasaki]

2 hours ago, candide said:

I mean both. It's not only a defense issue, It's about not being under any type of influence from Russia.

So the UK not being in EU don't have to spend more on defense.

[Chomper Higgot]

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

That doesn't contradict my argument. It says that many deprived people are obese. I am not arguing against that point, I have seen it for myself and have commented to that effect many times, albeit in a less PC way (I have observed it's often the tattoo covered, unemployed from the council estates with lots of young children in tow who are the most obese).

 

I am arguing that a lack of education and a negative culture is to blame, not a lack of money (since healthy food can be obtained for the same price as unhealthy food, and eating less food costs less than eating more food). Also, excess alcohol consumption and a lack of exercise in deprived areas with high levels of unemployment plays a large part in obesity, moreso than not being able to afford the healthy options in the supermarket.

 

Perhaps it is you that should educate yourself, instead of blaming the Tories for a lack of personal responsibility often found in certain socio-economic groups? 

Obesity is a relatively recent societal wide problem and can be tracked against the spread of fast foods and processed foods.  
 

First appearing in the US , and then arriving in the UK.

You may recall the comments about ‘fat Americans’ being common place before nationwide obesity arrived in the UK.

 

If you’ve been coming to Thailand long enough you’ll recall a time when an obese Thai person was a rare sight, not so these days.

 

The global experience is the arrival of fast foods and processed foods gives rise to obesity.

 

The marketing of these foods is directed at deprived communities, refer links I provided earlier.

 

And the marketing works.

 

Open fast food outlets in a community, market fast food to that community and obesity will follow.

 

It’s the same the world over.

 

——-

Addressing the pint ‘Healthy Food can be bought for the same price or cheaper than fast/process foods’.

 

Yes it can.

 

 But people who are poor choose high calorie, instantly satisfying food because that’s the way human beings have evolved.

 

When money is short, (evolution wise food is in short supply) choose high calorie foods first.

 

We are all hardwired that way.

 

 

[candide]

41 minutes ago, Saanim said:

No, it was not about the history...

Are you trying to put words in my mouth now?

 

My (obvious) point was that, due to history, Poles have always perceived Russia as a threat, and even more after the invasion of Ukraine.

 

Your lame attempt at diverting attention towards Poland-Ukraine relation is irrelevant to that point.

[Kwasaki]

2 hours ago, RayC said:

No. Tune into next week's exciting episode.

Nah I'm tuned in already. 

 

 

[candide]

13 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

So the UK not being in EU don't have to spend more on defense.

Another lame attempt at changing the meaning of my post. I wrote "It's not only a defense issue, It's about not being under any type of influence from Russia".

 

In case it's not clear for you:

- defense issue => NATO,

- not being under economic and political influence from Russia => EU

Capice?

[Kwasaki]

12 minutes ago, candide said:

Another lame attempt at changing the meaning of my post. I wrote "It's not only a defense issue, It's about not being under any type of influence from Russia".

 

In case it's not clear for you:

- defense issue => NATO,

- not being under economic and political influence from Russia => EU

Capice?

Your post is your opinion so what. Why would UK worry about Russia or be under any influence, what on earth could the UK do to Russia without completely being wiped off the world map, hey UK get out of NATO better. 

 

[candide]

2 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

Your post is your opinion so what. Why would UK worry about Russia or be under any influence, what on earth could the UK do to Russia without completely being wiped off the world map, hey UK get out of NATO better. 

 

Read my posts, I never commented about UK, I commented about Poland. It's you who seem to be obsessed by UK and introduce it in any of your replies.

[Chomper Higgot]

5 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

Your post is your opinion so what. Why would UK worry about Russia or be under any influence, what on earth could the UK do to Russia without completely being wiped off the world map, hey UK get out of NATO better. 

 

Let’s flip that.

 

What could Russia do to the UK?

 

Hence the UK is better off in NATO.

[Kwasaki]

7 minutes ago, candide said:

Read my posts, I never commented about UK, I commented about Poland. It's you who seem to be obsessed by UK and introduce it in any of your replies.

Because i couldn't care less about Poland they messed up the UK building industry and UK guys as working as cheap labour. 

[Kwasaki]

8 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Let’s flip that.

 

What could Russia do to the UK?

 

Hence the UK is better off in NATO.

What good would that do, save some money for the UK people the UK is nuclear armed already.

[candide]

3 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

Because i couldn't care less about Poland they messed up the UK building industry and UK guys as working as cheap labour. 

Nobody forced you to reply to a conversation about Poland.

[Chomper Higgot]

1 minute ago, Kwasaki said:

What good would that do, save some money for the UK people the UK is nuclear armed already.

And therein lies the problem.

 

The UK doesn’t have the capability to scale its military response between conventional warfare, were the UK could not on its own field a force that could fight Russia and full on Nuclear Engagement.

 

However as a member of NATO the UK can rely on its NATO Allie’s to provide the necessary scale of conventional warfare response, the meat presence of which is a significant deterrent.

 

I’d give upon the ‘get out of NATO’ if I were you, those days are well gone.

 

 

[puchooay]

52 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Good for you.

 

But let’s not have any of this 50,000 vacancies in the NHS that anyone can do.

 

If you want folk to believe you its important to keep your claims believable.

 

 

Please show me where I said there were 50000 vacancies with NHS that anyone can do. Thanks.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

1 minute ago, puchooay said:

Please show me where I said there were 50000 vacancies with NHS that anyone can do. Thanks.

 

 

You are correct, you referred to the ‘Health Care Industry’, I guess you meant Boots the Chemist.

 

 

”An industry with 50000 vacancies. Vacancies that can be filled by anyone. No experience required.”

 

Refer your earlier post below:

 

 

2 hours ago, puchooay said:

I work 5x8 hour shifts. My wife works 4x12. Both in the Healthcare industry. An industry with 50000 vacancies. Vacancies that can be filled by anyone. No experience required. A job my wife got within 2 weeks of getting her Biometrics card.

 

We live in SE England. An expensive area for housing. We pay £1000 a month rent per month. We make sure we don't over spend when times are good. That way we have something to fall back on in times not so good.

 

Our daughter too. Works in Healthcare. Had the job for 2 years. Only been in UK 2 years 6 months. She works hard and just got promoted. In those 2 years she has paid cash for a £6k card, moved into her own rented flat and saved money to travel to Thailand to visit her grand parents.

 

If we can do it, anyone can.

 

[Kwasaki]

6 minutes ago, candide said:

Nobody forced you to reply to a conversation about Poland.

Well i have defend my UK  building guys back then who got put out of work because of ponces.