What has happened to the UK in the last 70 years, i know other countries have deteriorated as well, but i think no major country has as much as the Uk, if you agree who's is to blame, is it the Politician's or just changing human nature.

“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn

A Very Good write up, i would think agreed by 90% of people who had families in the 50s/60s whatever their religion, colour or Creed

“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn

So you are an old boy then

Two posters on this thread have referred to "the ruling class", and I genuinely don't know what the phrase is intended to mean.

We live in a democracy, which literally means "rule by the people". Nobody else "rules" us - not the monarchy and not even parliament, from which our representatives get thrown out if they sufficiently displease us.

Perhaps you have in mind the investment bankers, senior lawyers, senior policemen, "well-connected" individuals, freemasons and the extremely wealthy. I imagine that some of these people would like to rule us, and I suspect that many of them are not averse to pulling strings when they have the opportunity. But I cant accept that this group is responsible for the way our society has developed.

Women were the main cause of the changes in the 50's & 60's.

With the men away at war, as with WWI, but to a greater extent, women worked - in munitions, on the land, in factories, food production and offices as never before. When the men came home, many were reluctant to go back to the old domestic drudgery that had been, for the main part, their only lot in life, and certainly the younger ones without children grasped their opportunities and refused to give them back.

With the 60's and the coming of the pill, even more freedom came their way - no need to worry about 'accidents', shotgun weddings and ties to the kitchen sink to avoid social condemnation - they had control over their bodies - in fact they thought they had it all and made the most of it.

Gradually, their new way of life became accepted and the social norms changed accordingly - where once 'the mothers' watched over all the neighbourhood children (theirs and everyone else's), the streets were safe - a battalion of women confronting a stranger hanging around their homes deterred most - and the husband was the breadwinner with the last word at home, now you had the 'latchkey' generation, sexually liberated and financially independent women and the collapse of the old order.

With increased social awareness and the advent of benefits for all (50's/60's you still depended on your family or neighbours in a crisis as there was a stigma attached to 'handouts') the whole nature of society changed and then seemed to go on a downward spiral as the achievers achieved and the rest went to pot when they found someone else would pick up the bill......

......and no, I don't think we should go back to the old regime, just sort out the present one!

A stairway to Heaven and a Highway to Hell give some indication of expected traffic numbers

As a big fan of Talking Pictures TV, I watch a fair amount of old 1950s British films and TV series and it's fascinating to see how few vehicles were on the roads, how few ethnic faces were among the casts or population in general, how well people dressed, how many bobbys were on the streets and how many bombed and war damaged buildings still existed.

Most of the aggravation and crime was carried out by indigenous, home grown villains rather than foreign terrorists or immigrant gangs. Communication generally was slower by phone from the occasional box rather than instant mobile calls or texts. Of course there have been many positive developments in technology and transport etc which have contributed to change.

Lanzo, it could be said that our country's culture has been impacted by political influence or weakness, but whilst this is a factor, it is also a fact that we were still slowly recovering from the ravages of a world war that caused immeasurable damage to the infrastructure and people's state of mind.

However you view it, the changes that have occurred during the last 70 years, since the 50s, are immense. And not necessarily for the better. Those of us old enough to have lived through the 50s recognise this only too well.

Dad and I watched games standing on the muddy slope of the Holmesdale Road end. He cheered and I rattled.