spook Posted March 17, 2015 Author Share Posted March 17, 2015 ScotsAlan - the reality is that people are NOT all equal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spook Posted March 17, 2015 Author Share Posted March 17, 2015 As for ex pat, I chose the phrase because for us leaving our home behind, as we have, makes us Manx ex pats in the UK. That simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScotsAlan Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 ScotsAlan - the reality is that people are NOT all equal. Scientific evidence? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScotsAlan Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 This isn't a universal truth. In Hong Kong, European economic migrants are referred to by locals as "expats" (as well as "gweilos"). Referring to yourself as one is not a political statement at all, just a recognition of how one is viewed by the local society Tugger, you are trying to localise it. Stop and think. A person from HK is no different from a person from Ethoiopia. See what I mean? We are all people. We are all the same. And as soon as we stop seeing each other as being different, then the sooner we can get to work to make everyone truely equal. Idealism. It will never happen, I'm afraid. Care to expand your arguement? Can you point out why it will never happen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScotsAlan Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 As for ex pat, I chose the phrase because for us leaving our home behind, as we have, makes us Manx ex pats in the UK. That simple. Is a Londoner living in liverpool an expat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spook Posted March 17, 2015 Author Share Posted March 17, 2015 He may well be an ethnic minority for once. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spook Posted March 17, 2015 Author Share Posted March 17, 2015 Scott Alan, if it is not self evident then you wouldn't start to understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolley Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 This isn't a universal truth. In Hong Kong, European economic migrants are referred to by locals as "expats" (as well as "gweilos"). Referring to yourself as one is not a political statement at all, just a recognition of how one is viewed by the local society Tugger, you are trying to localise it. Stop and think. A person from HK is no different from a person from Ethoiopia. See what I mean? We are all people. We are all the same. And as soon as we stop seeing each other as being different, then the sooner we can get to work to make everyone truely equal. Idealism. It will never happen, I'm afraid. Care to expand your arguement? Can you point out why it will never happen? Well, I could write a book in answer to that but just to summarise, you will never get to a stage where the interests of the various power groups coincide to a sufficient extent. Human interests diverge more than they converge. And as Spook says, people are not equal and will never accept being told that they are. I do however agree that some of the most embarrassing people you can encounter around the world are British. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballaughbiker Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 Expat is just a word not a personality type. However it's not a word I use to describe myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spook Posted March 17, 2015 Author Share Posted March 17, 2015 I must admit that I chose it somewhat tongue in cheek! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Smelly Posted March 17, 2015 Share Posted March 17, 2015 I think after reading the posts on here we are all in agreement that the island's way of life has changed and the balance has tipped the wrong way. Mr Bell has even admitted he does not know if the VAT agreement will stay at the current levels, it might even be reduced again so the government will need to seek funds from somewhere. Hence stealth taxation and cutting of services. Remember there is a good population of over 60's on the island with the retired settling over the years on the island, most of which take out of the pot per week than they put in. Maybe if some of the people on the island started to lose jobs etc their thoughts of relocating might change ? The main issue I think now is employment, the finance sector has thinned down and governments continue to reduce the workforce means options are limited. A fair few acquaintances of mine have emigrated to oz and they seem to be really enjoying it there, cheaper taxes, double wages and great lifestyle. Maybe peoples expectations have changed ? I think if I was to move it would be the south coast, had some great times in dorset over the years, great cider too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cronky Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Interesting thread, Spook. Just out of interest, having moved from the Isle of Man to England how do you identify yourself in your new abode? Manx? English? British? I heard a comment the other day that, for the British, Britain doesn't feel like home these days. Not so much because of all the new residents but due to the way the whole country has changed politically. How do you feel about this aspect? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spook Posted March 18, 2015 Author Share Posted March 18, 2015 Interesting thread, Spook. Just out of interest, having moved from the Isle of Man to England how do you identify yourself in your new abode? Manx? English? British? I heard a comment the other day that, for the British, Britain doesn't feel like home these days. Not so much because of all the new residents but due to the way the whole country has changed politically. How do you feel about this aspect? Yikes! There are some VERY good points! How do I identify myself? As an ex pat Manxman but someone who has determined to fully integrate into the local community, into Norfolk, and indeed into England. I say England rather than Britain because England seems to me and many others to have become a somewhat non-contiguous enclave within the British Isles. Britain? Britain is broken. Broken because of the foul combination of Bliar and Nose Picker Brown and their stupidity that was behind the destruction, and typical Socialist hatred of England and everything that was good about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paswt Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Remember there is a good population of over 60's on the island with the retired settling over the years on the island, most of which take out of the pot per week than they put in. Just saying that there are a fair few retired folk who have settled on the island who have brought their pensions (state and private ) with them and capital which will fund their retirement and care (and in some cases their medical bills). I accept that they may need more health care than the young but many are net contributors to the economy of the island , I don't know the figures but would be interested to see on what you base your assertions . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolley Posted March 18, 2015 Share Posted March 18, 2015 Remember there is a good population of over 60's on the island with the retired settling over the years on the island, most of which take out of the pot per week than they put in. Just saying that there are a fair few retired folk who have settled on the island who have brought their pensions (state and private ) with them and capital which will fund their retirement and care (and in some cases their medical bills). I accept that they may need more health care than the young but many are net contributors to the economy of the island , I don't know the figures but would be interested to see on what you base your assertions . Quite correct. And their pensions are settled by the UK on the basis that if they live long it might cost the Island more, but if they die soon the Island will make a profit, just like any insurance based pension. This could change soon with the end of reciprocity. As you say, they also put a lot back into the local economy. Unfairly maligned by politicians who themselves might well be on the wrong side of the "value for money" balance sheet if we took everything into account. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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