Looked on another way - maybe we're better off without the white English doctors if they're so greedy as to go abroad to get more money.  If they were truly "dedicated to their cause" as we're led to believe why are so many deserting the NHS for private practice - because they can earn more not because it's more worthwhile in any sort of moral sense.

 Yes rosiet, you are assuming correctly  -  I do believe Australians would favour John Prescott over Jack Straw because he speaks his mind.  

 

 I don't think Australians are snooty about how much money someone has, but we have to be realistic.  Prime real estate alongside Sydney harbour is very expensive so somehow you have to make enough money to live there.  My point is that if you can afford to live there, you are judged on yourself and not your accent or your school or your family.

I was so amazed earlier that we had found something about which we agree that I forgot to say I thought you would favour Jack Straw over John Prescott - after all the former is a typical working class lad made good in that he has made the transition into the middle class so as to actually become middle class - although from what I've been reading on wikipedia he may not have that far to go; he may have been raised on a council estate but his father was an insurance salesman - not exactly the hard physical labour normally associated with the lower working class is it?

Just out of interest what would a plasterer or decorator have to talk about with a dentist or architect?  Wouldn't it be a bit like Mitchell & Webb's ice-cream taster and the paediatric specialist conversation?

 

rosiet2008:

Just out of interest what would a plasterer or decorator have to talk about with a dentist or architect?  Wouldn't it be a bit like Mitchell & Webb's ice-cream taster and the paediatric specialist conversation?

 

Heh Heh!

In Australia?  Definetly cricket.  Sometimes rugby.  The best fishing spot, the best waves for surfing, the best beach for swimming.  Favourite sushi bar, best greek restaurant, places to stay near the great barrier reef, islands off the coast of Oz, latest Ozzie movie, the new deli in Mosman, best time to visit the fish market, biggest croc I've ever seen, most poisonous snake/spider, best bottle of red I've ever tasted, hate the chardonnay from that new estate, preferring Hong Kong or Singapore......wot effer.

Fairly obvious really - anything but work (i.e life).  And if they're on a similar income and no snobbery they'd have more in common than they would over here.  No wonder my uncle emigrated! 

It still seems as though they have an us and them culture - as you say, not totally class-less.  But at least they don't have the snobbery (providing you have the money!).

With Cameron withdrawing the offer of a referendum the BNP will have a greater area of possible new votes.   It seems thar whilst the SNP seems to get media approval, that south of the border gets the opposite.

????? sorry but only read a small amount of posts but i alway's thought that the biggest complaint against bnp was that they are racist,homophobic,sexist anti social

as for my opinion on the scum they should be completly ignored that way they will die off as it is all this publicity maens they are gathering strength tell yiou what you don't want them as a seriuos political force just look how bad we have it in scotland because of the anti social extremists snp

as for one post i read whinging about (white) doctors leaving the nhs well it don't matter wether they are white black pink or purple me myself if i could make a whole lot more cash privatly rather than through the nhs i would work in the private sector who in all honesty wouldn't

I'm quite sure there are people who are racist, homophobic, sexist and just plain anti social in the main parties as well. Everyone has their prejudices and the mainstream parties are not whiter than white (so to speak). And no the BNP will not simply die off because they address concerns that the other parties deliberately ignore and if they continue to ignore those concerns and more people are affected then the BNPs support will grow. As to Doctors choosing to work in the private sector well I suppose those who do because money is their primary objective just confirm the view I have always had of those employed in the medical profession. i.e. that they are just paid employees like the rest of us and not the messiahs some people seem to view them as.

To tie in the two themes of prejudice and the NHS why is it ok for 1/10 hospitals to deny surgery to people who are obese or who smoke ? Presumably people who smoke and/or who are obese have to be able to afford private treatment if they need surgery or go to an NHS hospital where the staff aren't prejudiced? Doctors are also advocating that people over a certain age should be denied treatment. Is this not ageism? Fine it seems to discriminate against some people as long as you don't discriminate against them on the basis of their skin colour, their sexual preference or their gender?

People's skin, gender and sexual preference cannot be changed and do not pose a threat to life  - smoking and eating are under your control.  I do agree though that to refuse treatment on the grounds of a person's age is totally wrong.  This has been going on for a long time but only recently been acknowledged. 

According to neurologists addiction is not something which is not under our control.  Taking the substance to which people have become addicted may have started as a chosen behaviour but once addicted neurology takes over - addicts never cease to be addicts in that the craving is always there; George Best is a prime example and there are many more like him who appear to choose death rather than give up their addiction.  If willpower is the answer he and many others would still be alive today. 

 

And on the matter of addiction it is always the addict who is blamed - no culpability on the part of those who sell the toxins - they are merely providing something for which there is a market (unless of course for some strange reason that particular substance is illegal whereas others are not).  And, going back to the original point about treatment, it still remains the case that those who can afford private treatment or who are in an area where treatment is provided can always get it whereas in the NHS the less well off and/or the unlucky will be discriminated against. 

oops that should have read "according to neurologists addiction is not something which is under our control"

"This has been going on for a long time but only recently been acknowledged"  maybe because old people don't shout as loud as other minority groups?