BY PERCY THORLEY
England is in fine fettle
There seems to be a constant flow of negative news stories coming, in part from the mainstream media, but in greater abundance from the online media. I fail to recognise the issues raised in these dark corners of the mediasphere for to be alive in England today is to be truly blessed.
The economy powers ahead, innovation and creativity abound. We enjoy a world beating health service, media outlets that are both impartial and offer a stunning array of creative drama and entertainment. Our police are the envy of the world and, as crime rates have tumbled, the streets are safer than ever and, heck, we do not even need to lock our front doors any longer.
The roads and infrastructure have never been better. The bins are emptied regularly, the streets swept and litter is a thing of the past. The water, power and rail services offer exemplary services.
Even town centres are reviving after the initial shakeout due to the internet. Nail salons, candy shops, Turkish barbers and vape shops abound bringing life and vitality back to our High streets.
Diversity and multiculturalism have paid dividends over the past 40 years with everyone getting along in one happy melting pot of shared cultures but uniting under the flag of St George.
The credit for achieving this sublime state of affairs lies in part with the ineffable good nature and generosity of the English people. But it would be churlish to deny the part played by our governments of various colours over the past forty years. They have worked assiduously to promote British values, to maintain law and order, to ensure our children get the best possible education and to keep our armed forces ready for any eventuality. Freedom of speech is rigorously upheld giving everyone the opportunity to speak their mind.
Their foresight in the handling of a complex advanced economy has kept inward investment flowing with manufacturing revitalised to pre 1970 levels. In fact so strong is the manufacturing sector we now enjoy full employment and a shortage of labour to carry out basic tasks. But then success can have its drawbacks.
One can, therefore, only imagine the calamitous state of affairs were we to be governed by a bunch of feckless, half arsed, slack jawed, credentialed cretins. Politicians intent on feathering their own nests to the detriment of the people they serve. Politicians who fail to pay their due taxes, lie on their CVs or commit acts of fraud or even, heaven forbid, dabble in a little paedophilia, all of which would have an ordinary citizen jailed in a trice.
Politicians who plunder the wealth of our country (to the detriment of the English people) only to hand it out to corrupt countries or to waste on vanity projects with no clear purpose.
No, dear reader, this is England. Upright and proud where fair play and integrity are front and centre of our way of life. The leaders of the world flock to England to learn from us the better to lead from our example. They scramble to emulate our health service or public transport systems or to be taught the meaning of freedom of expression.
So we should have less of the carping and the pessimism. England is in fine fettle and those whom we entrust to run the ship of state are doing an excellent job. So sit back and relax, all is well.
Percy Thorley is an entrepreneur from Berkshire. He is in the feed business.