Still in the UK, albeit not for much longer unless something changes dramatically.
I say it feels like a third-world country because the usual luxuries you associate with a first-world country such as good infrastructure, law and order, a working healthcare system, etc are no longer there, yet you still pay for them (in the form of taxes).
People in important industries are striking because they can no longer afford to live. As a result those industries collapse. Medicine is especially bad - if you have any kind of health issue you must go private (and be able to afford it) if you don't want to lose your sanity and/or die while waiting for the NHS to actually do what it's meant to do.
The cost of living crisis has put everyone on edge - the general optimism that was felt around before the pandemic is no longer there. Businesses are closing left and right (I've seen multiple repossession notices on commercial property, businesses are outright failing and defaulting on their rents).
I have noticed more homelessness as well as general antisocial/criminal behavior; it's not a surprise, people are either pushed to the edge (where the risk/reward ratio of crime starts being worthwhile) or are finally catching on that law enforcement is dysfunctional and take advantage.
Property prices, especially rents are through the roof. Renting the same standard of property I currently have would cost me over twice as much - I'm actually wondering who is providing the demand for those units considering how bad the economy is... oligarchs? Property standards have always been terrible, so you must go upmarket and pay the overinflated rents if you don't want to live in a moldy shack that looks like a museum exhibit and will bankrupt you on heating bills alone. Buying outright makes no sense considering you can get much higher standards anywhere in Europe for the same price.
I say it feels like a third-world country because the usual luxuries you associate with a first-world country such as good infrastructure, law and order, a working healthcare system, etc are no longer there, yet you still pay for them (in the form of taxes).
People in important industries are striking because they can no longer afford to live. As a result those industries collapse. Medicine is especially bad - if you have any kind of health issue you must go private (and be able to afford it) if you don't want to lose your sanity and/or die while waiting for the NHS to actually do what it's meant to do.
The cost of living crisis has put everyone on edge - the general optimism that was felt around before the pandemic is no longer there. Businesses are closing left and right (I've seen multiple repossession notices on commercial property, businesses are outright failing and defaulting on their rents).
I have noticed more homelessness as well as general antisocial/criminal behavior; it's not a surprise, people are either pushed to the edge (where the risk/reward ratio of crime starts being worthwhile) or are finally catching on that law enforcement is dysfunctional and take advantage.
Property prices, especially rents are through the roof. Renting the same standard of property I currently have would cost me over twice as much - I'm actually wondering who is providing the demand for those units considering how bad the economy is... oligarchs? Property standards have always been terrible, so you must go upmarket and pay the overinflated rents if you don't want to live in a moldy shack that looks like a museum exhibit and will bankrupt you on heating bills alone. Buying outright makes no sense considering you can get much higher standards anywhere in Europe for the same price.