Peter Hitchens: Britain is a 'country of excuses'
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 ธ.ค. 2022
- Travel chaos struck across large parts of the UK on Monday as ice, fog and snow caused disruption following the coldest night of the year so far.
The Met Office issued yellow severe weather alerts due to the wintry conditions.
It was the coldest night of the year so far, with temperatures in northern Scotland dipping below minus 15C.
The Met Office said that the lowest temperature recorded was -15.6C at Braemer in Aberdeenshire, with the five next coldest temperatures all recorded in Scotland, including -13.1 at Balmoral.
Among the locations with fresh snow on Sunday was Andrewsfield, Essex (9cm), Charlwood, Surrey (5cm) and Herstmonceux, East Sussex (4cm).
Roads in eastern and south-east England are among the worst affected.
Columnist Peter Hitchens criticised Britain as a 'country of excuses' as snow caused chaos.
#talktv #talkradio
Is Britain a country of excuses?
Talk TV is a channel of excuses.
@@colliehouse3133 Why don’t you get lost then?
Is it even a proper country anymore?
Not really a country anymore. Worlds doormat.
@@colliehouse3133 Your comment doesn't follow any kind of logic. Log off and do something else.
I visited arctic Norway in 2019 and the planes land, the planes take off, the kids go to school and at break time, ski in the school playground, people cycle, jog, drive in the snow, the pavements are treated with gravel to give people more grip..... the buses run and I can only assume so do the trains, the shops are open....
This is just pathetic. Even on the sad BBC website was an article 2 days ago 'how to protect babies in the cold snap?' Hmmm, in Finland, people will put their babies outside for their naps. They are wrapped up adequately of course, in their buggies, but they are still put outside to nap. It's good for them, toughens them up and boost the immune system.
We are around 5 generations in soft cissies now with all their allergies and inability to cope with average seasonal weather.
Very very ridiculous.
Britain is a country of absolute corruption ,we have had weather like this yrs ago,they where as bad then We had hot summer freezing winter,and floods when snow melted, The world climate will change it always has , I walk in the countryside,love it all weather's,
Totally correct Peter, the level of excuses really is absurd. The level of incompetence in this country is insane. Your assessment of the state of affairs between Russia, Ukraine and America is very accurate, particularly the mental efficiency of the current crop of Politicians.
D-efficiency :)
Millions will be put out of their misery by 2030
I know Hitchens is a misery guts but he is right on virtually everything.
His brother was much better.
He's ok
Well there is a lot to be miserable about.
He's wrong on grammar schools. Comprehensives have been a massive success. One only has to go to the House of Commons library and download a pdf on educational statistics to see this.
It's dry humour....
The only thing that runs on time are the Dinghies
Wish the trains were running on time like the old days that would stop illegals.
Peter....the best of the best, objective, calm, rational
So the zero tolerance war on drugs has been a success?
Panic, chaos, unprecedented, crisis, catastrophe etc etc the repetition of words used by the MSM to describe, what in the past, would have been normal events. I exclude the sad deaths of these poor boys who drowned.
There's a degree course in media hyperbole studies at the same seat of learning that offers nail beauty technology as an alternative for students who find words life threathening and stressful.
Did you ever see the Piblic Information film about safety around water? They are not shown anymore...
It used to be 'Keep calm and carry on '....... today it's fear, panic, fear, panic .
My dad was a driver on the LMS railway in before and after ww2 I remember him riding 8mls to work at 2am on his bike through snow.
Different generation, mate. Did he serve in the war?
@@goodyeoman4534 As a driver he was reserved occupation. But there were risks with train loads of munitions, soldiers and other war supplies. Early on morning he came ove a bridge with a parachute mine swinging from the girders.
My mother never knew when he would be home as he would be pushed on driving other trains due to crew shortages. Classic Catch 22!
@@haroldpearson6025 Sadly we've lost them all now. The greatest generation without a doubt, no matter what Harry the Woke says :)
No compliance in those days.
[Yorkshire accent] Luxury!
I remember the winter of 1962/3, the schools were closed on 0 days, I had 0 days off even though I had severe chilblains !
I too remember the winter of 62 63, walking 3 miles to school in wellies that were continually filling up with snow, because the snow was that deep ah the good old days.😋
Sorry you suffered of chilblains but you not alone. I too had mega problems with them in 1962 even though I was in the Middle East.
Got to.say he is right been saying it for years and.the past two has been the worst ever in history
It Snowed in my Area on Friday and I'm still waiting for the Government to Tell me What to Do
😂😂🤣
Hold on. We need to do a risk assessment, convene a meeting, and then decide how to go about doing nothing.
Stay at home...wait for guidance from the beeb
@@spinynormanbest6410 Indeed. Whatever the Beeb advise, do the opposite.
@@spinynormanbest6410 Nice one mate
The host never listens, always jumping in at the end, doesn’t let Peter finish a full sentence
How right he his were a bloody shambles I wished I'd left this country ages ago big regret
It's never too late, bye bye.
@@jackthelad612 so you think this country is great you're disillusioned that's why because of people like you were in the mess were in
Sounds like an EXCUSE to leave the country and the regret sounds like an EXCUSE for not taking the plunge and not leaving. Can you not see the irony in that you f*cking idiot?
@@coolperson962 well you seem to know a lot you fucking prick you're the reason were in the mess were in im alright Jack merchant and stuff everyone else
@@keithsmith2652 Your statement was ironic and hypocritical, fact..... You f*cking idiot.
It's not long enough - one of the best discussions on TH-cam !!
Exercise for it's own sake in gyms is boring. Since I stopped work I walk wherever I need to go, to the supermarket, to my art society etc, and leave the car at home. I clock up 4-5 hours walking a week, am losing weight and feel more relaxed. People are getting fatter because they don't walk.
The culture of apathy and excuses.
Good grief growing up in the 70's harsh winters were the norm. We used to go sledging and enjoy the snow. Schools didn't close everything worked reasonably well. When did we turn in to such a pathetic nation of cowards?
1958
The immigrants cannot handle the cold, not brought up with it!
Yep!
You don't HAVE real snow in Britain. You should come to Japan in winter: now THAT'S real snow! :)
@@DieFlabbergast Maybe you should go to Canada? They have REAL snow there...
When my son was 5ys old I had to wrap my baby daughter up and put her in a sledge so I could take him to school as I couldn't push the pram in the snow. Also I lived in German for a few years and boy do they have snow. I had only just passed my driving test, it certainly taught me how to drive in snow. We drove down roads where the snow was as high as houses down the side where it had been blown by snow ploughs. People need to grit their teeth and just get on with it.
Always liked Hitchens.
I have always preferred his brother. Although, Peter is getting better with age. I'm not sure if that's his age, or mine.😄
1cm of snow closed Manchester airport. I think something more sinister is at play, it's just not right.
As with the great cuvee we were all forced to drink, one and one make two - not three, or zero.. You know when something is not right.
My parents used to walk 28 miles to school in the snow bare foot, and it was uphill both ways.
Think my dad knew them
Luxury...
How can it be uphill both ways?
liar, no one went to a school that was more than half an hour away by foot in the old days
😂😂
Government advice is to stay at home so other people don't get cold.
I volunteered at Weston Hospital for some while. I operated a Book Service. This involved a colleague and I wheeling a trolley around the wards containing books and magazines asking patients if they wanted any reading material. Sadly the COVID depression descended and I was advised, for reasons which I understand, my colleague and I were no longer able to offer the service.
I received an e mail recently in which I was advised the Weston Hospital were now in a position to resume the service. I arranged a meeting with the Voluntary Service Section at the Hospital. I assumed I would review the book store and restart the Book Service in January. I was quickly disabused. It was explained before I could resume as a Volunteer I would need to undertake a 6 (six) hour online course. The course includes a number of Modules including “Conflict Resolution”; “Equality and Diversity and Human Rights” and “Preventing Radicalisation”.
For the avoidance of doubt let me be clear. I was a volunteer. Not an employee even unpaid. My task involved wheeling a trolley containing reading material. The contact I had with patients was on the following lines:
Do you want something to read?
If so do you want a book or magazine of maybe both?
What sort of book or magazine would you like?
My contact never extended to discussions about ISIS, or whether we should withdraw from the ECHR and the only conflict was who was better Agatha Christie or Dorothy Sayers. John Kirkhope
Nannyism has seeped right through into public consciousness, even though, bizarrely, a majority of people detest it. They detest it but just go along with it. The problem with our people is that they've become accustomed to shoulder shrugging resignation., There is a sense that British people have become almost numbly compliant. They'll comply with anything.. anything as long as it doesn't take away their petrol, their junk food supermarkets, their tellies, I phones or foreign holidays.
Every time we have a bit of snow this country grinds to a halt, its pathetic.
Good luck with your electric cars in this winter. Lithium batteries fail in cold temps
Totally agree on House of Lords reform, bring back the Hereditary peers!
Brilliant as always. Love those two
His brother, Christopher, was " brilliant ". Peter still lives in his shadow.
@@MOGGS1942 agree to a point. Totally different personalities. I’ve seen and read everything Christopher did including the breathtaking debate on religion with the RC church in London (with Stephen Fry and Ann Widdecombe). If you’ve not seen this I’d recommend
Whilst Hitchens is right about the failings of this country - there's still one big blindspot he has(and he never seems to want to actually go anywhere near it) - it's not down to groupthink or incompetence - it's been deliberately done.
Seems a bit that way. But generally only talks in facts. He has said many times that open borders was deliberate, as is the campaign to legalise dope, and other topics.
@@goodyeoman4534 And there are always some highly respected dogooders to champion such causes - the useful idiots.
I totally agree. He needs to call out the worship of the WEF and face up to the imminent financial reset.
For what purpose, and by whom? Do tell.
@@DieFlabbergast He won't touch the WEF and the Great Reset agenda. Also, ironically since he has written about a lot about the 1960s and how the cultural change that occurred during that time, he also won't talk about the Tavistock Institute. It's strange, as he has talked a lot about how Blair's regime changed a lot of Britain's institutions.
How come Mr Hitchins or people of similar stature make it to PM , this man is the type of person we need !
The problem is people think the state will solve all their problems rather than thinking for themselves.
WE're not ALLOWED to do ANYTHING without a permit , licence or permissions nowadays....
Best to do nothing about anything...
Highest tax since ww2... i expect them to do something.
I don’t ( I am in the USA) want the government telling me what to do or how to think, they need to stay out of our lives. I am sure some feel the same over in the UK
Thinking for yourself went out the window years ago, the lockdowns finished what was left of it off. As Peter has said Great Britain is now like the old Soviet Union - a huge inefficient state, the economy in ruins, nothing works, the politicians are corrupt and ineffective and just spout propaganda. Merry Christmas.
Ours is to do or die, not to reason why.
The uncomfortable fact is that many people prefer it that way. Why think for oneself when Big Brother can do it for you? Why go out and earn an honest living when you can hold your hand out to Big Brother for benefits etc.
Hitchens is infuriatingly correct in so many ways.
Absolutely spot on. Other countries laugh at us.
In the early 80's I remember jogging from West Drayton to Uxbridge to work IN a 3 piece suit because it had snowed and the buses weren't running. About 7-8 miles.
Admittedly now at 61 I probably wouldn't 😏
Business leaders and politicians have wasted millions on consultants who have advised them how to:
1 - Make the business "lean" with everything just-in-time" so that there's no longer any capacity in the pipeline.
2 - Make yourself "non-public-facing" so as to avoid awkward questions from irritated customers.
3 - Monetise everything; airports are prime examples of this - you can't even drop off passengers without the greedy bastards charging you a fiver. Dentists used the same consultants.
4 - Pass the buck for everything, under no circumstances admit blame.
5 - Take offence at everything in case there's a chance of "compo".
6 - Obfuscate and side-step every question saying "mistakes were made and lessons have been learned but what we have achieved is...."
Britain is going to Hell in a hand cart.
If every normal car in Britain was sold with all season tyres as standard these issues would basically be eradicated. My Michelin all season tyres and great in all weathers and last 60,000 miles
Refuse to buy FRENCH RUBBISH.( Nothing to do with football)
60,000 miles? What's that , 15k for each tyre x 4 !
@@jamesskeoch6562 Michelin tyres are some of the best in the game, buy Chinese if you want to really waste your money
Or snow tyres as is the law in places like Munich
All these issues sorted with the fitting of different tyres.
Calm Peter is such a treat
I love his voice he sounds like HG Tudor
Had to call the RAC on Monday. Took five hours to arrive.
They kept saying due to the extreme conditions we are very busy.
It was 2°C here near Bristol and not even any ice on the car at 7am.
The mechanic said the weather was not a problem, they just can't get the staff since Brexit.
What would Brexit have to do with not getting staff, oh, I know, they cannot get some poor sap from Europe who is an experienced mechanic to work for a minimum wage. Mechanics want to be paid for what they are worth, which is a lot more than minimum wage. These companies need to stop paying CEO's and Shareholders millions and pay the staff what they deserve.
Peter talking complete sense as usual.
Mike taking a swipe at gyms and gym goers again. I wonder why?
Because they are not back in the office. It really hurts Graham to know that some people are free of their chains.
Yep. Notice how he constantly makes reference to his car. It's true about walking and running at gyms though. Utterly ridiculous concept.
I remember that Mike did mention one time that he worked in a bakery - so you can kind of see why he might be some what adverse to gyms. 😉
@@johnandrews8590 In what way are they ridiculous concepts? Especially in weather like this when running outside could cause serious injury. Also running on a treadmill or walking on a stepper are often just a part of a series of exercises on different equipment. There's nothing ridiculous about it.
@@martynblackburn9632 I'd say it's because he clearly doesn't go to a gym and resents those that do, hence the constant little jibes he gets in. It's often the case that the most vocal in their criticism of gyms have never actually been in one.
I'm here in Eastern Europe -10C lots of snow. No-one bats an eyelid. Motorways run with snow on the ground, trains on time, planes land.... They've got equipment and they plan. I know it only happens every few years in the UK so then that justifies not planning and then the country just shuts down. How much money have you saved not buying the equipment and how much money have you lost because people can't workers they've cancelled planes and trains, shut down roads,
Well . . . the UK is one of 'THOSE' countries, isn't it? You know? That little club of two or so, that like big decisions for everybody?
Mersey Rail stopped because of ice on the tracks. Those Alaskans must have to walk everywhere.
Problem with wind generation is the lack of storing that generate power at times of surplus, as in battery and hydro storage.
KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON 🤣🤣🤣 ! MORE LIKE. !! DON'T PANIC !!! DON'T PANIC!!! 😵😵😵
if 1960s tv taught us anything, it was to keep away from ice, marshes and quicksand....
As for leaders now being more inexperienced when it comes to war. No, they are more corrupt and totally involved with promoting and gaining financially from the Military Industrial Complex. A war to them, therefore, is a good thing. They gain and by contrast every ordinary person from Ukraine to Europe is losing.
Amazing how much work you can get done in supermarkets, coffee shops and shopping centres.
French system has Carte vitale which gives basic cover enhanced cover requires mutual insurance costing around 50 euro for single cover around double that for a couple.
(Ireland calling..the situation here just as bad..
At least over there you don't have any public transport to cancel! Oh alright 3 trains a day and 2 buses
@@voice.of.reason Don't talk nonsense... In Dublin alone we have 5 buses!
So glad to find someone who has the same opinions and thinks rationally.
There are no sidewalks in the USA? Stop it Peter.
There was snow in Milton Keynes the other day but it was fine
We're a laughing stock around the world, what we're having is called the weather !..
PH may well be correct about the French health service but many of us are convinced that the Tories' long term aim is something along US lines.
MIKE you must stop INTERRUPTING Peter - you do not let him finish - he is the one I want to hear NOT YOU !!!!!
First time I have heard of Peter hitchens, but what good sense he speaks, he should run for government!
His brother, Christopher, was a weapon. You should look him up. He was on fire. Unfortunately, cancer took him. Hitchens is a legend!
@Pixie Pete You are such a bell end. Say hi to your imaginary friend. 😁
@@pixiepete6431 Well, it takes one to know one...
The excuses given for England defeat at the world cup were the usual "the young players will improve" and we played well. Greece have won the Nations Cup for gods sake ,and England's women have won it. I remember when footballers like Bobby Charlton would use the "toe end " of his boot to score a goal from 30 yards,today they use the side foot which was considered girly when i was at school .
@@Borderman47 Would never take the job dont want to manage a team guaranteed to lose. Better to manage a team that wins 3 or 4 times or more.
Why do we need to give France money?
For Gas, Electric, Cheese and Wine.
@@stephfoxwell4620 They haven't got any gas and we don't need their over-rated wine and cheese.
Yes, it is a country of excuses. However what we often forget is that so are many counties, especially those that have no excuse, for example, all western ones. We are supposed to be setting a good example of the benefits of democracy under the rule of law, not the worse one possible. Without this example, what chance does the rest of the World have of ever achieving what we so much take for granted as inevitable? Logic may dictate that material and cultural progress are inevitable, but history and experience have proven time and time again that they are not.
Material progress is inevitable until/unless there is a civilisational collapse, such as happened several times in the ancient world, most recently in the case of the Roman Empire. Don't worry, this civilisation will collapse sooner or later, and then there will be a renaissance somewhere in the world.
Talking about excuses , where the hell were these kids parents? Letting them go out unsupervised to frozen lakes. Sorry no sympathy, this was child neglect!
Of course if they aren't outside you'd be complaining about them getting fat and playing video games all day.
@HimOff TheQuakerOatBox talk about a false dichotomy...
Any lecky from Ireland would be "green"
and excesses ..
Running is not dying out, its more popular then ever. I've done a bit lately myself. Also Hitchen's marbles may be dropping out of the bag, but Ukraine didn't 'break away', the USSR collapsed - he should know he was there AFAIK.
They never mention the fact that where we are on the globe ,the snow we get is basically sleet and ice rather than the powder type of snow most other countries get. It's totally treacherous on our roads etc. I agree with the principles spoken about but at least mention the difference in our snow experience versus others.
"The wrong sort of snow" ...
Now that is another excuse!
Our snow is the same. It’s the amount that’s different. I remember when it snowed for weeks, and the snow on top of that first sleeting, icy snow, was more dusty, fluffy. I remember nothing really stopped either. We have become soft. I remember drudging through snow, and sleet, to get to school. We weren’t exactly well off, so I didn’t have special winter school shoes, just normal shoes, and a skirt, with socks. I don’t remember anyone not working. We had piles of salt for this type of thing. Council would spread the grit/salt on the roads.
You are right about the quality of political leaders.....I'd LOVE to hear Peter's comments on the SNP bill to allow 16 year olds to become MSP's!!!
Yep , one of the most used expressions in the UK . "Sorry about that " .
All governments make excuses at a higher rate than laws. It is a carryover from marriage, sports and cooking.
The station where all the sacked or no one wants any more . Lol
Mmm,ye,mme ye. Takes a drink then asks another stupid question.Isn't he who does plano of the week
Full of excuses now. This generations is the worse in history
In Bangkok today I've got on the sky train 3 times and I've not have to wait more than 2 Mins for one. Been all over the city everything here is working not seen anyone strike. Think I'm gonna do what anyone else with a few quid in the bank is gonna do. What Hutchins has been saying for years. Fuck the UK. I could have brought another property. I could have invested my money in Britain and I have but I'm thinking I will just sell that place now. No point striving, hunts gonna take it. Can't even get to work anyway or see family coz the trains aren't running when they are they are bad and overly busy.
Dead right. Left in 1998 never looked back.
Don't blame you at all, mate. Plenty of guys seem to be moving out there now.
The advantage they have is that there is never any snow in Bangkok.
The local councils dont want to spend the money on gritters and snow ploughs pure and simple so they would rather the public just get on an suffer.
And that's because they 'have no money for that sort of thing'...
Too much pollution in NY to go jogging...
Even in Central Park?
The question I always have is what options did Russia have?
The US objective was to break up Russia and cease it's resources.
I hear the comment that Russia should not have responded. This would have led to the deaths if ethnic Russians in eastern Ukraine, missiles in the Russian borders and much worse.
hellooo like4
He sees the uk through binary lenses. It is more subtle than that.
12:45 I dont think paying more Danegeld to the Franks is going to improve anything
Hitchens clearly tiring of the host and would rather just get on with doing his thing.
Ukraine broke away from the Collapsed Soviet Union , not Russia ( misleading at least )4.20
yes we knew the goverment could be bad but not this bad please dont excuse me its true
because we have to make excuses for weak people and others we have become this , we used to walk to school all weathers including snow , while children making the same journey now take buses filling them up so the elderly can not sue transport during certain time
my mother worked and walked three miles in the snow , my dad who was self employed never was able to receive benefits as he didn't pay enough NI and had to work because no one would pay him because it was a bit "nippy"
i work in the city in facilities management and the weakness is on full display from "the suns too bright" to its freezing at 22 degrees , they RARELY turn up if its below ten degrees
i have stood by a desk (its freezing " with the snow dripping off me hold a thermometer showing 23 degrees ( a temperature you would complain about on the beach in Spain ) being told " no thats not right "!!!
i explain , "i have every reason and every means to lie to you , but this inanimate object which has one function doesn't so it isn't lying that's the temperature at your desk , go to HR and maybe they can help you ??? " this of course implies they are mental
4 minute , OK..
The reason I'm bothering with this is your a very intelligent well respected Journalist, your carefully crafted remarks have , potentially, consequences.
What was Petes excuses for taking the jab?
Inflation also due to G.Brown bailing out the too-big-to-fail bankers way back in 2008. Left us with high inflation potential when we recovered. But we didn't recover - we caught of covid ....
I don't agree with everything he says but I find myself agreeing with most of it. He's also strangely becoming a kind of darling of the left albeit inadvertently
Climate 🤣🤣 its winter
It is a nation of excuses but everyone still tries to control it and tell Britain's what to do live here a
and it's wha t gone on before that they asess and bring mew sa.fety features in.
C'est moi où le gars avec les lunettes ressemble assez à Benny Hill ???
C’est vrai !! Mais Benny Hill m’a fait rire…..
Con comprehenable les mots?
Watch the duran if you want to know whats going on in Ukraine.
New atlas.
Britain is not a country of excuses the people who run it are a poor excuse for leaders .. don’t put on the working men and women of our wonderful but broken nation
Let's go out and buy several billions worth of snow clearance related vehicles and supporting machinery. We can dust and oil it every year until every 3rd or 4th year when we get a deluge that may last for a week....
Or we can admit we don't need to spend the billions and be prepared to be inconvenience for a few day - every few years.
But this constant whining about how we fall apart for snow- how Brits are not as tough as the Brits of yesteryear - how the country has gone to the dogs over a week of snow.
Stop whining.
It's temporary.
This isn't the US or Canada for heck's sake.
Peter's looking a little run down. Hope he's okay and the vax isn't about to bite. Just had my ma come down with a very heavy flu, and gave her a ridiculous amount of Vitamin C (sodium ascorbate) and two days later she's over the worst. Gotta stock up on your pills and potions. Certainly not going to rely on doctors or GPs for any help!
The Great Panic 👍 however Hitchens then went on to say that Ukraine broke away from Russia and compared it to Quebec breaking away from Canada, he really hasn’t got over his communist youth. Ukraine was never part of Russia although it was part of the USSR same as Poland, East Germany etc. Only my opinion same as supporting Russia is his opinion.
Well Said sir, I don’t get Hithens’s take on Ukraine, surely the unanimity of opinion about Russia’s invasion of a sovereign State is a positive sign of the lack of moral ambiguity in this conflict for anyone who thinks objectively.
LOL, these two talking about exercise.!
If the Chinese set up Bases , inferring that US / NATO had set up , or were going to , Bases in Ukraine..4.30
They are all about passing the sleeping pills
Where's the global warming gone. (That's gone a bit quiet lately)
Cold weather was supposed to be a thing of the past.
Greta busy suing her own government for not doing enough about climate change.
FFKS…global climate change, not global warming 🙄. Keep up.
@@PaulGappyNorris We are 'up'. 'Climate change' : They say co2 is bad and its warming the planet and we must reduce it by taxing us on it. The icebergs are melting, the sea levels are rising its goign to kill us all. Total bullshit, because the planet is actually cooling. Its an iceage you need to be worried about, we need c02. lots of it
Are you at the big school yet? Maybe they'll teach you about the difference between weather and climate, and how air & ocean currents work.
Look at you two acting all clever, you're exactly the puppies the people running (into the ground) the UK want.
Peter, please stop making excuses for russia. Just because you lived there once...
In Australia for the past several weeks it has been cool to cold. Nothing like our beautiful warm/hot (sometimes too hot) summers. Very strange. After all, doing climate and weather modelling to achieve particular weather outcomes is one thing -- actually putting that modelling into practice over selected parts of the earth, another, surely.